Naturopathic medicine

Naturopathic medicine is the practice of attempting to improve the health of patients through the application of natural remedies. Most naturopaths consider their care complementary, not supplementary, to conventional Medicine.

Naturopathic physicians and traditional naturopaths

There are two groups calling themselves "naturopaths" who have recently been engaged in legal battles. The term when originally coined by Lust was to apply to those recieving an education in the basic medical sciences with an emphasis on natural therapies:

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• Naturopathic physicians
• "Traditional" naturopaths

Naturopathic physicians

Naturopathic physician are primary care physicians with training in conventional medical sciences, diagnosis and treatment, and natural therapeutics with licenses or registration granted by an individual state Naturopathic Board of Medical Examiners. They graduate from four-year nationally accredited naturopahtic medical graduate schools. Naturopathic physicians training with respect to modalities is different, with a focus on nutrition, botanical medicine, homeopathy, hydrotherapy, physical manipulation, pharmacology, and minor surgery. Some naturopathic physicians have additional training in natural childbirth and/or acupuncture.

Related Topics:
Primary care - Graduate school - Modalities - Nutrition - Botanical medicine - Homeopathy - Hydrotherapy - Physical manipulation - Pharmacology - Minor surgery

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Naturopathic physicians are licensed to diagnose and treat disease in Alaska, Arizona, California, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Hawaii, Idaho, Kansas, Maine, Montana, New Hampshire, Oregon, Utah, Vermont, Washington, US Territories: Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands.

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Naturopathic Physicians are working in cooperation with all parties, conventional and alternative, to provide patients with complete medical care. Naturopathic physicians are in a pivotal role with their training in both conventional and non-conventional treatment. Naturopathic physicians are able to identify and prescribe appropriate treatment including referral to conventional medical doctors.

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Traditional naturopaths

The traditional naturopath practices in a complementary fashion by applying natural means in an attempt to improve the patient's health. Through application of good dietary and lifestyle practices, combined with the addition of modalities such as herbalism(also known as botanical medicine), bodywork(also known as physiotherapy, massage, physical medicine), spiritual and mental exercises, this type of naturopath claims that he/she "returns control of the patient's mind and body to (the patient). Naturopaths consider these practices as being complementary rather than alternative. Traditional naturopaths typically have correspondence-school training, and occasionally may participate in some type of apprenticeship program. They work with individuals who wish to try to restore their health by application of these methods. They are not legally licensed to practice in any state in the United States, except Minnesota and Rhode Island. Traditional naturopaths are not legally permitted to diagnose or treat diseases. For these, they rely on conventional medical doctors.

Related Topics:
Natural means - Diet - Lifestyle - Herbalism - Bodywork - Alternative - Minnesota - Rhode Island - Diagnose - Diseases

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