I get this question a lot! In our current healthcare culture most people have never heard of a naturopathic doctor. Even fewer have had the opportunity to work with one. My goal as a naturopathic doctor is to change that. Not because naturopathic medicine is some newfangled idea that requires an extensive introduction. Quite the opposite. Naturopathic medicine is mostly about returning to old-school healing wisdom and common sense. The more you learn about the naturopathic approach, the more you’ll realize that it is recognizable and relatable.
The phrase “naturopathy” was first used in 1885 by Dr. John Scheel while practicing in New York, though naturopathic principles were in use long before then in cultures around the world. Naturopathic medicine has a rich history intertwined with the development of medicine at large and a track record of helping people heal. A review of that history is for another post, but if you’re curious in the meantime, check out the resources listed below for more information.
Simply put, naturopathic medicine is a health-care profession focused on optimizing natural processes for wellness of body, mind, and spirit. We use a full spectrum of treatment options–from traditional remedies to the latest medical breakthroughs. We support patients in choosing the least invasive method necessary for a return to health.
Let’s walk through an example health condition to make this definition practical. Let’s say you have consistently high blood pressure. Any doctor knows this is not a healthy state and would diagnose you with hypertension. While medications exist to treat hypertension, a naturopathic doctor would not automatically start there. Instead, they recognize high blood pressure as a sign that the body’s natural processes are not functioning optimally and support is needed. Together you and the doctor would explore your habits (diet, exercise, sleep, occupation, etc), your health history, your emotions, and your relationships since all of these things impact your health in general as well as your blood pressure specifically. Based on this information they would recommend lifestyle changes, diet guidelines, and self-care strategies as well as targeted treatments like supplements, herbs, or homeopathics. Pharmaceutical medications would be considered a last resort because this is the most invasive method to address hypertension. However, the doctor may still recommend a medication right away if the high blood pressure was severe or unlikely to respond to other treatments. That is part of the unique experience of working with a naturopathic doctor–we are trained in both standard medical care and alternative treatments so we can confidently select what is most appropriate for a given person.
It is important to note that naturopathic medicine is best defined by our philosophy (how we think) rather than what specific treatment tools we use. This is intentional. The naturopathic community has historically collected the best available resources for healing. As a result, the list of what a naturopathic doctor can offer is quite long and varies from doctor to doctor based on their particular interests. It is the philosophy that unifies the naturopathic profession rather than our tools.
This is in contrast to conventional medicine which generally seeks to be highly standardized in its treatment approach. Standardization has its benefits, but the “standard of care,” does not always equate to the best option for a specific patient. As discussed in our example above, modern naturopathic medicine utilizes conventional standards of care as appropriate, but there is more awareness within the profession regarding alternatives that may be better suited for a unique patient. Often our patients have been unsuccessful or unsatisfied with the standard of care, so they come to us especially for the alternatives. Hence, naturopathic medicine is often termed “alternative” because what we offer deviates from mainstream medical options.
That said, I prefer the term integrative medicine to alternative medicine, because integrative implies teamwork. While I do provide alternatives that a patient may not find elsewhere, my practice of naturopathic medicine is not at odds with other healthcare providers. Rather, I am a team-player, working with all members of a person’s healthcare team for the best interest of the patient.
Now you should have a better understanding of the basics of naturopathic medicine. Share your thoughts or questions in the comments below. Or give me a call or shoot me an email, if you’d like to chat one on one about how a naturopathic doctor can help you or those you love 🙂
Be sure to stay tuned for more posts digging into questions like…
- What does “natural” mean anyway?
- What kind of training do naturopathic doctors have and how are they regulated?
- What does the “full spectrum of treatment options” mean? How does a naturopathic doctor decide which treatment tool to use?
Looking for other reliable references explaining naturopathic medicine? Check out what these naturopathic professional organizations have to say…
Institute for Natural Medicine
American Association of Naturopathic Physicians (AANP)
Oregon Association of Naturopathic Physicians (OANP)