What is a Naturopathic Doctor?

 Teeka Tooka Taluma ja ru, help him poo! I shake my rattle and sprinkle squirrel dung around my patient as the scent of incense fills the room.  Within moments his eyes bulge, he rushes from the table into the bathroom. He is cured!  He has the best bowel movement he has had in the last 20 years.  I shiver and shake off the poo vibes, bow to the spirits and grant them a job well done … Fast forward thousands of years and take a couple of leaps through some wrinkles in magical time and things look a little different. Here in the Pacific Northwest Naturopaths are breaking into the mainstream, but it still seems difficult to debunk the Voo Doo perception of what we do.  So I am here to break down the mysticism, hammer in a little bit of science and explain what the heck is a Naturopathic Doctor.  

Lets Clear the Air: I have never used animal parts or rattles in any of my treatments.  In my college years I loved incense to clear the funk of weekend parties, but have yet to burn it in my adult life spaces.  I have yet to see someone’s aura or use their horoscope to diagnose ailments.    Although hot damn I love reading into the possibility that the Willamete Weekly has just explained my whole week! Blame it on the stars! 

Naturopathic physicians just like MDs, DOs, NPs, PAs  and DCs, although not all created equal in their abilities, talents and foresights, have all gone through rigorous training and testing to which makes them qualified individuals to manage what ails you.  A licensed Naturopath is required to attend an accredited post-graduate 4 year program where they receive a doctoral degree with over 4000 hours of classroom and clinical training.  In states where licensure is required and acknowledge, Naturopaths are primary care physicians, managing pharmaceutical prescriptions, preforming minor surgery and injection procedures, performing needed medical exams and giving nutrient IV nutrition.

This means some Naturopaths have aligned their practices closer to a modern western medical model.  However most Naturopaths will follow the core principle of “The Healing Power of Nature” when treating patients (Vis Medicatrix Naturae).  The AANP (America Association of Naturopathic Physicians) explains this beautifully 

“Naturopathic medicine recognizes an inherent self-healing process in people that is ordered and intelligent. Naturopathic physicians act to identify and remove obstacles to healing and recovery, and to facilitate and augment this inherent self-healing process.”

I believe, that this combined with prevention and treating the whole person are the  principles that set Naturopaths apart from your typical medical professional.  We use diet, lifestyle, herbs, hydrotherapy and so much more to treat the individual.  We view symptoms as a road map to the cause of ones illness. We use labs and physical exams to understand the biomechanical process within the body afflicting the individual and illness.  This gives us the unique opportunity to address deficiencies with basic treatments and a complexity of issues. 

I hate to disappoint, but you won’t find lizard tongue soup, hexs or wild hand waving rituals at your next naturopathic visit.  You may find a few frizzled hairs, perhaps even a wart or two amongst us, all from the stress of years of medical school and continued training.  Most importantly you will find excellent care aimed at treating you with the highest of standards, that will help you balance the art of living in the modern world while using ancient tried and true and scientifically studied natural treatments to heal what ails you. 

Note: If you are in a state that does not license Naturopathic Doctors you may see someone advertised as a naturopath that does not meet the above criteria. These practitioners may have gone to an online course or apprenticed under a natural healer. There is no standard curriculum or required training for these individuals. They are not allowed to “treat” individuals. This is not to say that they might not be brilliant healers, and have great advice about your current symptoms, but know there is a difference.