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Naturopathic doctors provide primary and adjunctive health care to people of all
ages, focusing on the rational use of natural therapies to support and stimulate
healing processes. Naturopathic doctors promote health and prevent illness, and
assess and treat people in a manner consistent with the body of knowledge and
standards of practice for the profession.
The scope of practice for naturopathic medicine in North America, and in
which each naturopathic doctor is educated, trained and examined, includes:
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Lifestyle
modification and public health
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Clinical nutrition
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Homeopathic
medicine
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Counseling
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Botanical medicine
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Oriental medicine
and acupuncture *
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Mechanotherapy
including manipulation of the spine and extremities *
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Physical
therapeutic procedures including hydrotherapy, therapeutic ultrasound,
electrotherapy and manipulative therapy *
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Obstetrics *
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Minor surgery *
*
Please note that the naturopathic medical education includes acupuncture,
mechanotherapy, physical therapeutic procedures, obstetrics, minor surgery and
diagnosis (including physical examination, in-office functional measurements,
in-office and common laboratory investigations, diagnostic imaging and oriental
medicine diagnosis) but these practices may be limited in jurisdictions that do
not regulate naturopathic medicine
Treatment Modalities:
Naturopathic medicine is unique in that each naturopathic doctor is trained in
all of the treatment modalities described below, and most importantly in their
integrated use:
Lifestyle Modification and Public Health:
Environment and lifestyle have a significant impact on health. Ailments can be
prevented through good physical and mental hygiene such as a wholesome diet,
adequate exercise, the abstinence from tobacco and drugs, proper rest, sleep,
relaxation and stress management. The naturopathic doctor will evaluate these
factors in each individual and encourage progressive implementation of a
lifestyle and social environment conducive to good health and longevity.
Clinical Nutrition:
The relationship between nutrition and wellness, or between inadequate nutrition
and disease, is well documented and is a cornerstone of naturopathic medical
practice. Naturopathic application of clinical nutrition involves the use of
dietetics and specific nutritional substances for the prevention and treatment
of the individual, the correction of dietary inadequacies and the promotion of
wellness.
Homeopathy:
Homeopathy was originally developed during the 18th century by the
German doctor Samuel Hahnemann, and is widely used throughout the world. Minute
amounts of substances prepared and prescribed according to strict homeopathic
principles are used to evoke a healing response. The practice of homeopathy
includes a unique and detailed method of case taking and analysis, and an
in-depth knowledge of homeopathic materia medica.
Counseling:
A tenet of naturopathic medicine is that emotional health and physical health
are interdependent. The field of psychoneuroimmunology has provided scientific
research in support of the connection between the mind and body. Naturopathic
medical practice includes the integrated use of counseling techniques along with
such methods as stress management and biofeedback when indicated.
Oriental Medicine and Acupuncture:
Oriental medicine and acupuncture comprise a unique system that has been in use
for 5,000 years for the diagnosis and treatment of ailments. This system
employs unique methods for evaluating the flow and balance of energy in the
body, and includes the specialized use of Oriental herbs and acupuncture.
Naturopathic doctors are trained to use this system when indicated as part of an
integrated approach with Western diagnostic methods.
Botanical Medicine:
Plant substances have been utilized safely and effectively for centuries in the
prevention and treatment of ailments. Their clinical uses and effects are
described in detail in traditional and scientific literature. Botanical
medicines have nutritional and pharmacological properties that necessitate their
use by appropriately trained health care providers.
Go to "Education
of Naturopathic Medicine?"
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