Naturopathic medicine
What is naturopathic medicine?
Naturopathic medicine (or naturopathy) is based on the belief that the body can heal itself naturally. Naturopathic medicine attempts to improve health, prevent disease, and treat illness by promoting the use of organic foods and exercise; encouraging a healthy, balanced lifestyle; and applying concepts and treatments from other areas of complementary medicine (such as ayurveda, homeopathy, and herbal therapies).
Naturopathy was developed in the late 1800s in the United States. Today, a licensed naturopathic doctor (ND) attends a 4-year, graduate-level naturopathic medical school and studies the same basic sciences as a medical doctor (MD). However, the ND also studies alternative approaches to therapy, such as herbal medicine, acupuncture, and bodywork.
Most traditional naturopathic physicians (naturopaths) believe in natural therapies, such as nutritional and lifestyle counselling. In Canada, they cannot prescribe prescription medicines or perform surgery. However, some naturopaths prescribe herbal medicines, homeopathic dilutions, or nutritional supplements.
What is naturopathy used for?
People use naturopathic medicine for promoting good health, preventing disease, and treating illness. Most naturopaths can treat earaches, allergies, and other common medical problems. Naturopathic medicine tries to find the underlying cause of the condition rather than focusing solely on treating symptoms. A properly trained naturopathic physician works with other health professionals, referring people to other practitioners for diagnosis or treatment when appropriate.
Is naturopathy safe?
Two common concerns about naturopathic medicine are the use of dietary fasting and a bias against immunization (vaccinations).
- Talk with your medical doctor before fasting (not eating or drinking, or consuming only liquids for a period of time). Fasting can be dangerous, especially if you have a disease such as diabetes.
- Some naturopaths do not believe that immunization is necessary. Before immunizations became available, childhood illnesses caused large numbers of deaths and long-term health problems but provided survivors with natural immunity. The benefits of immunization greatly outweigh the risks.1
Always tell your doctor if you are using an alternative therapy or if you are thinking about combining an alternative therapy with your conventional medical treatment. It may not be safe to forgo your conventional medical treatment and rely only on an alternative therapy.
Naturopathy licensing varies from province to province. Not all provinces require naturopaths to be licensed. Also, not all naturopathic educational programs are the same. Some schools grant degrees that are not accepted by provincial licensing boards. In Canada and the United States, the Council on Naturopathic Medical Education (CNME) is the only agency recognized by government-appointed regulatory boards.
Before you choose a naturopath, find out whether the person graduated from an accredited university. Also check to see whether your province has licensing laws that govern the practice of NDs. If your province licenses NDs, ask your prospective ND whether he or she is licensed.
| Author: | Jeannette Curtis Caroline Rea, RN, BS, MS Sydney Youngerman-Cole, RN, BSN, RNC | Last Updated: October 1, 2007 |
| Medical Review: | Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine Donald Sproule, MD, CM, CCFP, FCFP - Family Medicine | |
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