What is Naturopathic Medicine in General?
Naturopathic medicine is a distinct primary health care profession emphasizing education, prevention, treatment and optimal health of mind, body and spirit.
Naturopathic Doctors (NDs) provide evidence-informed natural and supportive therapies which complement standard of care medicine.
Therapeutic care varies by state and territory and may include acupuncture, botanical medicine, physical medicine, clinical nutrition, lifestyle counseling and intravenous therapies and/or prescription drugs.
Naturopathic medicine includes the following concepts:
State of health is inseparable from body, mind, spirit and environment.
The body has an inherent ability to heal itself.
Lifestyle factors contribute to health and illness.
Every individual is biochemically unique.
NDs listen and engage with patients. They educate patients to take active role in their own healing process. “Self-care” through diet, lifestyle and hygiene is encouraged.
Regulation and Education of Naturopathic Doctors
Naturopathic Doctors (NDs) complete pre-medical undergraduate studies and graduate from federally recognized and regionally accredited doctoral programs of naturopathic medicine. Graduates are then eligible to take national or provincial licensing examinations.
Currently, 22 states, the territory of Puerto Rico, the District of Columbia, the US Virgin Islands, and five Canadian provinces license or regulate NDs. In some of these regions, NDs function as primary care providers.
The OncANP supports Advanced Training of Naturopathic Doctors in Oncology. Successfully board-certified members are awarded the status of Fellow by the American Board of Naturopathic Oncology (FABNO). These Fellows meet the highest standard of the profession.
