Naturopathic medicine is a powerful healing art that combines alternative and conventional approaches to achieve the best results. At its basis is the principal that every person is a unique individual and possesses a healing force within that can be stimulated to achieve or return to health.

Some of the tools naturopathic doctors use are: counseling, nutrition, physical medicine, botanicals (herbs), homeopathy, pharmaceutical medications, laboratory testing, and minor surgical techniques.

Naturopathic physicians are trained to listen to patients, treat them as unique individuals, and meet them where they are at to create a comprehensive plan. They excel as teachers, helping their patients to be more educated, and feel like they are a part of the healing process.

Becoming a naturopathic physician is a challenging endeavor. One must first achieve a four year bachelor degree with a strong science foundation. Then, the candidate must be accepted at one of the few accredited naturopathic medical schools in the United States or Canada, where they will spend the next four to five years in an intense program averaging 28-31 credits a quarter.

Curriculum includes many of the same requirements as regular medical programs: years of biochemistry, microbiology, gross anatomy/cadaver dissection, pathology, pharmacology, laboratory medicine, etc. -But they also include years of botanical medicine, homeopathy, physical medicine, and training in psychological counseling.

Along the way they are tested by national basic sciences and clinical boards (NPLEX), while fulfilling extensive hands-on clinical requirements. Upon graduation and passing national boards, these physicians are eligible to be licensed in the states that recognize them and practice primary care medicine.

As doctors of naturopathic medicine they enlist the initials N.D. or N.M.D after their names. For more information and to find a board-certified naturopathic physician in your area please refer to the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians (AANP).