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What Is a Naturopathic Doctor?
A naturopathic doctor is a practitioner of naturopathy, a practice that aims to support the body’s healing abilities through holistic, often non-Western, therapies and lifestyle changes. A naturopathic doctor’s primary […]
A naturopathic doctor is a practitioner of naturopathy, a practice that aims to support the body’s healing abilities through holistic, often non-Western, therapies and lifestyle changes. A naturopathic doctor’s primary focus is to identify the underlying causes of disease (as opposed to only alleviating symptoms) and to consider the patient’s mind, body and spirit in cultivating overall well-being.
Professional education for naturopathic doctors
To become a licensed naturopathic doctor, one generally completes a bachelor’s degree with pre-medical studies and then attends a four-year, graduate-level naturopathic medical school. After graduating, the candidate must pass the postdoctoral Naturopathic Physicians Licensing Exam (NPLEX). Currently, 22 states allow licensed naturopathic doctors to practice. It’s essential to recognize that some practitioners call themselves naturopaths or naturopathic doctors without being licensed, so be sure to check the credentials of any potential ND before beginning treatment with them.
Naturopathic therapies
Whether treating short-term or chronic illness, preventing disease or educating patients, naturopathic doctors believe in the body’s healing power and strive to remove barriers to health and cultivate resilience. They do this by focusing on the unique aspects of each patient, including their physical condition, lifestyle, emotional state and genetic factors. Some treatment therapies include:
- Clinical Nutrition
- Acupuncture
- Herbal medicine
- Behavior modification
- Homeopathy
- Hydrotherapy
- Massage and physical medicine like sound waves, heat and cold therapy
- Psychological and lifestyle counseling
The practice provides a comprehensive, whole-body healthcare approach and incorporates modern, traditional, scientific and empirical methods.
Sources
“Health Library”. Mount Sinai. https://www.mountsinai.org/health-library
“What Is a Naturopathic Doctor?” Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/health/naturopathic-doctor
“What Is Clinical Nutrition?” Learn. https://learn.org/articles/What_is_Clinical_Nutrition.html
