Naturopathic doctors (NDs) are considered primary care physicians in some states. They treat everyday problems like colds and flu, bronchitis, and digestive problems, and chronic degenerative diseases such as cancer, arthritis, cardiovascular problems, and so on**depending upon the state.

A typical initial meeting takes about an hour. Some NDs will ask that a questionnaire be filled out and sent in before the appointment. During the first visit the ND will learn all he or she can about your condition by asking about your health history, present condition, lifestyle and diet; by making a physical examination; and by diagnostic procedures and laboratory testing. What techniques are used during the physical examination and what diagnostic procedures and tests are given vary enormously from state to state and naturopath to naturopath. I practice classical naturopathy and acupuncture as well as clinical nutrition here in Arlington Heights, Illinois.

One thing that is universal among naturopaths is the emphasis on education. One of the discipline's six principles is that the physician is a teacher. The ND doesn't cure the patient; in a sense he or she educates them on what they should or shouldn't do to allow nature to do its work.

Naturopathy considers nutrition fundamental, but there is no one naturopathic diet. There are certain universals in terms of eating whole, minimally processed natural foods, but individual NDs will have differing views on vegetarian vs. non-vegetarian diets, raw vs. cooked foods, and so on. They could even recommend one regimen to a particular patient, and quite a different one to another.  I tend to make focused recommendations you will be successful and enjoy following. I may order tests to make specific recommendations.

The ND will also discuss your lifestyle with you; exercise, stress reduction, sleep patterns and all manner of behavior. He or she should tell you far more than just to "get more exercise." How, specifically, is the lack of exercise affecting you? What kind of exercise should you do? How much? How, specifically, will this exercise benefit you? What will allow you to make exercise an enjoyable part of your lifestyle?

Diagnostic Methods

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Most (but not all) naturopaths employ kinesiology as a diagnostic technique. This is a manipulative system that tests muscle responses to provide information about the body's organs, glands and other internal conditions. In the 37 states that do not have a Naturopathic Doctor licensing board, NDs would also have to be certified in a licensed type of bodywork to make it "legal" for them to do this kind of muscular-skeletal work.

Many (but not all) NDs take blood samples for analysis. In those states in which it is allowed, they will draw the blood themselves. Otherwise they will send their patients to a laboratory or even to an MD's office for a battery of tests. But even then, NDs might differ as to how they look at the blood. Some could concentrate on a typical allopathic analysis of the components in the blood. Others might use dark field microscopy to determine the blood's functional aspects.

When it comes to medical treatment, there is no one therapeutic modality unique to naturopathy. NDs draw upon homeopathy; acupuncture (they would need to be an L.Ac. to do this), I am licensed and certified in Acupuncture and oriental medicine,   herbal and botanical medicine; bodywork (again, they would need a specific license, depending on the type of tissue or structural work); ancient Ayurvedic or Chinese medical traditions; or modern biofeedback or thermographic techniques. Other modalities that are used by individual NDs include hydrotherapy in its many forms (spa treatments, colonics, etc.), hypnosis, fasting, aromatherapy, music therapy and the list goes on.

There is no typical course of naturopathic treatment. How many visits to the naturopath are necessary over what period of time varies according to each individual patient's condition and needs.

Naturopathy is best defined by contrasting it to modern allopathic medicine. This technologically-based system focuses on symptoms, and individual pathogens and organs, without regard to the functioning of the patient as a whole, with physical, emotional, mental, spiritual and social factors all influencing each other. Further, allopathic medicine uses surgery, drugs and radiation that have extremely deleterious effects on the body-traumatizing it, poisoning it and weakening it.

The common thread in naturopathy is that no matter what the individual practitioner favors or recommends, it will support natural processes and do no harm. --AM, 07/99

**Please be completely aware, ND's are not licensed in the state of Illinois to diagnose or treat illness but serve as health counsellors. Only MD's can diagnose or treat illness in the state of Illinois.