Many of you may be searching for more health care options. This is a very personal choice that many of us make at some point in our lifetimes for any number of reasons. Maybe your condition requires a specialist or maybe you are not responding to treatments that have been provided. Maybe you just want to expand your knowledge about health and play a more active role in your health care regimen. For any of these reasons, you may seek treatment and guidance from a Naturopathic Medical Doctor, (NMD) or Naturopathic Doctor, (ND).
NMDs receive their education in 4-year accredited doctoral programs with a foundation in anatomical, biological, physiological, and biochemical sciences. After they have proven proficient in these subjects by passing nationally regulated board examinations, they receive additional training in clinical sciences including laboratory and clinical diagnosis, pathology, minor surgery, and pharmacology. Sound like med school so far?! But wait, there’s more! In addition to gaining a comprehensive understanding of science, which is crucial to adhering to the highest standards of safety and efficacy, NMDs learn to provide an even broader spectrum of options to their patients. NMDs are trained in a variety of modalities that include nutritional therapy, botanical medicine, homeopathy, chinese medicine and acupuncture, and physical medicine. Another testing of proficiency in clinical sciences and subsequent licensing to practice medicine includes passing a second board examination of all the aforementioned subjects in both traditional and “alternative” therapies.
Hopefully I have answered some questions the readers may have about a Naturopathic Doctor’s training. My approach in practice uses the entirety of the training I have received to offer the most appropriate options to my patients for their unique condition. Every patient is treated as an individual rather than a textbook case with a generic therapeutic answer. Ultimately, the guidleline for treatment is the least harmful and most beneficial option or combination of options.
