Naturopathic Medicine

Naturopathic doctors (ND) are licensed primary care doctors with specialized training in natural medicine. Naturopathic medicine seeks to help the body heal itself using nutrition, herbal medicine, homeopathy, counseling, hydrotherapy, minor surgery, physical adjustments. NDs are able to prescribe some pharmaceutical medications. NDs treat men, women and children for acute and chronic conditions including heart disease, diabetes, cancer, allergies, digestive disorders, colds/flus, endocrine problems, anxiety, depression, among others. They can perform physical exams and order labs and imaging. NDs can also order specialty testing for food allergies and neurotranmitters. Some NDs are additionally trained in midwifery and acupuncture. NDs do not do emergency medicine for acute aliments such as heart attack, stroke, asthma attack, acute unidentified pain or trauma such as setting broken bones.

Naturopathic doctors base their practice on the philosophy of harnessing the healing power of nature. NDs see the body, mind, and spirit an interconnected system, all aspects of which can be address to treat a condition. A detailed intake is necessary to discover and address the most fundamental causes of a person's disease. NDs are able to treat symptoms of a condition, but always address treatment to deeper causes. This ensures that the body is supported to heal itself and the symptoms are not simply being suppressed.

Active prevention of disease is addressed with each patient. This is done by educating the patient about nutritional, lifestyle and environmental factors that carry high risk for developing disease. This education empowers patients so they can make better health choices and prevent costly chronic disease in the future.