What is the Difference Between Naturopathic Doctors and Medical Doctors?
When people hear that we are naturopathic doctors, it makes them think that we are somehow outside the conventional medicine arena.
Is a Naturopathic Doctor Certified?
Do they have the same training as a ‘normal’ doctor has?
These are very common questions, but important to know the answers to these types of questions. In this brief article I want to share some basics about the differences between medical and naturopathic doctors.
Medical Doctors are sometimes referred to as ‘traditional’ or ‘Western’ medicine doctors. A medical doctor will typically treat symptoms you have without searching for the underlying cause. They will diagnose pharmaceutical drugs that while offering temporary relief, can often mask the true problem.
Naturopathic Medicine, by contrast, is a medical practice that emphasizes prevention and self-healing. A naturopathic doctor (ND) will use a process to treat each person holistically.
A Focus On Optimal Health
Optimal health is achieved through the use of patient education, natural medicine, conventional medicine, and other alternative modalities.
Instead of treating an illness, as traditional Western medicine doctors do, holistic medicine looks at an individual’s overall physical, mental, spiritual, and emotional well-being before recommending treatment.
Naturopathic medicine uses the healing power of nature, identifies the root cause of illness, and treats the whole person.
Naturopathic Doctors spend more time on educating their patients, running diagnostic tests, and treating the whole person with natural, non-toxic therapies.
Are Naturopathic Doctors Licensed?
The short answer is yes.
A licensed naturopathic doctor (often shortened to ND/NMD) is a primary care physician who is trained to diagnose and prescribe. The Naturopathic Doctor has undergone the same basic medical training as a traditional MD.
In addition, a Naturopathic Doctor has usually undergone additional training around natural substances such as food, herbs, and water.
Healing Versus Treating
A more accurate way to understand the difference is to say that there is a difference in philosophy between Naturopathic and Traditional Medical Doctors.
NDs believe in treating the whole person and in the integration of mind, body and spirit. They see their role as helping the body to naturally heal, to eliminate chronic pain, and to extend the longevity of each person.
If you are looking for a more long-term, holistic approach to medicine, then you may benefit from working with a Naturopathic Doctor. It is a more comprehensive detailed approach, with a great deal of amazing results.
Helping your body to heal is one of the very best ways to overcome illness and pain, and conventional medicine is today better understanding the benefits it can offer.
Palm Springs Pure Health offers Naturopathic services such as medical grade nutritional supplements through IV (intravenous) therapy, injections, PRP joint treatment, ozone therapy, PRP injection therapy, genomic medicine, stem cell therapy, hormone replacement therapy, Naturopathic medical consultation, chelation therapy, specialty laboratory testing, homeopathy, and naturopathic oncology consultation. Contact us today to get your health back on track.