Naturopathic Medical Doctor vs. Naturopathic Doctor: What Is the Difference?
Filed Under Naturopathy |
Every year the same House Bill is introduced into the State of Colorado—one that endangers the future of naturopathy. The bill seeks to regulate the field by licensing Naturopathic Medical Doctors (NMD) who obtained their degrees from a handful of colleges.
The problem is that the degree of NMD goes against the very core of naturopathic philosophy. Graduates of Naturopathic Medical Doctor programs incorporate the use of prescription drugs, invasive procedures, surgeries, and other philosophies found in traditional medical schools. These same doctors would become primary care physicians (PCPs) but would be lacking the medical background traditionally found in medical schools. The frightening thing is that these NMDs would receive a valid state license to diagnose and treat injuries and diseases.
At the other end of the spectrum is the Naturopathic Doctor (ND). An ND is a traditional natural healer whose focus is on education: helping their clients to improve and maintain a healthy lifestyle, finding the underlying causes of disease rather than merely treating the signs and symptoms of them. Naturopathic Doctors rely on non-invasive procedures and herbal/homeopathic remedies. Their focus is on prevention and cures.
The big problem is that both practitioners are referred to as doctors. But remember: the title of doctor does not always mean medical doctor. (There are post-graduate degrees that give the title of doctor in a variety of fields such as counseling, education, philosophy, and anthropology.)
In any field, you are going to find good practitioners and some very bad practitioners. It is important for you to decide what type of partnership you desire for your health care needs. There should be a marriage between the two types of naturopathic doctors, a complement where the two disciplines work together to provide overall improved health.
No matter what option you choose, always check the practitioner’s credentials. The field is not highly regulated, so there are many who will hang a shingle to practice and go way beyond their scope and skill. Don’t fall victim to these charlatans.
A little knowledge goes a long way to those of us who take the time to become naturally savvy!
In health and wellness,
By Dr. Linda Mundorff
Comments
4 Comments so far
I personally come from a long line of MDs/Surgeons as well as naturopathic practitioners from Austria. Grandma and I dared to opt out of the mainstream appproach to illness, as I myself was close to death in my late twenties to mid thirties. What saved my life? The natural integrative approach to health. I had no choice, but to look to the natural/complementary way of treating my condition(s) and I have never even remotely had to look back. Since then, I have obtained my PhD, as well as my DNM and founded a multi disciplinary clinic which involves many professionals in a multi disciplinary setting of a clinical nature,which recently was taken over by Dr. C. F. Lee, who is a DC and akso a DNM. Our clinic does not have the luxury of treating light cases. In fact, we see very ill people who had exhausted every Avenue before they end up seeing us. Much like the delema I was in, when I was so terribly ill many years ago.
I agree with Dr. Linda Mundorff, it is important that we feel comfortable in seeing a certain practitioner and obtain help from a qulified professional…after all, 30 percent of healing takes place by having trust and by feeling comfortable while in treatment with the professional one is seeing. Not all MDs, NDs, Homeopaths etc are capable in delivering what is needed. Noone has all the answers all of the time…hence the importance of a multidisciplinary/integrative approach to helping the sick, that ailing and the broken.
Thanks for an invaluable knowledgeable article on the difference between several professions and what they have to offer.
In His service
Dr. Trudy
Trudy R. Bricker RNCP, PhD, DNM
Doctor of Natural Medicine
I am a Naturopathic Doctor in Arizona, working for one the Native American tribes.
The difference between NMD and ND is misrepersented and oversimplified in what I just read. There are Naturopathic Doctors who go through 4 years of post graduate schooling, and clinical training. Then they have to pass 2 sets of board exams, one focused on the basic sciences and one on clinical work. The second set of tests take 2.5 days to complete. There are 14 states who license Naturopathic Doctors, and they require that these board exams are passed and that the applicant has gone to one of the 5 accredited school. In Arizona, one may choose between NMD and ND, although there is not much difference, except philisophically. Some of these practitioners do use prescription drugs and some of them would rather be tortured than to do so. There are some amazing people (who’ve physically attended a 4 year school)out there going by the title ND and NMD, and if perhaps one of these people removed ingrown toenails, removes skin lesions and sends them to lab for biopsy, is this really so bad? Or orders some blood work? What about someone who seriously needs a med to get through a crisis but doesn’t have insurance. Is it really so bad, when someone has pneumonia to give them some antibiotics in addition to other intensive support- and once through the crisis get back to the herbs and other natural remedies to make sure it doesn’t happen again? At our clinic, we use almost exclusivey herbs, nutritional supplements, nutritional IV’s and physical medicine such at massage and acupuncture. We work alongside traditional/native healers, and also are supported and trusted by the MD medical director on the Indian Health Services side.
