Frequently Asked Questions

Question
What is a Naturopathic Doctor?

Answer
A Naturopathic Doctor (ND) is a medical practitioner who has completed a postgraduate medical education specializing in primary care natural medicine. NDs are distinct from acupuncturists, chiropractors, osteopaths, and medical doctors. They are uniquely trained to provide a comprehensive and integrated approach to assist your body’s innate healing processes. Naturopathic doctors are skilled in diagnosis and treatment of disease utilizing natural therapeutics including clinical nutrition, herbal medicine, homeopathy, physical medicine, and hydrotherapy. They tailor these approaches to the needs of each individual patient. Naturopathic medicine is effective in treating most health problems, whether acute or chronic. Naturopathic doctors cooperate with all other branches within the medical field, referring patients to other practitioners for diagnosis or treatment when appropriate. As with all physicians today, NDs are trained at accredited, four- to five-year postgraduate medical institutions. Comprehensive study of the conventional medical sciences includes anatomy, physiology, pathology, microbiology, immunology, clinical and physical diagnosis, laboratory diagnosis, cardiology, gastroenterology, gynecology, oncology, and neurology among others – as well as detailed study of a wide variety of natural therapies. In the last two years of intensive clinical training, NDs learn how to integrate the principles of naturopathic medicine into clinical practice. After graduating from an accredited naturopathic medical school, naturopathic doctors are able to sit for the Naturopathic Physicians Licensing Exam (NPLEX), administered by the North American Board of Naturopathic Examiners.