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Guiding Consumers Through Naturopathy
Finding your way through the educational maze
Randy Barrett
Naturopaths promote health and treat disease with such alternative therapies as
herbs, homeopathy, acupuncture and bodywork, without the use of drugs and
surgery. Finding a naturopath isn't always easy. And knowing what to look for
in a practitioner is even more complex.
We can largely thank the profession itself for the confusion. Naturopathic
medicine is engaged in a debate over philosophy, heritage, accreditation and
legitimacy that is daunting to the uninitiated.
Here's the problem: Only 12 U.S. states currently license naturopaths. Only
three training schools are officially accredited, but there are at least 10
more independent "distance-learning" schools training naturopaths of different
stripes and colors.
Resources
American Association of Naturopathic Physicians
www.naturopathic.org
Council on Naturopathic Medical Education
www.cnme.us
Bastyr University
www.bastyr.edu
Clayton College of Natural Health
www.naturalhealthdegrees.com
National College of Naturopathic Medicine
www.ncnm.edu
Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine and Health Sciences
www.scnm.edu
University of Bridgeport College of Naturopathic Medicine
www.bridgeport.edu/naturopathy
We advise people to query naturopathic physicians on their educational
background
Karen Howard, executive director of the American Association of Naturopathic
Physicians, says the only credential that counts is a degree from one of the
three accredited U.S. schools: Bastyr University in Seattle; the National
College of Naturopathic Medicine in Portland, Ore.; and the Southwest College
of Naturopathic Medicine and Health Sciences in Tempe, Ariz. A fourth, the
University of Bridgeport College of Naturopathic Medicine in Connecticut, is
currently undergoing the accreditation process. One Canadian school, the
Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine in North York, Ontario, is also
accredited.
"We advise people to query naturopathic physicians on their educational
background," Howard says.
The above schools offer four-year, postgraduate programs, much like traditional
medical schools. The first two years include courses in biochemistry and
anatomy, while the final half of the program branches out into course work in
herbal medicine, homeopathy and, in some cases, acupuncture. These studies are
often, though not always, followed by a residency with an experienced
naturopathic doctor.
The Eugene, Ore.-based Council on Naturopathic Medical Education is the
accreditor for the colleges. Robert Lofft, executive director of the council,
says his organization holds schools to strict eligibility requirements
regarding facilities, curriculum, library and state authorization.
"In the states with no licensing laws, people often confuse mail-order doctors
with real N.D.s," Lofft says.
The states currently licensing naturopathic doctors are Alaska, Arizona,
Connecticut, Hawaii, Kansas, Maine, Montana, New Hampshire, Oregon, Washington,
Utah and Vermont. California is considering licensing legislation. In order for
a naturopath to be fully licensed, he or she must have attended an accredited
school and must pass the equivalent of a medical board exam administered by the
North American Board of Naturopathic Examiners. Only those who pass this exam
can legitimately call themselves "physicians."
"We're trying to protect public safety and to assure that doctors have the
knowledge they need," says Christa Louise, NABNE executive director.
In states that license naturopaths, N.D.s may both diagnose illness and
prescribe medication. What the N.D. can prescribe varies by state; Arizona has
the most liberal policies.
And if your customers live in one of the 38 other states? Advise them to find a
naturopath who is licensed in the state where he or she went to school, Louise
says. That way they can be assured of their N.D.'s education level. The AANP
offers a directory of licensed N.D.s on its Web site, www.naturopathic.org,
that can be searched by ZIP code.
Not all naturopaths call themselves doctors. Mary McCord, communications
director for the Clayton College of Natural Health in Birmingham, Ala., says
that's just the way it should be. Clayton offers a distance-learning curriculum
that is often maligned by the accredited schools. She says the problem is based
on differing philosophies.
"We don't refer to the people we are helping as patients—that's not what our
graduates do," says McCord, who adds that many of Clayton's alumni refer to
themselves as consultants. "In our materials we are extremely clear that we
should not represent ourselves as doctors."
Questions of certification and nomenclature aside, here are some basic
guidelines consumers should follow when considering a naturopath:
Make an appointment when you are in good health. Many naturopaths schedule a
fairly extensive first meeting to get a personal health history. This is a good
time to see what the personal chemistry is like and to ask those probing
questions about training and background.
Ask about specific areas of specialization. Are you having allergy problems?
Find someone who works with that ailment.
Is the naturopath willing to work as part of a team with other medical
practitioners? A "no" response is a bad sign. Most N.D.s are holistic and
recognize the value of other medical disciplines. Many work in practices that
combine M.D.s, chiropractors and acupuncturists.
Randy Barrett is a writer and editor in Falls Church, Va.