About Naturopathic Medicine

What is Naturopathic Medicine?

Naturopathic medicine, contrary to popular belief, is not alternative medicine. It has been used as medicine for years and years, before modern medicine came about. Naturopathic medicine is traditional medicine. It also isn’t “woo woo” medicine or quackery; it is evidence-based medicine that uses a more natural approach to healing.

NDs find the root cause of your ailments, instead of suppressing the symptoms with pharmaceuticals. These symptoms are the body’s way of trying to tell you something. So, we listen. And we treat based on what we hear (and see, and feel). We treat according to the Therapeutic Order, in which we start with the foundations or determinants of health (nutrition, exercise, sleep, etc.) and then work our way up to using botanical medicine, nutraceuticals, physical medicine, and more, leaving the highest force interventions like pharmaceuticals and surgery last.

Many NDs find their values align with the Principles of Naturopathic Medicine (see infographic on right above).

Also, be sure not to confuse Naturopathic Doctors with naturopaths. Anyone can call themselves naturopaths. NDs / NMDs went through a rigorous education program and training at an accredited naturopathic medical school and have taken licensing exams to gain the knowledge and license to practice medicine as doctors. NDs learn the same material, including pharmaceuticals, as MDs do, plus all the natural medicine, nutrition, and physical medicine that allows us to treat the body as naturally as possible. 

Naturopathic Doctors really take the time to listen to their patients (which is why our initial intakes are notoriously long). So if you are looking for a more natural approach to your health, where your doctor actually takes the time to listen, give naturopathic medicine a try.