About Naturopathic Medicine
The Nature of Naturopathic Medicine
By Glenn Cassie, MA
Alternative medicine is the medicine of the 21st century, a symbol of new thinking in general health care. Increased interest in and use of botanical and non-drug remedies, non-invasive medical techniques, an emphasis on disease prevention and lifestyle change characterize a paradigm shift in people's attitudes towards their health. For most of the 20th century health care has meant diagnosis of germs or viruses, prevention in the form of vaccinations, a myriad of drug treatments for ailments as common as flu or as complicated as AIDS, surgical treatments when applicable and little emphasis on diet, exercise and non-drug treatments as a first course of medical intervention. Now people are forming new ideas on health care, taking into consideration what they eat and drink and breathe, and, when they take prescription drugs, they are asking themselves what the side effects are and if are there alternatives to costly drug treatments. No longer is health the incidence or presence of disease, but a concept embracing physical, social and mental well-being.
One of the problems with this shift in thinking is that there is so much choice in alternative health services but little emphasis on education, research and effectiveness. Many alternative practitioners are not regulated or licensed, and there is no assurance that staff in a health food store have any medical knowledge required for the prescription of natural remedies. Amidst this plethora of choice, many people have chosen naturopathic doctors (NDs) as their primary health care professional. The field of naturopathic medicine is now 100 years old in North America and in some provinces is the fastest growing health profession. Further, in some American jurisdictions, state governments and health insurers have recognized NDs on a platform equivalent to MDs. This article looks at the field of naturopathic medicine, how NDs are educated, what they treat and protocols followed in their clinics.
