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Source: The American Association of Naturopathic Physicians

What is Naturopathic Medicine?

Founded upon a holistic philosophy, naturopathic medicine combines safe and effective traditional therapies with the most current advances in modern medicine. Naturopathic medicine is appropriate for the management of a broad range of health conditions affecting all people of all ages. Naturopathic physicians (N.D.s) are the highest trained practitioners in the broadest scope of naturopathic medical modalities. In addition to the basic medical sciences and conventional diagnostics, naturopathic education includes therapeutic nutrition, botanical medicine, homeopathy, natural childbirth, classical Chinese medicine, hydrotherapy, naturopathic manipulative therapy, pharmacology and minor surgery

Principles of Naturopathic Medicine

The naturopathic doctor will practice the art, science and spirit of the profession to the best of his/her ability and judgment following these principles of naturopathic medicine.

The naturopathic doctor

• shall endeavour to first, do no harm; to provide the most effective health care available with the least risk to his/her patients at all times. (Primum Non Nocere)
• shall recognize, respect and promote the self-healing power of nature inherent in each individual human being. (Vis Medicatrix Naturae)
• shall strive to identify and remove the causes of illness, rather than to eliminate or suppress symptoms. (Tolle Causum)
• shall educate his/her patients, inspire rational hope and encourage self-responsibility for health. (Doctor as Teacher)
• shall treat each person by considering all individual health factors and influences. (Treat the Whole Person)
• shall emphasize the condition of health to promote well-being and to prevent diseases for the individual, each community and our world. (Health Promotion, the Best Prevention)

Education of a Naturopath

A Licensed naturopathic physician (N.D.) attends a four-year graduate level naturopathic medical school and is educated in all of the same basic sciences as an M.D. but also studies holistic and nontoxic approaches to therapy with a strong emphasis on disease prevention and optimizing wellness. In addition to a standard medical curriculum, the naturopathic physician is required to complete four years of training in clinical nutrition, acupuncture, homeopathic medicine, botanical medicine, psychology, and counseling (to encourage people to make lifestyle changes in support of their personal health). A naturopathic physician takes rigorous professional board exams so that he or she may be licensed by a state or jurisdiction as a primary care general practice physician.

Naturopathic Medical Education Comparative Curricula

Comparing Curricula Naturopathic Med Schools With Conventional Medical Schools

Key:
NCNM = National College of Naturopathic Medicine
BASTYR = Bastyr University (Naturopathic Medicine)
SWC = Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine
JH = Johns Hopkins
YL = Yale
ST = Stanford

Source: Curriculum Directory of the Association of American Medical Colleges