A Consumer's Guide to Naturopathic Medicine

By the California Department of Consumer Affairs

What is Naturopathic Medicine?

Naturopathic medicine is a distinct and comprehensivesystem of primary health care that usesnatural methods and substances to support andstimulate the body's self-healing process. It isdistinguished by the principles on which its practiceis based. These principles include:

1. The Healing Power of Nature: Naturopathicdoctors (NDs) trust in the body's inherentwisdom to heal itself.

2. Identify and Treat the Cause: Look beyondthe symptoms to effectively address theunderlying cause(s) of illness.

3. First Do No Harm: Seek to utilize themost natural, least invasive, and leasttoxic therapies first.

4. Doctor as Teacher: The primary role of an NDis a teacher who educates and encouragespeople to take responsibility for their ownhealth and to take steps to achieve andmaintain optimal health.

5. Treat the Whole Person: Total health includes physical, emotional, mental, genetic, environmental,social, spiritual, and other factors.

6. Prevention: Encourage and emphasizedisease prevention and focus on promotinghealth and wellness.

Naturopathic doctors are trained in awide variety of complementary and alternativetherapies, including:

Herbal and Homeopathic Medicine
Clinical Nutrition and Diet
Vitamins, Amino Acids, Minerals, Enzymes, and Nutraceuticals
Physical Medicine such as Massage, Bodywork, Exercise Therapy, and Hydrotherapy
Counseling and Behavioral Therapies
Health and Lifestyle Counseling

In addition, NDs may prescribe hormones.They may also order other prescription drugs incollaboration with a medical doctor. (Editor's note: Some states such as Arizona, Naturopathic Doctors are able to prescribe medicaltion directly. Check with your local state authority.

Why Visit a Naturopathic Doctor?

If you are looking for any or all of the following:

a primary health care provider
treatment for acute or chronic conditions
a prevention-oriented holistic approach to your health
someone to work in an integrated way with your current medical doctor

Naturopathic medical care canbenefit all Californians, fromthose looking for help with aspecific health condition tothose seeking to improve general health andwellness. NDs treat infants to senior citizens,men and women, and those in all stages ofhealth and disease. Naturopathic medicine canbenefit people who prefer a natural approachto their health care as well as those seekingintegrated solutions to their health needs.

What to Expect from a Visitto a Naturopathic Doctor

Discussing your needs with a naturopathic doctorwill help to focus your care. A typical first visitwith an ND lasts 60-90 minutes and includestaking a relevant health history,conducting an appropriate examination,and making recommendationsfor treatment. It may include gatheringinformation such as laboratorytest results, medical records, a dietdiary, and other information. Followupvisits vary in length and frequencydepending on the individual nature ofthe health issues being addressed,therapies being utilized, and othertreatment goals.

NDs have different styles and areas of emphasisin their practices.

Some may act as general practitioners, some may focus on particular areas ofhealth such as detoxification or immune support,and others may focus on particular therapiessuch as homeopathy or nutrition. Selecting a naturopathicdoctor who is right for you depends onthe type of condition for which you are seekinghelp and the types of therapies that interest you.When working with a naturopathic doctor, planto be actively involved in your treatment. YourND may work with you to change your diet orexercise habits, teach you ways to reduce stress,as well as use supplements, vitamins, herbs,and other medicines and treatments to helpyou meet your goals. Ask questions about yourtreatment and inform your ND about signs of improvementor stubborn symptoms. Your ND mayconsider further diagnostic tests, changes inyour treatment plan, or referrals to other healthcare professionals.

Insurance Coverage for Naturopathic Care

More and more insurance companies arecovering naturopathic medical care. Ask yourcarrier about coverage or reimbursement.If you have insurance that does not cover naturopathicmedical care, use of a HealthSavings Account (HSA) or flexiblespending account may cover thiscare. Check with your employer todetermine if one of these optionsis available to you.

How Do I Find aLicensed NaturopathicDoctor?

You can access a list of licensednaturopathic doctors by selecting

Naturopathic Medical Training and Education

Naturopathic doctors attend four-year,graduate-level, accredited naturopathicmedical schools. NDs are trained as primarycare practitioners. Training covers a wide rangeof therapies as well as science and clinicalcourses. An important aspect of naturopathicmedical training is learning about other healthcare professions and appropriate referralpatterns.

Naturopathic Doctors in California

In order to be licensed as a naturopathic doctorin California, NDs must graduate from a schoolaccredited by the Council of NaturopathicMedical Education that offers a graduatedegree of Doctor of Naturopathy or Doctorof Naturopathic Medicine. The educationrequirements consist of at least 4,100 hoursof training, of which not less than 2,500 hoursare academic training and not less than 1,200hours are supervised clinical training. NDlicense candidates must also pass a licensingexam that is administered by the NorthAmerican Board of Naturopathic Examiners.

California Bureau ofNaturopathic Medicine

The Bureau of Naturopathic Medicine wasestablished by the Legislature as part of theDepartment of Consumer Affairs, and beganlicensing NDs in January 2005. The Bureauis designed as a resource for Californiaconsumers who choose naturopathic doctorsfor their healthcare.

In addition to licensing, the Bureau provideslicense status, investigates consumercomplaints, and, if needed, pursuesdisciplinary actions against licensed NDs.Licensure ensures that naturopathic doctorshave met the professional standards, passedthe required examination(s), and have metongoing educational requirements that helpthem stay current with professional practice.Please visit the Bureau's Web site for additionalinformation at www.naturopathic.ca.gov

How Are Complaints Filed?

You can obtain a complaint form by writing tothe Bureau of Naturopathic Medicine, e-mailingyour request using the Web site, or by calling theBureau at (916) 574-7991 or the Department ofConsumer Affairs Hotline at (800) 952-5210.

Other Resources

The California Naturopathic Doctors Association(CNDA) is a professional association of naturopathicdoctors in California. Contact information:
1121 L Street, Suite 610,
Sacramento, CA 95814
(209) 245-3521
www.calnd.org

The American Association of Naturopathic
Physicians (AANP) is a national professional
society representing licensed or licensable
naturopathic physicians. Contact information:
4435 Wisconsin Ave NW, Suite 403
Washington, DC 20016
Toll free: 1-866-538-2267
www.naturopathic.org