What is Naturopathic Medicine?

Naturopathic medicine is primary care health care that utilizes natural therapeutics. We are trained to treat people of all ages suffering from both acute and chronic diseases, everything from the common cold and flu to diabetes and hepatitis. As you can read in the Doctor's Bios, we have a range of experience collectively, treating people with such conditions as arthritis, asthma, cancer, depression, eczema, fibromyalgia, IBS, and more.

Examples of the natural modalities that we use include: nutrition, botanical medicine, homeopathy, Traditional Chinese Medicine, physical medicine, constitutional hydrotherapy, mind-body medicine, and counseling. Naturopathic doctors are also trained in the use of many pharmaceutical medications, and we are well-versed in the interactions between drugs, herbs, and nutrients.

Who are Naturopathic Doctors?
Naturopathic doctors are licensed, board-certified doctors who have attended 4-year accredited medical schools. Enrollment in naturopathic medical school requires a bachelor's degree and completion of pre-medical prerequisite classes, similar to conventional allopathic medical school. The naturopathic medical education consists of 2 years of basic science classes such as anatomy, physiology, and biochemistry, as well as intensive study of the medical "-ologies:" pathology, cardiology, oncology, gynecology, etc. We also receive 2 years of clinical education in naturopathic modalities at various clinical settings such as doctor's offices, hospitals, community health clinics, and more.

The philosophy of naturopathic medicine differentiates it from conventional medicine and informs how we approach each patient. Our goal is to support the wisdom of the body and to facilitate the body's ability to heal itself, therefore we work in harmony with the body and with nature. Naturopathy utilizes a holistic approach to healing, addressing the whole person: body, mind, and spirit. The core of naturopathic medicine is to treat each person as an individual and to consider his or her whole being. We do not treat one bodily system as separate from the rest of the person's body and psyche. It is equally important to care for the mind, the body, and the spirit, in whatever ways are the most appropriate for each patient.