Naturopathic
medicine is a distinct profession of primary health care, emphasizing
prevention, treatment and the promotion of optimal health through the use of
therapeutic methods and modalities which encourage the self-healing process, the
vis medicatrix naturę. The philosophical approach of naturopathic medicine
includes prevention of disease, encouragement of the body's inherent healing
abilities, natural treatment of the whole person, personal responsibility for
one's health, and education of patients in health-promoting lifestyles.
Naturopathic practice blends centuries-old knowledge of natural, nontoxic
therapies with current advances in the understanding of health and human
systems. The scope of practice includes all aspects of family and primary care,
from pediatrics to geriatrics, and all natural medicine modalities.
The U.S. Department of Labor defines
the naturopathic physician as one who "diagnoses, treats, and cares for
patients, using a system of practice that bases its treatment of all
physiological functions and abnormal conditions on natural laws governing the
body, utilizes physiological, psychological and mechanical methods, such as air,
water, heat, earth, phytotherapy (treatment by use of plants), electrotherapy,
physiotherapy, minor or orificial surgery, mechanotherapy, naturopathic
corrections and manipulation, and all natural methods or modalities, together
with natural medicines, natural processed foods, herbs, and natural remedies.
Excludes major surgery, therapeutic use of x-ray and radium, and use of drugs,
except those assimilable substances containing elements or compounds which are
compounds of body tissues and are physiologically compatible to body processes
for maintenance of life."
Most naturopathic physicians provide
primary care integrative natural medicine through office-based, private
practice. Many receive additional training in disciplines or modalities such as
midwifery, acupuncture and Oriental medicine,
homeopathy, psychotherapy, and
Ayurvedic medicine to broaden the services they can offer their patients. An
increasing trend is the establishment of associate practices and
interdisciplinary integrated care clinics, bringing together the services of a
diverse group of practitioners. Some naturopathic physicians choose to practice
as specialists.
Naturopathic diagnosis and
therapeutics are supported by scientific research drawn from peer-reviewed
journals from many disciplines, including naturopathic medicine, conventional
medicine, European complementary medicine, clinical nutrition, phytotherapy,
pharmacognosy,
homeopathy, psychology and spirituality. Information technology
and new concepts in clinical outcomes assessment are particularly well-suited to
evaluating the effectiveness of naturopathic treatment protocols and are being
used in research, both at naturopathic medical schools and in the offices of
practicing physicians. Clinical research into natural therapies has become an
increasingly important focus for naturopathic physicians.
Dr. Suzann Wang has received her N.D. degree from Bastyr University in
Seattle, and fulfilled the national licensing requirements for naturopathic
physicians. Bastyr is a federally accredited 4 year postgraduate naturopathic
medical school. In our naturopathic training, we received basic and clinical
science and diagnostic training similar to the training that conventional
doctors receive, as well as hundreds of hours of training in natural
therapeutics and nutrition. Dr. Edwards is a member of the American Association
of Naturopathic Physicians and the California Association of Naturopathic
Physicians.