SpiritualONE
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What Kind of Doctor Am I?
This is a question that I hear often so I found a site that explains my credential in a simple manner.
The most important thing to know about Naturopathic Doctors is that they are real doctors, trained with all the same classes as an M.D., EXCEPT for the fact that they receive somewhat less training in Pharmacology (although they do have a lot and are well versed in the different drugs out there because they have to be). Some naturopathic doctors are even able to prescribe antibiotics and other drugs in certain states that allow this, like Arizona. The difference is that they want to try the approach of preventative health care and the use of more natural therapies before resorting to pharmaceuticals, though they can and do support their usage when necessary. They also understand their scope of practice completely, and will send a patient to an M.D. for care they cannot provide. M.D.'s are also now working alongside Naturopaths and sending patients to N.D.s. This will begin to happen more and more as the two systems of medicine become integrated.
Thus licenced Naturopaths study in addition to the standard medical science curriculum of medical schools, holistic and nontoxic approaches to therapy with a strong emphasis on disease prevention and optimizing wellness. Naturopathic Doctors are therefore physicians with specialty training, giving them skills that a general family practitioner (M.D.) does not have.
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9/20/2009, 5:43 pm
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SpiritualONE
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Re: What Kind of Doctor Am I?
In addition to a standard medical curriculum, the naturopathic physician is required to complete four years of training in clinical nutrition, acupuncture, homeopathic medicine, botanical medicine, psychology, and counseling (to encourage people to make lifestyle changes in support of their personal health). A naturopathic physician takes rigorous professional board exams so that he or she may be licensed by a state or jurisdiction as a primary care general practice physician.
Currently, 15 states, the District of Columbia, and the United States territories of Puerto Rico and the United States Virgin Islands have licensing laws for naturopathic doctors. In these states, naturopathic doctors are required to graduate from a four-year, residential naturopathic medical school and pass and extensive postdoctoral board examination (NPLEX) in order to receive a license.
Licensed naturopathic physicians must fulfill state-mandated continuing education requirements annually, and will have a specific scope of practice defined by their state's law. The states that currently have licensing laws for naturopathic physicians are:
Alaska
Arizona
California
Connecticut
District of Columbia
Hawaii
Idaho
Kansas
Maine
Minnesota*
Montana
New Hampshire
Oregon
Utah
Vermont
Washington
United States Territories: Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands
*Effective July 2, 2009.
To find Naturopathic Doctors nearest you, visit the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians (AANP) website. They are the national professional society representing licensed or licensable naturopathic physicians who are graduates of four-year, residential graduates programs. They have an incredibly noble vision: "To transform the healthcare system from a disease management system to a comprehensive health program incorporating the principles of naturopathic medicine.
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9/20/2009, 5:44 pm
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SpiritualONE
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Re: What Kind of Doctor Am I?
We Are Determined To Help Our Communities Heal Themselves!
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10/1/2009, 5:34 am
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