What is Naturopathic Medicine?

The most common question I get from people when I tell them that I am a Naturopathic Physician is “what is a Naturopathic Physician?” There are many different disciplines of medicine out there. Here are a few common examples:

Medical Disciplines

• Conventional (allopathic) medicine
• Osteopathic medicine
• Chiropractic
• Acupuncture
• Naturopathic Medicine

All of these disciplines have things that they do very well, things that they can do alright, and things that they can’t do. I am not qualified to discuss the strengths and weaknesses of all of these disciplines and you didn’t sign on to read an entire book on comparisons of different medicines so I will limit myself to discussing the strengths of Naturopathic medicine.

Let’s start with what Naturopaths do best: lifestyle medicine. Lifestyle diseases have become tragically prevalent in our society this trend is the largest force behind the resurgence of naturopathic medicine. Naturopaths specialize in healthy living. We have a wide scope of therapeutics we can use to get you healthy again. Nutrition, exercise, herbs, homeopathy all designed to support and enhance the body’s ability to regain health. Of course, with lifestyle diseases, prevention is infinitely better than cure. Many lifestyle diseases can be prevented and your friendly local naturopath will love you if you come in asking to avoid those diseases that run in your family tree.

Another thing Naturopaths do very well is care for the digestive system. Because the digestive system is where nourishment starts, Naturopaths take great care to ensure that it is functioning optimally. The following are diseases of a digestive tract that is not functioning optimally:

• Acid reflux
• Gas and bloating
• Food sensitivities
• Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
• Diverticulosis

Naturopaths can also do a lot in conjunction with gastroenterologists to reduce frequency and duration of flare ups for those to suffer from more severe digestive diseases like Crohn’s disease and Ulcerative Colitis.

There are many other diseases, such as fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue, which are often a result of living in a world that is not very friendly to our normal physiology. There are many reasons why some people are more sensitive than others to these insults, but whatever the reason, Naturopaths are very good at helping you allow your body to function optimally in a less than optimal environment.

If you are fortunate enough to live in a state that licenses Naturopathic Physicians, you can see a naturopath as your primary care physician. They will be able to monitor your health and make sure you get all you recommended screenings. You will also have the benefit of additional attention to the aspects of life that either build or erode health.