What is a Naturopathic Doctor?
Naturopathic physicians combine the wisdom of nature with the rigors of modern science. Steeped in traditional healing methods, principles and practices, naturopathic medicine focuses on holistic, proactive prevention and comprehensive diagnosis and treatment. By using protocols that minimize the risk of harm, naturopathic physicians help facilitate the body’s inherent ability to restore and maintain optimal health. It is the naturopathic physician’s role to identify and remove barriers to good health by helping to create a healing internal and external environment.
Naturopathic physicians work in private practices, hospitals, clinics and community health centers. NDs practice throughout the United States and Canada. Qualified naturopathic physicians undergo rigorous training before they become licensed health-care practitioners. Visit our Professional Education page to learn about naturopathic education.
NDs treat all medical conditions and can provide both individual and family health care. Among the most common ailments they treat are allergies, chronic pain, digestive issues, hormonal imbalances, obesity, respiratory conditions, heart disease, fertility problems, menopause, adrenal fatigue, cancer, fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome. NDs can perform minor surgeries, such as removing cysts or stitching up superficial wounds. However, they do not practice major surgery. NDs are trained to utilize prescription drugs, although the emphasis of naturopathic medicine is the use of natural healing agents.
A naturopathic physician will take time with you. During your first appointment, your doctor will take your health history, find out about your diet, stress levels, use of tobacco and alcohol, and discuss why you’re there. He or she may perform an examination and order diagnostic tests. Naturopathic physicians keep themselves up-to-date on the latest scientific research and incorporate this evidence into their treatments. The naturopathic physician will work with you to set up a customized health management strategy. If necessary, your doctor will refer you to other health-care practitioners.
A first visit with a patient may last one to two hours and follow-up visits range from 30 to 60 minutes, although this varies depending on the ND. Naturopathic physicians need sufficient time to ask questions and understand the patient’s health goals. NDs also need time to gather information, do an appropriate examination and teach his or her patients about managing their condition and improving their health. An ND may also use diagnostic tests to fully understand their patient’s health status. Besides taking the time to carefully and fully assess a patient’s root problem, NDs speak and understand the language of conventional medicine. They can diagnose the way MDs do—yet, they bring to the patient a whole new arsenal of treatments and insights. Instead of waiting for a disease to emerge, NDs work to head it off before it happens.
Definition of Naturopathic Medicine
House of Delegates Position Paper, Amended 2011
One Line Definitions
Naturopathic physicians work with nature to restore people’s health.
Naturopathic medicine: working with nature to restore people’s health.
Brief Definition
Naturopathic medicine is a distinct primary health care profession, emphasizing prevention, treatment and optimal
health through the use of therapeutic methods and substances which encourage the person's inherent self -healing
process, the vis medicatrix naturae.
Paragraph Definition
Naturopathic medicine is a distinct method of primary health care -an art, science, philosophy and practice of diagnosis,
treatment, and prevention of illness. Naturopathic physicians seek to restore and maintain optimum health in their
patients by emphasizing nature's inherent self-healing process, the vis medicatrix naturae. This is accomplished through
education and the rational use of natural therapeutics.
Short Definition
Naturopathic medicine is a distinct system of primary health care-an art, science and practice of preventing, diagnosing
and treating conditions of the human mind and body.
Naturopathic physicians work with their patients to prevent and treat acute and chronic illness and disease, restore
health and establish optimal fitness by supporting the person's inherent self-healing process, the vis medicatrix naturae.
This is accomplished through:
- Prevention
Prevention of disease is emphasized through public health measures and hygiene as well as the encouragement and guidance of persons to adopt lifestyles which are conducive to optimal health.
- Diagnosis
Diagnosis and evaluation of the individual's state of health are accomplished by integrated modern and traditional, clinical and laboratory diagnostic methods.
- Treatment and Care
Therapeutic methods and substances are used which work in harmony with the person's inherent self -help process, the vis medicatrix naturae, including: dietetics and nutritional substances, botanical medicine, psychotherapy, naturopathic physical medicine including naturopathic manipulative therapy, minor surgery, prescription medications, naturopathic obstetrics (natural childbirth), homeopathy, and acupuncture.
