How is a Naturopathic doctor different than a conventional doctor?
In general, there are two different outlooks when it comes to medicine. Conventional medical doctors practice an interventionist philosophy in which the doctor's goal is to diagnose and treat a particular disease. The Naturopathic outlook is holistically oriented.
The role of an ND is to promote the health of the patient rather than treating a disease. Naturopathic doctors do treat disease, but from the position of returning a patient to optimum health by examining the causes of medical vulnerability and/or fragility.
There is an expression in naturopathic medicine, "vis medicatrix naturae" meaning, "the healing power of nature." When a conventional doctor might use antibiotics to treat an infection, a naturopathic doctor carefully examines the patient's life to discover why the infection occurred. A change in diet, lifestyle, herbal medicine or homeopathy might be prescribed in order to allow the patient's body to contribute to the health of the person.
Using a range of curative therapies, a Naturopath can always help a patient become healthier. In the case of a disease which has progressed too far, a doctor may be unable to cure the patient, but a Naturopath is still able to help to improve health.
Conventional doctors are taking a close look at Naturopathic medicine and incorporating some of the techniques. Many convention doctors also realize the superficial aspects of many prescription drugs, and are also frustrated by medicine based on symptom repression.
For more information, visit the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians web site @ http://www.naturopathic.org
This helpful site has more information on licensing and accreditation and details on Naturopathic medicine.
We at A Better Choice, believe that health is more than the absence of pain.
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