NATUROPATHIC MEDICINE
—

Naturopathic medical doctors are trained at accredited, four-year, post-graduate, residential medical programs. The curriculum consists of a comprehensive study of conventional medical sciences—including anatomy, physiology, pathology, microbiology, immunology, clinical and physical diagnosis, laboratory diagnosis, cardiology, gastroenterology, and gynecology—as well as a detailed study of a wide variety of natural and integrative therapies.

NMDs utilize a broad range of non-invasive therapies, including clinical nutrition, botanical medicine, homeopathy, hydrotherapy, and physical medicine. While many naturopathic doctors have additional certifications in acupuncture and integrative obstetrics, the core of the practice is to function within an integrated framework. Naturopathic therapies are designed to complement conventional medicine, resulting in a patient-centered approach that provides the most appropriate treatment for an individual’s unique needs.

Naturopathic medicine in the United States was established over a century ago by Dr. Benedict Lust. While the profession by name is a century old, the natural therapies and philosophy on which it is based have been used effectively since ancient times.

Hippocrates, the Greek physician who lived 2,400 years ago, first formulated the concept of vis medicatrix naturae—the healing power of nature. This concept remains at the core of naturopathic philosophy today. In the early 20th century, the profession was widely popular, with thousands of physicians and numerous medical schools across the country.

While the rise of "technological medicine" and pharmaceutical interventions in the mid-20th century led to a temporary decline in natural healing, the 1970s marked a significant era of rejuvenation. As the public began seeking root-cause options and alternatives to conventional limitations, Naturopathic Medicine returned to the forefront of the American healthcare conversation.