Licensed Naturopathic Medical Doctors (ND) attend a four-year post-graduate medical program at an accredited naturopathic medical school and are board certified Primary Care Physicians in a number of states.
In addition to the standard medical educational requirements of a Medical Doctor (MD), Naturopathic Physicians are trained in additional modalities including: homeopathy, clinical nutrition, botanical medicine, hydrotherapy, physical medicine, mind-body medicine, environmental medicine, counseling and psychology, and many others.
The following principles are the foundation of Naturopathic Medical Practice:
- The Healing Power of Nature: Naturopathic Medicine recognizes an inherent self-healing process in people that is ordered and intelligent. Naturopathic Physicians act to identify and remove obstacles to healing and recovery, and to facilitate and augment this inherent self-healing process.
- Identify and Treat the Causes: The Naturopathic Physician seeks to identify and remove the underlying causes of illness rather than to merely eliminate or suppress symptoms.
- First Do No Harm: Naturopathic Physicians utilize methods and medicinal substances which minimize the risk of harmful side effects, using the least force necessary to diagnose and treat. They avoid when possible the harmful suppression of symptoms, and acknowledge, respect, and work with individuals’ self-healing process.
- Doctor as Teacher: Naturopathic Physicians educate their patients and encourage self-responsibility for health. They also recognize and employ the therapeutic potential of the doctor-patient relationship.
- Treat the Whole Person: Naturopathic Physicians treat each patient by taking into account individual physical, mental, emotional, genetic, environmental, social, and other factors. Since total health also includes spiritual health, Naturopathic Physicians encourage individuals to pursue their personal spiritual development.
- Prevention: Naturopathic Physicians emphasize the prevention of disease by assessing risk factors, heredity and susceptibility to disease, and by making appropriate interventions in partnership with their patients to prevent illness.
For more information about Naturopathic Medicine visit:
American Association of Naturopathic Physicians