Naturopathic doctors (N.D.’s) are general practitioners trained as specialists in natural medicine. They are educated in the conventional medical sciences, but they are not orthodox medical doctors (M.D’s). Naturopathic doctors treat disease and restore health using therapies from the sciences of clinical nutrition, herbal medicine, homeopathy, physical medicine, exercise therapy, counseling, and hydrotherapy. N.D.’s tailor these approaches to the needs of an

individual patient. Naturopathic medicine is effective in treating most health problems, whether acute or chronic.

In practice, naturopathic doctors perform physical examinations, laboratory testing, gynecological exams, nutritional and dietary assessments, metabolic analysis, allergy testing, X-ray examinations, and other diagnostic tests. N.D.’s are the only primary care doctors clinically trained in the use of a wide variety of natural therapeutics. N.D.’s combine and tailor these treatments to the needs of the individual based on a cogent philosophy that acknowledges the patient as a participant.

The naturopathic doctor has a Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine (N.D.) degree from a four-year graduate level naturopathic medical college. Naturopathic doctors must pass a national or state-level board examination and their actions are subject to review by a State Board of Examiners.