Naturopathic Medicine is both an alternative and a complement to modern medical treatment. Many people want to know and seek a clearer understanding of what naturopathic medicine means. In short, naturopathic medicine is a healing approach that works with the body, not against it. More specifically, it is rooted in nature and supports the body’s innate healing ability. Naturopathic doctors (NDs) treat the whole person — mind, body, and spirit — by identifying and treating the root cause of disease, rather than merely suppressing symptoms. This post will explore how naturopathic medicine works, what sets it apart, and whether it might be the right path for your wellness journey.
Core Principles of Naturopathic Medicine
The tenets of naturopathic medicine guide doctors when evaluating a patient and building a unique treatment plan for each patient. These tenets include:
Do no harm: The first goal of any naturopathic doctor is to assist in healing a patient rather than making the ailments worse. NDs carefully evaluate and then thoughtfully create a treatment plan. The healing journey can be difficult, especially at first, and creating a comfortable and safe environment for wellness makes all the difference.
The Healing Power of Nature: NDs know the healing power of nature and, thus, use substances found in nature and incorporate a healthy natural environment for overall health. Naturopathic doctors utilize the body’s inherent wisdom to help it heal, and NDs develop treatment plans for patients that reflect this basic tenet.
Identify and Treat the Causes: NDs dig down to find the root cause of a patient’s ailments. There may be a time and a place to suppress systems. However, this basic tenet calls on naturopathic doctors to get to the root cause instead of masking symptoms.
Doctor as Teacher: Naturopathic healing is as much about teaching as recovery. Patients learn skills to help them stay healthy, and they will understand the steps and cures it takes to treat themselves over time.
Treat the Whole Person: NDs know that the body, mind, and spirit are interconnected, and treating the patient’s symptoms means treating the entire human experience. This whole-person approach helps bring about balance to overall health.
Prevention: NDs are trained in prevention, as well as treatment. Naturopathic doctors integrate all six principles to identify potential imbalances and guide patients to prevent future disease and toward lasting wellness.
The Naturopathic Medicine Therapeutic Order
The Naturopathic Medicine Therapeutic Order is a guiding framework that helps naturopathic doctors address symptoms, uncover root causes, and support healing using the least force necessary. It outlines the extent of intervention as an ND follows a clear path for treatment. Naturopathic doctors always start with the least invasive treatment. The pyramid structure goes through these stages:
Establish the foundations for health: This includes evaluating the patient’s sleep habits, stress levels, diet, and more.
Stimulate the self-healing mechanisms: This can include hydrotherapy, homeopathy, or craniosacral, to name a few.
Support and restore weakened systems: Aid regeneration of damaged organs and tissues.
Correct structural integrity: Address physical alignment, such as posture issues, joint misalignments, or muscular imbalances, that may be contributing to pain, dysfunction, or poor overall health.
Address pathology using natural substances: Treat with natural substances, such as botanical remedies, vitamins, minerals, and others.
Use pharmaceutical or synthetic interventions: This includes using traditional drugs to treat symptoms.
High-force interventions: For example, surgery, chemotherapy, and suppression of symptoms.
Is a Naturopathic Doctor a Real Doctor?
Naturopathic doctors (NDs) attend accredited four-year medical schools, where they earn a Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine degree. Their training includes biomedical sciences, such as anatomy, physiology, pathology, pharmacology, clinical diagnostics, natural therapies like nutrition, herbal medicine, lifestyle counseling, and physical medicine. NDs also complete supervised clinical training and must pass national licensing exams (NPLEX) to become licensed in states or provinces that regulate naturopathic medicine.
NDs are the equivalent of MDs in most aspects. However, there is one fundamental difference. While both NDs and MDs complete four years of medical school, NDs focus on natural and preventive care without a hospital-based residency. In contrast, MDs typically complete additional years of specialized training in hospitals and focus on conventional disease management.
What Does a Naturopathic Doctor Do?
Naturopathic doctors are natural healers who diagnose and treat illness by recognizing root causes and using natural, evidence-based therapies to support the body’s healing ability. A diagnosis includes:
- Identifying root causes
- Exploring natural therapies as treatment
- Personalized treatment plans
- Comprehensive physical examination
- Patient education and empowerment
- Collaboration with your naturopathic health care team
Standard Therapies in Naturopathic Medicine
Naturopathic doctors draw from a range of therapies to support healing and restore balance, including the following:
Nutrition and Lifestyle Counseling: The ND provides personalized recommendations to help patients make sustainable changes in diet, exercise, sleep, and stress management that support long-term wellness.
Clinical Nutrition: The use of food and supplements to promote healing.
Botanical (herbal) Medicine: Plant-based remedies tailored to individual needs.
Physical Medicine: Using techniques like massage, hydrotherapy, and craniosacral therapy.
Mind-Body Therapies: Using meditation, breathing exercises, and yoga for stress relief.
Homeopathy: Based on the principle of ‘like cures like,’ homeopathy involves diluting natural substances to stimulate the body’s healing response.
Can a Naturopathic Doctor Prescribe Medicine?
Naturopathic doctors can prescribe medications, but unlike MDs, who can write prescriptions in any state, NDs are governed and restricted by the state in which they are licensed or registered. Unfortunately, Colorado-registered naturopathic doctors cannot prescribe many pharmaceuticals. Licensed NDs have limited prescriptive authority in many U.S. states and Canadian provinces that regulate naturopathic medicine, meaning they can prescribe certain pharmaceuticals like antibiotics, hormones, or thyroid medication. For more information on the prescriptive writing privileges in your state, visit the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians’ Scope of Practice Map.
You Can Benefit from Naturopathic Medicine
Natural medicine works with your body’s ability to heal and find balance, so almost anyone can benefit. Patients often notice a real difference in the treatments and the overall experience compared to a traditional MD. If you’re dealing with a chronic condition, natural therapies can be easier on your system over time, without the side effects that often come with long-term medications. It’s also an excellent fit for people who want a more holistic, prevention-focused approach to care.
Denver’s Premier Naturopathic Medical Practice
Interest in naturopathic medicine is growing, with more and more people seeking alternatives to traditional medicine that are less reliant on prescription drugs and surgery. However, reliable information regarding natural healing practices and methods is fragmented, often confusing those interested. We hope this post clears up some misconceptions and shines a light on naturopathic medicine, the doctors who practice it, and the treatments.
Natural Medicine of Denver is a trusted source for reliable information and holistic care for anyone in the Denver area. We have a team of educated naturopathic doctors, and our services include naturopathic medicine, craniosacral therapy, visceral manipulation, and lab testing for diagnostics. Schedule a free 15-minute consultation. You can also call us directly at 720-613-8501. We are here to provide the best naturopathic treatment available.