One Page Definition
Overview
Naturopathic medicine is a distinct system of primary health care -an art, science, philosophy and practice of diagnosis,
treatment and prevention of illness. Naturopathic medicine is distinguished by the principles upon which its practice is
based. These principles are continually reexamined in the light of scientific advances. The techniques of naturopathic
medicine include modern and traditional, scientific and empirical methods. The following principles are the foundation
of naturopathic medical practice:
Principles
The Healing Power of Nature (Vis Medicatrix Naturae): Naturopathic medicine recognizes an inherent self-healing process in the person which 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 (ToIle Causam): 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 (Primum Non Nocere): Naturopathic physicians follow three guidelines to avoid harming the patient:
- Utilize methods and medicinal substances which minimize the risk of harmful side effects, using the least force necessary to diagnose and treat;
- Avoid when possible the harmful suppression of symptoms;
- Acknowledge, respect and work with the individual's self-healing process.
Doctor as Teacher (Docere): 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 -assessing risk factors, heredity and
susceptibility to disease and making appropriate interventions in partnership with their patients to prevent illness.
Naturopathic medicine is committed to the creation of a healthy world in which humanity may thrive.
Practice
Naturopathic Methods
Naturopathic medicine is defined by its principles. Methods and modalities are selected and applied based upon these
principles in relationship to the individual needs of each patient.
Diagnostic and therapeutic methods are selected from various sources and systems, and will continue to evolve with the
progress of knowledge.
Naturopathic Practice
Naturopathic practice includes the following diagnostic and therapeutic modalities: nutritional medicine, botanical
medicine, naturopathic physical medicine including naturopathic manipulative therapy, public health measures and
hygiene, counseling, minor surgery, homeopathy, acupuncture, prescription medication, intravenous and injection
therapy, naturopathic obstetrics (natural childbirth), and appropriate methods of laboratory and clinical diagnosis.
Comprehensive Definition
Overview:
Naturopathic medicine is a distinct system of primary health care -an art, science, philosophy and practice of diagnosis,
treatment and prevention of illness. Naturopathic medicine is distinguished by the principles which underlie and
determine its practice. These principles are based upon the objective observation of the nature of health and disease,
and are continually reexamined in the light of scientific advances. Methods used are consistent with these principles and
are chosen upon the basis of patient individuality. Naturopathic physicians are trained as primary health care physicians
whose diverse techniques include modern and traditional, scientific and empirical methods. The following principles are
the foundation for the practice of naturopathic medicine:
Principles:
The Healing Power of Nature (Vis Medicatrix Naturae)
The healing power of nature is the inherent self -organizing and healing process of living systems which establishes,
maintains and restores health. Naturopathic medicine recognizes this healing process to be ordered and intelligent. It is
the naturopathic physician's role to support, facilitate and augment this process by identifying and removing obstacles
to health and recovery, and by supporting the creation of a healthy internal and external environment.
Identify and Treat the Causes (Tolle Causam)
Illness does not occur without cause. Causes may originate in many areas. Underlying causes of illness and disease must
be identified and removed before complete recovery can occur. Symptoms can be expressions of the body's attempt to
defend itself, to adapt and recover, to heal itself, or may be results of the causes of disease. The naturopathic physician
seeks to treat the causes of disease, rather than to merely eliminate or suppress symptoms.
First Do No Harm (Primum Non Nocere)
Naturopathic physicians follow three precepts to avoid harming the patient:
- Naturopathic physicians utilize methods and medicinal substances which minimize the risk of harmful effects, and apply the least possible force or intervention necessary to diagnose illness and restore health.
- Whenever possible the suppression of symptoms is avoided as suppression generally interferes with the healing process.
- Naturopathic physicians respect and work with the vis medicatrix naturae in diagnosis, treatment and counseling, for if this self -healing process is not respected the patient may be harmed.
Doctor as Teacher (Docere)
The original meaning of the word "doctor" is teacher. A principal objective of naturopathic medicine is to educate the
patient and emphasize self-responsibility for health. Naturopathic physicians also recognize and employ the therapeutic
potential of the doctor-patient relationship.
