Please visit www.SCANP.org to offer your support for licensure in SC.
NATUROPATHIC MEDICAL EDUCATION AND TRAINING
A licensed naturopathic physician (N.D.) attends a four-year graduate level naturopathic medical school and is educated in all of the same basic sciences as an M.D. but also studies holistic and nontoxic approaches to therapy with a strong emphasis on disease prevention and optimizing wellness. In addition to a standard medical curriculum, the Naturopathic Physician is required to complete four years of training in the areas of clinical nutrition, homeopathic medicine, botanical medicine, psychology, physical medicine, and counseling (to encourage people to make lifestyle changes in support of their personal health). A naturopathic physician takes rigorous professional board exams so that he or she may be licensed by a state or jurisdiction as a primary care general practice physician. Additional information on naturopathic schools can be found at Association of Accredited Naturopathic Medical Colleges. For a Curricula Comparison of Naturopathic and Conventional Medical School Educations, check out our ND/MD Curricula Comparison.
Naturopathic Medicine is a distinct form of primary health care. Naturopathic physicians are primary health care practitioners, whose diverse techniques include both modern and traditional methods of treatment. The principles of naturopathic medicine are part of what distinguishes the naturopathic approach to health care from the conventional approach; and are based on objective observation of the nature of health and disease.
Principles of Naturopathic Medicine
The Healing Power of Nature (Vis Medicatrix Naturae)
Naturopathic medicine recognizes an inherent self healing process in the body which is ordered and intelligent. Naturopathic physicians act to identify and remove obstacles to recovery and to facilitate and augment this healing ability
First Do No Harm (Primum Non Nocere)
Naturopathic medicine follows three principles to avoid harming the patient: 1) utilize methods and medical substances which minimize the risk of harmful side effects; 2) avoid, when possible, the harmful suppression of symptoms; 3) acknowledge and respect the individual’s healing process, using the least force necessary to diagnose and treat illness
Find the Cause (Tolle Causam)
Underlying causes of illness must be identified and removed before complete recovery can occur. The naturopathic physician seeks to identify and remove the underlying causes of illness, rather than to eliminate or merely suppress symptoms
Treat the Whole Person (Tolle Totem)
Naturopathic physicians treat each individual by taking into account physical, mental, emotional, genetic, environmental, social and other factors. Since total health also includes spiritual health, naturopathic physicians encourage individuals to pursue their personal spiritual development.
Naturopathic physicians emphasize disease prevention, assessment of risk factors and hereditary susceptibility to disease and making appropriate interventions to prevent illness. Naturopathic medicine strives to create a healthy world in which humanity may thrive
Doctor as Teacher (Docere)
The original meaning of the word “doctor” is teacher. One of the main objectives of naturopathic medicine is to educate the patient and emphasize self –responsibility for health. Naturopathic physicians also acknowledge the therapeutic value of the doctor-patient relationship.
For more information about Naturopathic Medicine
AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF NATUROPATHIC MEDICAL COLLEGES
The Association of Accredited Naturopathic Medical Colleges (AANMC) was established in February 2001, to propel and foster the naturopathic medical profession by actively supporting the academic efforts of accredited and recognized schools of naturopathic medicine.
Bastyr University (Kenmore, Washington & San Diego, California)
National University of Natural Medicine (Portland, Oregon)
Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine (Tempe, Arizona)
University of Bridgeport – College of Naturopathic Medicine (Bridgeport, Connecticut)
Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine (Toronto, Ontario)
Boucher Institute of Naturopathic Medicine (New Westminster, British Columbia)
THE COUNCIL ON NATUROPATHIC MEDICAL EDUCATION
The Council on Naturopathic Medical Education‘s mission is quality assurance: serving the public by accrediting naturopathic medical education programs that voluntarily seek recognition that they meet or exceed CNME’s standards. Students and graduates of programs accredited or pre-accredited (candidacy) by CNME are eligible to apply for the naturopathic physicians licensing examinations administered by the North American Board of Naturopathic Examiners (NABNE), and are generally eligible for state and provincial licensure in the U.S. and Canada.
NORTH AMERICAN BOARD OF NATUROPATHIC EXAMINERS / NPLEX
The NPLEX (Naturopathic Physicians Licensing Examinations) are the examinations graduates of one of the approved naturopathic medical colleges must pass to be licensed in any of the 16 States, District of Columbia, US territories or 5 Canadian provinces that license/register Naturopathic Physicians. The North American Board of Naturopathic Examiners (NABNE) is responsible for approving applicants to take the NPLEX and for administering the examinations.