Naturopathic Medicine Frequently Asked Questions

Naturopathic Medicine FAQ

What is the naturopathic philosophy of health?

Naturopathic doctors honor six fundamental principles of natural medicine: do no harm, identify and treat the cause, the healing power of nature, treat the whole person, doctor as teacher and prevention.

I have a health concern but I am not sure what I should do. Do I need a doctor’s referral to come to see you?

New patients are accepted without a doctor's referral. If you have specific health concerns and are not sure where to begin schedule a naturopathic consultation. If you do not have specific health concerns or are a returning patient and would like to come in for a treatment please feel free to make an appointment for a treatment or another type of consultation.

What should I expect at my first naturopathic visit?

At your first visit, which usually lasts about 1 hour, you should expect the following: an in depth symptom intake – in order to understand the underlying, or external factors that might be contributing to your symptoms, and to understand the root cause of your concerns / symptoms. The initial intake can be combined with a treatment on the same day. Once you book your first appointment, you can download an intake and consent form. Bring the completed intake forms to the office to the first visit. Time is taken to learn about each patient, his/her family, and his/her life and lifestyle outside of the doctor’s office.

What is the typical ND-patient relationship like?

Naturopathic physicians encourage patients to take personal responsibility for their own health. They support patients in this by teaching them the steps necessary to create and monitor their own wellness. Naturopathic physicians strive to find the underlying cause of a patient’s illness, rather than treat only symptoms. Recognizing that each body is unique, naturopathic doctors tailor their treatments to meet the individual needs of each patient.

Is my confidential health information protected?

Privacy of your personal information is an important part of providing you with health care. All practitioners who come into contact with your personal information are aware of the sensitive nature of the information that you have disclosed to us. They are all trained and committed to ensuring the appropriate use and protection of your information.

Can we invite you to do a health seminar for our company or group?

Yes, you can set up a time for a lecture or a quick talk at civic organizations, corporate board meetings, faculty meetings, staff meetings or conventions to learn about various health and wellness topics.

Do you do house calls?

Depending on the circumstance and location, house calls may be offered.

Where may N.D.s practice?

Fourteen states and four provinces allow the practice of naturopathic medicine: Alaska, Arizona, British Columbia, California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Idaho, Kansas, Maine, Manitoba, Montana, New Hampshire, Ontario, Oregon, Saskatchewan, Utah, Vermont, and Washington. Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands also have licensing laws for naturopathic doctors. In a number of states and provinces where there is not yet professional licensure, naturopathic medical associations are actively engaged in legislative initiatives to pass licensing laws. The scope of practice varies from state to state and province to province. In states and provinces without naturopathic licensing laws, many who hold the N.D. degree also hold other degrees, such as the Doctor of Medicine, Doctor of Chiropractic, or Masters in Oriental Medicine degree, and they practice under licenses for those professions. Others offer services that do not violate their states’ medical practice acts. Most naturopathic physicians are in the states and provinces that regulate the profession.

Why license Naturopathic Doctors?

Licensure for naturopathic doctors provides many benefits such as creating public safety in relation to alternative therapies and reducing healthcare costs via prevention. Licensure ultimately has a positive effect on the entire medical community. In order to be licensed as a primary care, general practice physician by a state or jurisdiction which requires licensing, one must graduate from a four-year, professional-level program at a federally accredited naturopathic medical school; study a curriculum which includes current medical science and traditional naturopathic theory; take and pass national board exams (NPLEX). This rigorous exam covers basic sciences, diagnostic and therapeutic subjects and clinical sciences. Candidates for full licensure must also satisfy all licensing requirements for the individual state or province in which they hope to practice; most of the states and provinces that license naturopathic physicians also have health care systems which allow patients to use naturopathic doctors as their primary care physician.

Which are the accredited naturopathic medical programs and schools?

The U.S. Department of Education grants accreditation for naturopathic medical colleges and universities. The Council on Naturopathic Medical Education (CNME) grants accreditation for naturopathic medicine programs within academic institutions. The following institutions offer naturopathic programs: Bastyr University, Kenmore, Washington, Boucher Institute of Naturopathic Medicine (BINM), New Westminster, British Columbia, Canada. Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine (CCNM), Toronto, Ontario, Canada, National College of Natural Medicine (NCNM), Portland, Oregon, Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine & Health Sciences (SCNM), Tempe, Arizona, University of Bridgeport College of Naturopathic Medicine (UBCNM), Bridgeport. Connecticut.

What is the difference between CNME and the other organizations that accredit naturopathic programs?

CNME is the organization that accredits programs which prepare students to become licensed naturopathic physicians. It is the accrediting agency accepted by the U.S. and Canadian professional associations for licensed naturopathic doctors, and it is the agency recognized by the North American Board of Naturopathic Examiners. CNME is also the only naturopathic accreditor with membership in the Association of Specialized and Professional Accreditors. This organization accepts as members those accreditors recognized by the Secretary of Education or that meet ASPA’s own criteria. Among the almost 50 agencies that belong to ASPA are the recognized accreditors for allopathic (M.D.), osteopathic (D.O.), chiropractic (D.C.), acupuncture, and dental programs. Other naturopathic accrediting agencies accredit correspondence and other schools that do not prepare students to practice as licensed naturopathic physicians. None is recognized by the Secretary of Education, and none of the schools or programs they accredit has institutional accreditation from a recognized regional accrediting agency. Comparing the published standards, policies, procedures, and bylaws of accrediting agencies is one way to determine their differences.

Does CNME recognize home-study schools or external-degree programs?

Many correspondence schools offer N.D. or N.M.D degrees or diplomas. Some are exempt from state regulations because they claim a religious purpose or they do not recruit students from their home states. Correspondence programs do not prepare students for practice as state or provincial licensed naturopathic physicians, and the programs are not eligible for affiliation with our agency. In states and provinces without licensing laws, it is generally not illegal for those who obtain N.D. or N.M.D. degrees from correspondence schools to use the initials after their names; they may not, however, legally represent themselves as physicians or engage in the practice of medicine unless they are otherwise licensed as medical practitioners. Although correspondence courses can be effective in many disciplines, naturopathic licensing agencies do not believe they are adequate for preparing students to practice as licensed physicians. The American Association of Naturopathic Physicians and the Canadian Association of Naturopathic Doctors do not consider those who obtain N.D. or N.M.D. degrees from correspondence schools to be part of the naturopathic medical profession.