Treat the Whole Person
Health and disease result from a complex of 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. Naturopathic medicine recognizes the harmonious functioning of all aspects of the
individual as being essential to health. The multifactorial nature of health and disease requires a personalized and
comprehensive approach to diagnosis and treatment. Naturopathic physicians treat the whole person, taking all of these
factors into account.
Prevention
Naturopathic medical colleges emphasize the study of health as well as disease. The prevention of disease and the
attainment of optimal health in patients are primary objectives of naturopathic medicine. In practice, these objectives
are accomplished through education and the promotion of healthy ways of living.
Naturopathic physicians assess risk factors, heredity and susceptibility to disease, and make appropriate interventions in
partnership with their patients to prevent illness. Naturopathic medicine asserts that one cannot be healthy in an
unhealthy environment and is committed to the creation of a world in which humanity may thrive.
Practice
Naturopathic Methods
Naturopathic medicine is defined primarily by its fundamental principles. Methods and modalities are selected and
applied based upon these principles in relationship to the individual needs of each patient. Diagnostic and therapeutic
methods are selected from various sources and systems and will continue to evolve with the progress of knowledge.
Naturopathic Practice
Naturopathic practice includes the following diagnostic and treatment modalities: utilization of all methods of clinical
and laboratory diagnostic testing including diagnostic radiology and other imaging techniques; nutritional medicine,
dietetics and therapeutic fasting; medicines of mineral, animal and botanical origin; hygiene and public health measures;
naturopathic physical medicine including naturopathic manipulative therapies; the use of water, heat, cold, light,
electricity, air, earth, electromagnetic and mechanical devices, ultrasound, and therapeutic exercise; homeopathy;
psychotherapy and counseling; acupuncture, injection and intravenous therapy; minor surgery; prescription medication;
and naturopathic obstetrics (natural childbirth).
Adopted at the 1989 Annual Convention, Reviewed by AANP HOD, 2000, Reviewed by AANP PPRC 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009
Professional Education
A licensed naturopathic physician (ND) attends a four-year, graduate-level naturopathic medical school and is educated in all of the same basic sciences as an MD, but also studies holistic and nontoxic approaches to therapy with a strong emphasis on disease prevention and optimizing wellness. In addition to a standard medical curriculum, the naturopathic physician also studies clinical nutrition, homeopathic medicine, botanical medicine, psychology, and counseling. A naturopathic physician takes rigorous professional board exams so that he or she may be licensed by a state or jurisdiction as a primary care general practice physician. Please see the AANMC’s Professional Competency Profile for more information.
Additional information on naturopathic schools can be found on the American Association of Naturopathic Medical CollegesWeb site.
The Association of Accredited Naturopathic Medical Colleges (AANMC) was established in February 2001 to propel and foster the naturopathic medical profession by actively supporting the academic efforts of accredited and recognized schools of naturopathic medicine. AANMC offers seven accredited naturopathic medical programs and eight campus locations in North America.
AANMC Member Schools:
Bastyr University14500 Juanita Dr. NE, Kenmore, Washington 98028-4966
Phone: (425) 823-1300, Fax: (425) 823-6222
Bastry University - California Campus4106 Sorrento Valley Boulevard
San Diego, California 92121-1407
Phone: (858) 246-9700, Fax: (858) 246-9710
National College of Natural Medicine049 SW Porter St., Portland, OR 97201
Phone: (503) 552-1555
National University of Health Sciences200 East Roosevelt Road
Lombard, IL 60148
Phone: (630) 629-2000, Fax: (630) 889-6499
Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine 2140 E. Broadway Rd., Tempe, Arizona 85282
Phone: (480) 858-9100, Fax (480) 858.9116
University of Bridgeport - College of Naturopathic Medicine Health Science Center, 60 Lafayette Street, Bridgeport, Connecticut 06604
Phone: (800) EXCEL UB ext. 4108
Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine1255 Sheppard Avenue East, Toronto, Ontario, M2K 1E2
Phone: (416) 498-1255, Toll Free: 1-866-241-2266
Boucher Institute of Naturopathic MedicineBoucher Centre, 300-435 Columbia Street, New Westminster, British Columbia, V3L 5N8
Phone: 604-777-9981, Fax: 604-777-9982
P.O. Box 178
Great Barrington, MA 01230
Phone: 413-528-8877
Fax: 413-528-8880
President: Marcia Prenguber, ND
Executive Director: Daniel Seitz, JD, MAT
Email: staff@cnme.org
The Council on Naturopathic Medical Education's (CNME) mission is quality assurance: serving the public by accrediting naturopathic medical education programs that voluntarily seek recognition that they meet or exceed CNME's standards. Students and graduates of programs accredited or preaccredited (candidacy) by CNME are eligible to apply for the naturopathic licensing examinations administered by the North American Board of Naturopathic Examiners (NABNE), and are generally eligible for state and provincial licensure in the U.S. and Canada.
