Naturopathic Medicine
Education
Naturopathic physicians (N.D.s) are
primary-care doctors trained in the art, science, and philosophy of medicine.
The N.D. course of study consists of a four-year graduate program at an
accredited naturopathic medical school. The four existing naturopathic colleges
in the USA are accredited by the Council on Naturopathic Medical Education, a
specialized accreditor recognized by the US Department of Education.
The first two years of education
are similar to conventional medical schools where a foundation of basic
sciences, such as anatomy, physiology, laboratory diagnosis, pathology and
pharmacology, is laid. The latter two years of the curriculum focuses on
specialized medical systems (i.e. EENT, cardiology, gastroenterology, OB/GYN,
etc), naturopathic medicine therapeutics, and extensive clinical training.
Naturopathic physicians are well trained in all modern methods of diagnostic
testing and imaging including X-ray, ultrasound, and other imaging techniques.
Naturopathic physicians are educated in holistic and nontoxic approaches to
treatment with a strong emphasis on disease prevention and optimizing wellness.
Upon completion of the program, a
naturopathic physician takes rigorous professional board examinations in order
to be licensed by a state or jurisdiction as a primary care practitioner.
Philosophy
The following Six Principles are the founding-tenets of
naturopathic medicine in clinical practice:
The healing power of nature. vis medicatrix naturae
The body has the inherent ability to
establish, maintain, and restore health. The healing process is ordered and
intelligent; nature heals through the response of the life force. The
physician's role is to facilitate and augment this process, to act to identify
and remove obstacles to health and recovery, and to support the creation of a
healthy internal and external environment.
Identify and treat the cause. tolle causam
Illness does not occur without
cause. Underlying causes of disease must be discovered and removed or treated
before a person can recover completely from illness. Symptoms are expressions
of the body's attempt to heal, but are not the cause of disease. Symptoms,
therefore, should not be suppressed by treatment. Causes may occur on many
levels including physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual. The physician must
evaluate fundamental underlying causes on all levels, directing treatment at
root causes rather than at symptomatic expression.
First do no harm. primum no nocere
Illness is a purposeful process of
the organism. The process of healing includes the generation of symptoms which
are, in fact, an expression of the life force attempting to heal itself.
Therapeutic actions should be complimentary to and synergistic with this
healing process. The physician's actions can support or antagonize the actions
of the vis medicatrix naturae. Therefore, methods designed to suppress symptoms
without removing underlying causes are considered harmful and are avoided or
minimized.
Treat the whole person. The multifactorial nature of
health and disease
Health and disease are conditions of
the whole organism, a whole involving a complex interaction of physical,
spiritual, mental, emotional, genetic, environmental, social, and other factors.
The physician must treat the whole person by taking all of these factors into
account. The harmonious functioning of all aspects of the individual is
essential to recovery from and prevention of disease, and requires a
personalized and comprehensive approach to diagnosis and treatment.
The physician as teacher. docere
Beyond an accurate diagnosis and
appropriate prescription, the physician must work to create a healthy,
sensitive interpersonal relationship with the patient. A cooperative
doctor-patient relationship has inherent therapeutic value. The physician's
major role is to educate and encourage the patient to take responsibility for
health. The physician is a catalyst for healthful change, empowering and
motivating the patient to assume responsibility. It is the patient, not the
doctor, who ultimately creates/accomplishes healing. The physician must strive
to inspire hope as well as understanding. The physician must also make a
commitment to his/her personal and spiritual development in order to be a good
teacher.
Prevention. Prevention is the best "cure"
The ultimate goal of any health care
system should be prevention. This is accomplished through education and
promotion of life-habits that create good health. The physician assesses risk
factors and hereditary susceptibility to disease and makes appropriate
interventions to avoid further harm and risk to the patient. The emphasis is on
building health rather than on fighting disease.
