Texas Association of Naturopathic Physicians
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Naturopathic Medicine
“If people let government decide what foods they eat and what medicines they take, their bodies will soon be in as sorry a state as are the souls of those who live under tyranny.”


- Thomas Jeffersonn
What is an ND?

Naturopathic doctors (NDs) are the alternative counterpart to conventional doctors (MDs), and have the same education and licensing requirements, although licenses are issued by a different organization.  The same patient examinations and lab tests are used to measure patient progress, but therapeutic methods are typically different.

Naturopaths look at the body as a dynamic whole, recognizing that  no one system works without all the other systems.  This holistic approach to medicine is extremely successful for both chronic conditions (like diabetes or fibromyalgia) and acute illnesses (like a cold or flu).  Naturopaths also work with your conventional doctors or specialists to make sure you are getting the best care possible and that all of your medications and treatments are working well together.


Legally, the practice of naturopathic medicine is different from state to state. In some States, naturopaths are licensed as primary care physicians, and in others naturopaths have a limited license or are not licensed at all, as in Texas.  In unlicensed states such as Texas it is especially important to make sure your ND is fully educated and qualified.
 
The TXANP is working actively on ensuring that proper licensing laws are initiated in Texas to help protect consumer safety and professional integrity.
Naturopathic Therapies


Homeopathy:
Homeopathy is an advanced form of medicine based on the principal of “like-cures-like”.   Homeopathy gives great success in patients of all ages for both chronic and acute conditions. 

Botanical Medicine:
Plants have been used as medicines for thousands of years. Herbs are used in both traditional herbal formulations and as "phytomedicines", which are scientifically researched and formulated.

Nutrition:
A growing body of scientific research indicates that a healthy diet may be the single most important factor in a person’s wellbeing. Many medical conditions can be helped as effectively with foods and nutritional supplements as they can by any other means.

Environmental Medicine:
Detoxification is critical for any patient seeking optimal health. Our bodies are bombarded by chemicals, and it is often vital to support the system in eliminating those toxins.

Counseling and Stress Management:
Mental and emotional stress are central elements in disease. Naturopathic physicians are trained in a variety of psychological techniques, including counseling, stress management and biofeedback.

Orthomolecular Medicine:
Orthomolecular Medicine is the practice of preventing and treating disease by ensuring that the body has optimal amounts of substances that naturally occur within the body.  These substances include vitamins, minerals, amino acids, enzymes, essential fatty acids, and hormones.




 Naturopathic Education

Naturopathic medical education is like any other medical education. NDs must get an undergraduate degree with standard premedical coursework before they can attend Naturopathic medical school. 

Naturopathic medical school is 4-5 year post-graduate level study in which a Doctorate in Natuopathic Medicine is the final result. 

The first two years of Naturopathic Medical school focus on basic biomedical sciences such as anatomy, physiology, pathology, microbiology and immunology.  The final years focus on therapies, including pharmacology and minor surgery in addition to the naturopathic modalities listed on the left. 

In States where Naturopaths are fully licensed, they are able to use the tools of modern medicine, such as pharmaceutical drugs and minor surgery in addition to the natural therapies such as nutrition, botanical medicine and homeopathy.

There are currently six accredited schools of Naturopathic medicine in North America.  These are:

Bastyr University in Seattle, Washington
www.bastyr.edu

National College of Naturopathic Medicine in Portland, Oregon
www.ncnm.edu

Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine in Phoenix, Arizona
www.scnm.edu

University of Bridgeport - College of Naturopathic Medicine in Bridgeport, Connecticut
www.bridgeport.edu

Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine in Toronto, Ontario
www.ccnm.edu

Boucher Institue of Naturopathic Medicine in Vancouver, BC
www.binm.org