#321 9220 SW Barbur Boulevard, Suite 119
Portland, OR 97219-5434
Phone: (503) 250-9141
Phone: (416) 498-4255×227
President: Paul Sanders, PhD, ND
Executive Director: Christa Louise, MS, PhD
Email: christalouise@nabne.org
The Naturopathic Physicians Licensing Examination (NPLEX) is the examination graduates of one of the approved naturopathic medical colleges must pass to be eligible for licensure in any of the 16 states or 5 provinces that license/register naturopathic physicians. The NABNE is responsible for qualifying applicants to take the NPLEX, administering the NPLEX to examinees, and preparing and sending exam results and transcripts to licensing/regulatory authorities.
President: James Spring, DC, ND
Executive Director: Christa Louise, MS, PhD
#321 9220 SW Barbur Boulevard, Suite 119
Portland, OR 97219-5434
Phone: (503) 778-7990
Email: info@nabne.org
www.nabne.org
The purpose of North American Board of Naturopathic Examiners is to determine the qualifications of applicants to take the NPLEX, to administer the NPLEX to examinees, and to prepare and send exam results and transcripts to licensing/regulatory authorities. The institutions that regulate naturopathic medicine grant authority to NABNE to be the examining body for the naturopathic profession through their agreement to use the results of the NPLEX Examinations in their determination of the candidate’s eligibility for licensure (United States) or registration (Canada).
Licensed States & Licensing Authorities
Currently, 17 states, the District of Columbia, and the United States territories of Puerto Rico and the United States Virgin Islands have licensing or regulation laws for naturopathic doctors. In these states, naturopathic doctors are required to graduate from an accredited four-year residential naturopathic medical school and pass an extensive postdoctoral board examination (NPLEX) in order to receive a license. For information about the Naturopathic Physicians Licensing Examination Board (NPLEX) and the North American Board of Naturopathic Examiners (NABNE), please see our Education page.
Licensed naturopathic physicians must fulfill state-mandated continuing education requirements annually, and will have a specific scope of practice defined by their state's law. The states that currently have licensing laws for naturopathic physicians are:
- Alaska
- Arizona
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- District of Columbia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Kansas
- Maine
- Minnesota
- Montana
- New Hampshire
- North Dakota
- Oregon
- Utah
- Vermont
- Washington
- United States Territories: Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands
Federation of Naturopathic Medicine Regulatory Authorities (FNMRA)
President: Anne Walsh, Oregon Board of Naturopathic Medicine
9220 SW Barbur Blvd., Ste 119, #321
Portland, OR 97219
Phone: 503-452-2953
Fax: 503-452-3943
www.fnmra.org
info@fnmra.org
Alaska Department of Community and Economic Development
Division of Occupational Licensing Naturopathic Section
P.O. Box 110806
Juneau, AK 99811-0806
Phone: (907) 465-2695
Email: nathan.vallier@alaska.gov
www.commerce.alaska.gov/occ/pnat.htm
Arizona Naturopathic Board of Medical Examiners
Executive Director: Craig Runbeck, NMD
1400 W. Washington Ave, #230
Phoenix, AZ 85007
Phone: (602) 542-8242
http://www.npbomex.az.gov/
Osteopathic Medical Board of California
