Naturopathic medicine
The power of nature can help your body heal.
More and more doctors, caregivers, and people with cancer are recognizing the
important role that naturopathic medicine, or naturopathy, can play in treatment.
Naturopathic medicine is a comprehensive system of healthcare that dates
back more than 100 years, although it has its roots in ancient medicine.
Founded by a German-American MD, Dr. Benjamin Lust, naturopathic
medicine integrates a wide variety of natural therapies that have been clinically
proven to strengthen the immune system, improve overall health, and help
prevent illness.
Although naturopathic medicine draws from diverse and seemingly
quite different healing traditions, they all share certain principles.
The whole picture
Naturopathic medicine is by definition
holistic. This means that naturopathic
practitioners evaluate all aspects of
your well-being, including your
physical, emotional, and spiritual
health. At the core of the naturopathic
tradition is the belief that a healthy
lifestyle is the cornerstone of physical
well-being.
Studies show that, when used
in conjunction with conventional
treatment, naturopathic therapies can
improve the outlook for many people
with cancer. Oncologists do their best
to identify and eliminate any cancer
cells in your body. A naturopathic
practitioner complements an oncologist’s
work by recommending natural,
non-invasive therapies that can
improve the effectiveness of conventional
treatment, minimize side effects,
and help you take charge of your
health in whichever ways you can.
First do no harm
Naturopathic medicine emphasizes healing
therapies that are natural and non-invasive.
The healing power of nature
Naturopathic therapies support and restore
the body’s inherent ability to heal itself.
Treat the cause
In addition to treating
the symptoms of disease,
naturopathic medicine seeks
to identify and treat the
underlying causes of illness.
Heal the whole person
Naturopathic therapies address
all aspects of your health,
including physical, emotional,
spiritual, genetic, and
environmental factors.
The naturopath as teacher
Naturopathic practitioners work with the
people in their care to educate and empower
them to take control of their health.
Preventive medicine
Naturopathic medicine
promotes lifestyle habits
that strengthen the immune
system and prevent illness.
Compatible views
While naturopathic medicine is a
distinct system of healthcare, that
doesn’t mean it’s opposed to conventional
medicine. Cooperation between
disciplines is at the heart of the naturopathic
philosophy. Naturopaths often
collaborate with and refer people to
conventional medical doctors for
diagnosis or treatment.
Reputable naturopathic practitioners
receive rigorous training in
conventional medical disciplines, such
as anatomy, biochemistry, pathology,
and clinical medicine, as well as
natural medicine. During your office
visit with a naturopath, you may
undergo extensive lab work, assessments,
and medical tests, similar to
what you experience when you go for
a checkup with a conventional doctor.
Licensed to practice
A naturopathic doctor, or ND,
has a doctoral degree in the study
of naturopathic medicine. This
degree requires pre-medical
training, plus four years of graduate
training in an accredited
naturopathic medical school.
Fourteen US states, four
Canadian provinces, and
Washington, DC license NDs
as primary care physicians. In
many states, however, the practice
of naturopathic medicine is
unregulated, and some people
may use the ND initials without
adequate training.
Because naturopathic medicine
plays such an important role in
cancer care, the Oncology
Association of Naturopathic
Physicians (OncANP) has created
a board certification process for
NDs who specialize in cancer. You
can visit the association’s website
to learn more about naturopathic
oncology and to find a licensed
naturopathic practitioner with
cancer expertise.