Naturupathic Medicine FAQ's

FAQ’s about Naturopathic Medicine

What do you mean when you say “The healing power of Nature”?

Oftentimes, this phrase conjures up images of Mother Nature swooping in like a super hero and magically healing the world and its inhabitants.  In reality, the healing power of nature refers to the body’s natural tendency to heal itself and return back to a state of health.  For example, if you cut your finger, it bleeds (eliminating debris from the wound), clots (plugging up the “leak”), and the skin and underlying tissues eventually repair themselves.  You do not consciously need to think about this process because the body has encoded in its nature this healing cascade.  The same happens when we catch a cold.  Our immune system comes into contact with a germ, the body responds by developing a fever (germs don’t do well in high temperature environments), excessive tiredness (a sign that the immune system is up and running and a signal to rest), mucus build up in nose and throat (bringing immune cells to the surface to fight), and coughing/sneezing to clear the airways. 

Medicine recognizes these processes as symptoms and in conventional medicine, this is where treatment is targeted (they target germs as well).  Naturopathy considers these symptoms a necessary part of the healing process.  Therefore, support involves removing obstacles in the way of the immune response and, if needed, stimulating and strengthening the immune system.

Why should I choose to see a Naturopathic physician?

A Naturopathic physician does not see the individual as a collection of their symptoms and complaints.  In a session, you are considered a valuable contributor to their healing process.  The role of a naturopathic physician is to facilitate or guide you through this process while adding, if needed, physical, mental, and/or emotional support through the patient-doctor relationship and one of the many naturopathic modalities.  The physician looks to empower the client to pursue optimal health as opposed to empowering the condition or complaint. 

What’s the difference between a Naturopathic Doctor and a Medical Doctor?

The naturopathic physician subscribes to a person-centered medical paradigm, meaning the person is the focus of the visit and the symptoms or conditions are the unique way that the individual expresses illness.  The main objective of the naturopathic session is to identify the underlying cause of illness and discover the path back to wellness.  In contrast, conventional (allopathic) medicine works from a disease-centered approach, focusing treatments toward alleviating symptoms and treating the complaint.  Oftentimes, the individual gets lost in treatment standards and may feel like they have not been heard. 

Is Naturopathy a new type of medicine?

Many aspects of naturopathic philosophy can be found throughout history, dating back as far as Egyptian medicine, Hippocrates, and other ancient forms of healing.  In the early 1900’s, Naturopathy was common in the United States and remained that way until the standardization of medicine by the American Medical Association, the results of which caused the closure of many Naturopathic Medical schools and the early retirement of Naturopathic physicians nationwide.  Naturopathy began to re-surface again in the 1970’s and continues to grow into the modern age of medicine. 

Can a Naturopathic physician prescribe me antibiotics if needed?

In the state of Connecticut, it is NOT within the scope of practice for a licensed Naturopathic physician to prescribe antibiotics through a pharmacy.  However, the need for antibiotics is based on the severity of illness and risk category of the individual.  Many naturopaths use immune stimulating remedies in place of antibiotics for lower risk individuals and mild to moderate infection.  If an antibiotic proves to be the best course of treatment, a referral will be made to a licensed MD or DO, with naturopathic treatments being added to support the immune system and reduce adverse effects of the conventional medicine. 

Are all Naturopaths licensed physicians?

Only a Naturopath that has graduated from an accredited institution of naturopathic medicine may become licensed as a naturopathic physician.  There are currently 5 schools in the United States and 2 schools in Canada that are part of the AANMC (Association of Accredited Naturopathic Medical Colleges):  Bastyr University (WA), National College of Natural Medicine (OR), Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine (AZ), National University of Health Sciences (IL), University of Bridgeport (CT), Boucher Institute of Naturopathic Medicine (BC), and Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine.  Some programs allow you to attain a degree in Naturopathy without completing the 4500+ hours of academic and clinical education required of an accredited Naturopathic college.  This degree does not grant an individual the title of licensed naturopathic physician.  ONLY those individuals that have completed the accredited medical education at one of the schools listed above and passed the board-certified Naturopathic Physicians Licensing Examination (NPLEX) may be called a licensed naturopathic physician in the United States.