What is Naturopathic Medicine?

Licensed Naturopathic Physicians are trained at a 4-year accredited medical school, and are required to pass national NPLEX board examinations in order to practice. They are trained as Primary Care Physicians, learning about both conventional standards of practice and more natural forms of medicine, such as Chinese Medicine, Botanical Medicine, Clinical Nutrition and Homeopathy. They are experts at bridging the gap between conventional and alternative medicines and are able to speak both languages with ease.

It is important not to confuse licensed Naturopathic Physicians (ND’s or NMD’s) with “Naturopaths”, who have had less training and are not licensed through a board-certified exam.

Principles of Naturopathic Medicine

The following principles guide Naturopathic Physicians and govern the practice of naturopathic medicine:

• The Healing Power of Nature (Vis Medicatrix Naturae)

• Identify and Treat the Cause (Tolle Causam)

• First Do No Harm (Primum Non Nocere)

• Doctor as Teacher (Docere)

• Treat the Whole Person

• Prevention