Naturopathic Medicine is a system of medicine that focuses on the prevention of illness and treatment in a less-invasive and holistic way. Naturopathic Medicine has been a part of the American health care system for over 100 years. Naturopathic Physicians skillfully blend modern elements of conventional medicine (including being licensed to prescribe pharmaceutical medications) with holistic and natural medicine modalities.
Naturopathic Physicians (ND’s or NMD’s) are trained as primary care physicians and are the only physicians trained as specialists in natural medicine from the start. Naturopathic Physicians are trained in four-year medical schools and are required to pass comprehensive national exams (NPLEX) in order to be licensed. Once licensed, they are able to diagnose and treat medical conditions, whether acute or chronic. In practice, Naturopathic Physicians perform and use the same diagnostic tools that patients have experienced with their Allopathic Physicians (MD’s) including; thorough history taking, physical exams, laboratory/blood testing, x-rays, ultrasounds, etc. They work closely with other branches of medicine, referring patients to other qualified practitioners/specialists for diagnosis and/or treatment when necessary.
Naturopathic Physicians differ from conventional physicians in their philosophy of treatment and in certain treatment modalities.
- Addressing the cause of disease, not just suppressing symptoms.
- Treating the whole person, not just a particular organ or disease.
- Remembering that conditions are often connected.
- Respecting the body’s innate ability to heal itself.
- Promoting prevention of illness and teaching you how to achieve your optimal level of health long before any devastating illness.
One of my favorite principles of Naturopathic Medicine has always been Docere, which means Doctor as Teacher. I am not sure when we stopped remembering that the word Doctor comes from the Latin word docere, which means “to teach.” I believe that medicine has lost a valuable skill in its all too often failure to educate the patient on how to take care of themselves as much as possible; empowering them to be an advocate for their health. I am passionate about teaching my patients and explaining to them not only their condition but also their options.
Dr. Dane Buxbaum
Additional Information:
National Institutes of Health (NIH) Article on Naturopathic Medicine
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2883816/
Association of Accredited Naturopathic Medical Colleges
American Association of Naturopathic Physicians
* Above notations are based on Arizona medical licensure, licensure varies by state.