The Seven Principles of Naturopathic Medicine are:
The Healing Power of Nature
Naturopathic medicine recognizes an inherent self-healing process in the person that is ordered and intelligent. Naturopathic physicians act to identify and remove obstacles to healing and recovery, and to facilitate and augment this inherent self-healing process.
Identify and Treat the Cause
The naturopathic physician seeks to identify and remove the underlying causes of illness, rather that to merely eliminate or suppress symptoms.
First Do No Harm
Naturopathic physicians follow three precepts to avoid harming the patient:
1. Utilize methods and medical substances which minimize the risk of harmful side effects, using the least force necessary to diagnose and treat.
2. Avoid when possible the harmful suppression of symptoms.
3. Acknowledge, respect and work with the individual’s self-healing process.
Doctor As Teacher
Naturopathic physicians educate their patients and encourage self-responsibility for health. They also recognize and employ the therapeutic potential of the doctor-patient relationship.
Treat the Whole Person
Naturopathic physicians treat each patient by taking into account individual 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.
Prevention
Naturopathic physicians emphasize the prevention of disease — assessing risk factors, heredity and susceptibility to disease and making appropriate interventions in partnership with their patients to prevent illness. Naturopathic medicine is committed to the creation of a healthy world in which humanity may thrive.
The Hierarchy of Therapeutics
The philosophy of using medicines with the least force necessary to bring about a long lasting, non-suppressive therapeutic effect in someone who is sick.
Education
Naturopathic medical colleges are four-year, graduate-level medical schools with admissions requirements comparable to those of other medical schools. The Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine degree, ND, is awarded after classroom, clinical, and practical study. NDs are trained in a wide range of medical sciences including: anatomy, cardiology, neurology, physiology, biochemistry, radiology, pathology, obstetrics, minor surgery, microbiology, gynecology, pharmacology, pediatrics, immunology, dermatology, lab diagnostics, clinical and physical diagnosis.
Throughout the four years, there is training in naturopathic therapeutics including therapeutic nutrition, botanical medicine, homeopathy, natural childbirth, hydrotherapy, naturopathic manipulative therapy, and other therapies.
The accrediting agency for naturopathic medical schools and programs in North America is the Council on Naturopathic Medical Education, CNME. There are presently four colleges accredited by the CNME in the United States: Bastyr University in Kenmore, WA, Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine and Health Sciences in Tempe, AZ, National College of Naturopathic Medicine in Portland, OR, and University of Bridgeport College of Natural Medicine in Bridgeport, CT.
Licensing and Regulation
Currently, eighteen states and terriories have licensing laws for naturopathic doctors. In these states, naturopathic doctors are required to graduate from one of the four-year, residential naturopathic medical schools and pass an extensive postdoctoral board examination (NPLEX) in order to receive a license. Licensed naturopathic physicians must also fulfill state-mandated continuing education requirements annually. In addition, they have a specific scope of practice defined by their state’s law. In most states with licensing laws, naturopathic physicians are licensed as primary providers and can perform the same type of care as any other general practice physician. The states with current licensing laws for naturopathic physicians are Alaska, Arizona, California, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Hawaii, Idaho, Kansas, Maine, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, Oregon, Utah, Vermont, Washington, and territories: Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands.
A Word of Clarification on the ND Qualification and Credentials
Unfortunately, there is some confusion between licensed naturopathic physicians, with a four-year, graduate-level education, and people who call themselves "naturopaths." There may be people who call themselves "naturopaths" but who have not gone to an accredited school or passed a national board exam. These people may have only correspondence or online training and did not receive any clinical training. In Idaho a person calling themself a "naturopath" may use the same initials, ND, as identification. However, they are health consultants, not healthcare practitioners and have not graduated from an accredited educational institution and have not been board certified by the North American Board of Naturopathic Examiners (NABNE).
If you wish to receive health care from a practitioner who is trained and licensed to diagnose and treat disease, you are looking for a naturopathic physician, such as Dr. Brandi Bean Solace. In a state with licensing laws, it is important to ask if the ND is licensed as a naturopathic physician. In other states, you could ask if your practitioner took the NPLEX board exam or attended one of the four-year accredited naturopathic colleges named above. For more information and to find other licensed Naturopathic Physicians please visit www.naturopathic.org.
Please note that many "naturopaths" are healers; however, it is important to understand that they are limited in training and scope of practice. We feel that those seeking health care should be able to make an informed distinction between those professionals with similar names and the same identifying initials.
