Naturopathic doctors (NDs) are primary care physicians clinically trained in natural therapeutics, along with the most current advances in modern medicine. Naturopathic physicians diagnose disease and treat patients by using natural modalities such as herbal medicine,
clinical nutrition, homeopathy, physical medicine, therapeutic injections, bio-identical
hormone replacement, counseling, acupuncture and hydrotherapy, among others. They choose treatment based on the individual patient, not on the generality of symptoms.
This approach has proven successful in treating both chronic and acute conditions.
Naturopathic Doctors attend a 4-year graduate-level naturopathic medical program and are educated in the same basic sciences as in conventional medical school. Students become primary care physicians with a specialized focus in preventive medicine and natural therapeutics. Graduates sit for national board exams to become licensed as primary care physicians within licensed states or as individual jurisdictions allow. An ND is the only licensed healthcare professional who studies natural medicine as part of a post graduate curriculum.