The other Naturopaths referred to as the ND’s in the posting are people who mostly have gone through mail order programs, and are not eligible to be licensed, and often have no real clinical training. There are also healers who are coming from Europe who come from the tradition, and some MDs and DOs have also gone through mail order school to use this designation. Yes, some of these people are great and know what they are doing. I have also heard many of them at health food stores giving faulty medical advice. Yet others have told their clients/patients that they are ‘addicted’ to their insulin and/or albuterol, and, oops, killed them because of their lack of knowledge in medicine beyond the handful of therapies they’ve learned from various books from the health food store.
The piece I’m commenting on is not a thorough or accurate description of the ‘difference’ between ND and NMD. I would like to see a blurb on the difference between NMD and ND be much more well researched and thought out.
Apryl Krause N.D.
Dear Dr. Krause,
I apologize if my article,”NMD’s v. ND’s: What is the difference, offended you. If you recall in the beginning of the article I said that I live in Colorado and every year a House Bill is introduced to change the licensure requirements for naturopaths in our State. I am fully aware that there is a hand-full of schools that provide a 4-year accredited program. The debate over the titles is very confusing to both professionals and laypeople alike. And I agree with many of the points you made in your article, there are individuals who have little to no educational or clinical training and yet will hang a shingle out to practice and call themselves Naturopathic Medical Doctors (NMD). There are many who feel that NMD should be changed to ND because of the general consensus that MD refers to Medical Doctor, which Naturopathic Doctors are not. Just as you mentioned D.O.s I also gave examples of many with the title of Dr. but that doesn’t change the fact that there are still many patients (clients) who assume that one who refers to himself as Dr. must be a medical doctor.
Next, I would like to comment on a statement that you made:
“The other Naturopaths referred to as the ND’s in the posting are people who mostly have gone through mail order programs, and are not eligible to be licensed, and often have no real clinical training.”
Don’t you think that is rather generalized? I am a registered nurse with 6 years of training; I have a BSN and a MSN. I also have a BS in health education and a Masters in Public Health. I am the author of three books, a retired Associate Professor, and I helped many of my clients find the cause of their health problems (and subsequently cure for it) when traditional medicine failed. I did not obtain my degree from a mail order program. I did my research before deciding to attend an online program for my ND degree. It did not make sense for me, with my background and experience to repeat much of the same courses that I took while in nursing school. In addition, I was not in a position where I could relocate. I thoroughly enjoyed my Internet-based educational experience. It was specifically designed for those with a health care background and was quite challenging. In addition, I also took a national certification examination. Internet-based degree programs are progressive and provide an opportunity for individuals to obtain a college education when the traditional route is not feasible.
My article is not inaccurate, it is an interpretation of many practitioners in Colorado and in other States where licensure for naturopaths is lax. Your treatise may be more thorough but remember the information I presented is what many believe to be true and complete. You are coming from the perspective of a licensed naturopath from a State that is strict on licensure regulation. Frankly, I hope that Colorado does reevaluate the licensure requirements of not just naturopaths but for all those who practice alternative medicine to ensure that practitioners have the appropriate level of both education and clinical experience to practice. I am a health care professional that strongly believes in the philosophy of both traditional and alternative medicine. I believe that the two disciplines should compliment each other and that there are times when, for example, prescription medication and invasive procedures are necessary.
I applaud you for your convictions and thank you for providing another perspective on this very hot legislative topic. The Natural Savvy website provides a much needed avenue for providing information that is thought-provoking and assists the reader in making informed decisions about a variety of topics from a variety of disciplines.
Thank you for your editorial. Please feel free to contact me at bridges2hlth@aol.com to discuss this further.
In health and wellness,
Dr. Linda Mundorff, MPH,MSN,ND,RN,CNC,CTN
Dr. Trudy,
In 1970, my mother died at the age of 42 from an infected tooth. I vowed from that day (I was 11 years old) that I would devote my life to helping others become health wise. In 1999 my sister died at the age of 48. She had mixed connective tissue disease and vasculitis - her death was due to medical mismanagement.
As health care consumers it is so important to do your research and not assume that your health care provider has all the answers. Some (providers)are simply uncomfortable to admit they are human and don’t have all the answers.
Although I practice alternative health, I do believe that traditional medicine has value and see the two disciplines as a marriage of two philosophies.
Thanks again for your comments and I wish you much success in your future endeavors!
In health and wellness,
Dr. Linda Mundorff, MPH,MSN,ND,RN,CNC,CTN
Registered Nurse and Board Certified Traditional Naturopath