Naturopathic doctors (N.D. or N.M.D.) undergo a rigorous 4-year medical training program in which they are trained to diagnose disease similarly to conventional doctors. It is in the treatment of disease where naturopathic doctors are trained much differently than conventional doctors. While naturopaths get training in the uses of pharmaceutical drugs, a naturopathic doctor’s training is based primarily in natural treatments that focus on treating the whole person. These include botanical medicine, nutrition, homeopathy, hydrotherapy, mind/body counseling, physical medicine, and acupuncture at some schools. No matter which treatment a naturopathic doctor chooses for a patient he or she will base their treatment on the following principles fundamental to naturopathic medicine:

• First Do No Harm
• Treat the Cause
• Treat the Whole Person
• Treat in Accordance with the Healing Power of Nature
• Prevention is the Best Cure
• Teach the Principles of Healthy Living

To learn more about naturopathic medicine please visit the following links:
www.naturopathic.org The American Association of Naturopathic Physicians
www.scnm.edu The Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine and Health Sciences