Naturopathic Doctor
A naturopathic doctor has a Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine (ND) degree from a four-year graduate level naturopathic medical college. In states where they are regulated, naturopathic doctors must pass a national examination, kept their state license current with yearly continuing education, and their actions are subject to review by a State Board of Examiners.
Naturopathic doctors (NDs) are trained primary care physicians that specialize in natural medicine. They are educated in the conventional medical sciences, but they are not medical doctors (MDs). Naturopathic physicians treat disease and restore health using therapies from the sciences of clinical nutrition, herbal medicine, homeopathy, physical medicine, exercise therapy, counseling, acupuncture, natural childbirth and hydrotherapy. NDs tailor these approaches to the needs of an individual patient. Naturopathic doctors cooperate with all other branches of medical science, referring patients to other practitioners for diagnosis or treatment when appropriate.
In practice, naturopathic doctors perform physical examinations, laboratory testing, gynecological exams, nutritional and dietary assessments, metabolic analysis, allergy testing, and other diagnostic tests. They are the only doctors clinically trained in the use of a wide variety of natural therapeutics. They combine and tailor these treatments to the needs of the individual based on the philosophy that acknowledges the patient as a participant.
NDs are part of a medical movement that is shifting our scientific model to focus on systems and function to solve disease and symptoms. This model provides a way of understanding all the influences on our biology – lifestyle, environment and genetics.
Conditions Treated
Low energy
Poor sleep
Poor mental clarity
Digestive issues
Poor immunity
Inflammation (joints, muscles, skin)
Hormone imbalances (hot flashes, thyroid dysfunction)
Anxiety/Depression
Cardiovascular Disease (co-treat)