Naturopathic Medicine Committee
Contact: Francine Davies
1300 National Drive, Suite 150
Sacramento, CA 95834
Mailing Address: PO Box 980490
West Sacramento, CA 95798-0490
Phone: (916) 928-4785
Fax: (916) 928-4787
Email: naturopathic@dca.ca.gov
www.naturopathic.ca.gov/
Connecticut Board of Naturopathic Examiners
410 Capitol Avenue, MS#12APP
P.O. Box 340308
Hartford, CT 06134-0308
Phone: (860) 509-7562
Email: oplc.dph@ct.gov
www.dph.state.ct.us/
District of Columbia Department of Health Advisory Committee on Naturopathic Physicians
717 14th Street, NW, Suite 600
Washington, DC 20005
Phone: (877) 672-2174
Fax: (202) 727-8471
hpla.doh.dc.gov
Hawaii Board of Examiners in Naturopathy
Executive Officer: Candace Ito
DCCA-PVL, Attn: NAT
P.O. Box 3469
Honolulu, HI 96801
Phone: (808) 586-2704
Email: naturopathy@dcca.hawaii.gov
hawaii.gov
Kansas State Board of Healing Arts
235 S. Topeka Blvd
Topeka, KS 66603-3068
Phone: (785) 296-7413
Toll Free: (888) 886-7205
Fax: (785) 296-0852
www.ksbha.org
Maine Board of Complementary Health Care Providers
Contact: Geraldine Betts
35 State House Station
Augusta, ME 04333-0035
Phone: (207) 624-8689
Email: comphealth.board@maine.gov
maine.gov
Minnesota Board of Medical Practice
Naturopathic Advisory Council
Chair: Helen Healy, ND
University Park Plaza
2829 University Avenue, S.E., Suite 500
Minneapolis, MN 55414-3246
Phone: (612) 617-2130
www.state.mn.us
Montana Alternative Health Care Board
301 S. Park, 4th Floor
P.O. Box 200513
Helena, MT 59620-0513
Phone: (406) 841-2394
Email: dlibsdahc@mt.gov
www.mt.gov
New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services
Licensing & Regulative Services
129 Pleasant Street
Concord, NH 03301-3857
Phone: (603) 271-9254
Toll-Free:(800) 852-3345, ext. 9254
www.dhhs.nh.gov
Oregon Board of Naturopathic Examiners
800 NE Oregon Street, Suite 407
Portland, OR 97232
Phone: (971) 673-0193
Email: obne.info@state.or.us
www.oregon.gov/OBNE
Utah Naturopathic Physicians Licensing Board
160 East 300 South
Salt Lake City, UT 84111
Phone: (80) 530-6628
www.dopl.utah.gov
Vermont Office of the Secretary of State
Office of Professional Regulation Naturopathic Physicians Advisors
Contact: Kristy Kemp
National Life Building
North FL2
Montpelier, VT 05620-3402
Phone: (802) 828-2373
vtprofessionals.org
Washington State Department of Health Naturopathy Program
Health Professions Quality Assurance
PO Box 47865
Olympia, WA 98504-7865
Phone: (360) 236-4700
Fax: (360) 236-4818
www.doh.wa.gov
Oficina de Regiamentacion y Certification Para Profesionales de La Salud
Secretary: Myrian Plaza
Call Box 10200
San Juan, Puerto Rico 00909-0200
College of Naturopathic Doctors of Alberta
P.O. Box 21142
665-8th St. S.W.
Calgary, AB T2P 4H5
Phone: (403) 266-2446
www.cnda.net
Board of Directors of Drugless Therapy - Naturopathy
112 Adelaide Street East
Toronto, ON M5C 1K9
Phone: (416) 866-8383
Fax: (416) 866-2175
Email: office@bddtn.ca
www.BoardofNaturopathicMedicine.on.ca
The College of Naturopathic Physicians of British Columbia
1698 West 6th Ave.
Vancouver, BC V6J 1R3
Phone: (604) 688-8236
Email: office@cnpbc.bc.ca
www.cnpbc.bc.ca
Manitoba Naturopathic Association
Box 2339 Station Main
Winnipeg, MB R3C 4A6
Phone: (204) 947-0381
Email: info@mbnd.ca
www.mbnd.ca
Saskatchewan Association of Naturopathic Practitioners
2120 College Ave.
Regina, SK S4P 1C5
Phone: (306) 522-0095
Fax: (306) 352-3841
Email: registrar@sanp.ca
www.sanp.ca
