What is Naturopathic Medicine?
What is Naturopathic Doctor?
A Naturopathic Doctor (NDs) works in private practices, hospitals, clinics, and community health centers. NDs practice throughout the United States and Canada. NDs are trained in the art and science of both Conventional and Alternative Medicines. The primary difference between NDs and Conventional Medical Doctors (MD’s) lies in the focus on ‘treating the root cause of illness’ and focusing on prevention rather than suppressing disease symptoms (see comparison chart below).
Naturopathic Doctors believe that the human body has an innate ability to heal itself if given the proper circumstances. To achieve these circumstances, NDs integrate standard medical diagnostics and utilize a broad range of natural therapies (such as herbal medicines, nutrition, hydrotherapy, manual therapies, etc.) as first line, and pharmaceutical drugs only for short term if necessary. NDs treat a wide range of medical conditions, among the most common ailments they treat are: allergies, chronic pain, digestive issues, hormonal imbalances, obesity, heart disease, fertility problems, menopause, adrenal fatigue, cancer, fibromyalgia, and chronic fatigue syndrome. NDs can perform minor surgeries, such as removing cysts or stitching up superficial wounds. However, they do not practice major surgery.
Naturopathic physicians combine the wisdom of nature with the rigors of modern science. By using protocols that minimize the risk of harm, naturopathic physicians help facilitate the body’s inherent ability to restore and maintain optimal health. It is the naturopathic physician’s role to identify and remove barriers to good health by helping to create a healing internal and external environment.
Additionally, Naturopathic Medicine believes that each individual is unique and, therefore, each treatment plan should be tailored to that patient and their unique health concerns. Every person has their individual physiological makeup and at Regenerate Health Medical Center we use Personalized Natural Medicine to treat your concerns in the best way for your body.
What We Do At Regenerate Health Medical Center
We provide patients with the highest quality of individualized healthcare. This is done by listening carefully and intently to the patient, and designing treatment methods that promote the body’s ability to heal, with the least amount of invasiveness or side effects.
Here at the Regenerate Health, you can expect a high level of health care that is catered specifically to meet your needs. We support people who are ready to invest in their health with targeted treatment protocols that involve patients as active participants. Whether you are experiencing pain or chronic disease, you can get true relief by working on the root causes of dysfunction or illness. We do at times work on getting symptoms and or pain relief, but the primary focus is to restore you natural state of health.
Education
Every licensed and registered ND has at least 8 years of post-graduate education, has graduated from an accredited Naturopathic Medical School, has completed a multi-step, licensing exam process and maintains good standing by continually performing continuing education credits. NDs are educated in all of the same basic sciences as an MD, 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 clinical nutrition, acupuncture, 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. Please see the AANMC’s Professional Competency Profile for more information.
What makes Naturopathic doctors unique
- Investigate the root cause of disease
- Focus on optimal health, not merely absence of disease
- Trained in both Conventional and Natural medicine
- Use safe, effective and non-invasive natural therapies
- Licensed and regulated to perform to cutting edge treatments such as Regenerative Injections, IV therapy and Physiotherapy pain relief therapies
Naturopathic vs Conventional Medicine
| Naturopathic Medicine | Conventional Medicine | |
| General Philosophy | Generally strive to identify and treat root cause of disease with a focus on disease prevention. | Generally strive to control symptoms. Pharmaceutical drugs as primary treatment. |
| Education and Training | 4 years post graduate program. Extra training and specialties vary between practitioners. | 3-4 year post graduate program with specialty residencies lasting another 3-6 years. |
| Treatment Approaches | Wide range, strive for individualized treatment using diet and nutrition, botanticals, acupuncture, homeopathy, hormones, peptides and physical medicine with drugs as last resort. | Typically pharmacology (drug) and surgical based treatment with limited to no nutrition or lifestyle recommendations. |
| Diagnosis | Trained in western evidence-based pathology and diagnosis, as well as eastern & functional medical approaches. | Only trained in western, evidence-based pathology and diagnosis |
| Laboratory Testing | Access to basic lab testing, with private insurance coverage. Access to and substantial training in functional and specialty testing. Insurance coverage limited. | Insurance coverage for basic lab tests. Limited access, if any, to specialty testing, and coverage limited. |
| Governmental and Insurance Coverage | Not covered by most major insurance plans, reimbursement may be available, depending on insurance. | Insurance coverage for most basic testing and family physician visits. Specialists services vary. |
| Time with Patients | Typically 60-90 minute initial visits, 30-60 minute follow-ups. | Varies, but for a family physician it usually ranges from 5-15 minutes. |
