What is a Naturopathic Doctor?
Naturopathic Doctors (NDs) are trained to diagnose and manage acute and chronic conditions. Treatment modalities that your ND may discuss with you include botanical medicine, nutrition, minor surgery, musculoskeletal manipulations and bodywork, intravenous therapies, hydrotherapy, energetic medicines, pharmaceutical management, counseling and more.
Differences between Naturopathic Doctors (NDs) and Naturopaths
The practice of naturopathic medicine may look different depending on where you live and what type of training your provider has had. Naturopathic doctors (NDs) are licensed physicians who have doctorate degrees from accredited graduate universities and have completed board examinations to become licensed. The completion of an ND degree takes a minimum of four years. Currently, residencies are not required but highly encouraged for NDs. The term “naturopath” may imply that the individual is not a licensed healthcare practitioner; oftentimes such trainings are completed online over several months; such individuals are not physicians and cannot legally give medical advice. If you are in search of a licensed ND, you should look for one who has completed their training at an accredited university.
Where is Naturopathic Medicine available?
I am often asked, Where can NDs practice? To see a map of the current states and providences that license Naturopathic Doctors, click here. More states are licensing NDs each year, and each state has a unique scope of practice. Once a state gains licensure, insurance coverage may follow, so that patients have the right to choose the kind of medical care they receive. If you have health insurance, contact your insurer to ask about naturopathic medicine coverage.
