What is Naturopathic Medicine?

NATUROPATHIC MEDICINE
natural health is good for your life

How is the Naturopathic approach different?

Naturopathic Medicine is a newly re-acknowledged but timeless form of healthcare. It seeks to understand every unique individual as a whole, complex, and miraculous being.

Many patients use naturopathic medicine as their primary form of healthcare, while others choose to use it as a complementary therapy to conventional medical practices. Regardless of what part naturopathic medicine plays in a patient’s life, NDs see each person as unique and work diligently in a partnership with the patient to bring about the body’s innate healing abilities.

The principles that guide all Naturopathic Practitioners include:


First, Do No Harm

Treat the Cause

Treat the Whole Person

Focus on Prevention

Doctor is also Teacher

Recognize the Healing Power in Nature
naturopathic medical school

What about your training?

NDs and MDs share much of the same educational foundation. Naturopathic medical students focus on the prevention and treatment of disease in an outpatient setting, using methods and substances that support the body’s innate healing ability. 

Conventional medical students primarily focus on the treatment of disease using higher force interventions, including pharmaceuticals and surgery, in settings such as a hospital.

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4 YearsThe length of the graduate level naturopathic medical program
1200 HoursThe minimum amount of clinical training ND students receive
150 HoursThe average amount of training ND students receive in nutrition *

* Source: AANMC Member Survey, 2017

Course of Study

Years 1 and 2

  • Anatomy
  • Biochemistry
  • Physiology
  • Histology
  • Embryology
  • Immunology
  • Microbiology
  • Neuroscience
  • Pathology
  • Pharmacology
  • Philosophy
  • Physical Exam

Years 3 and 4

  • Cardiology
  • Dermatology
  • EENT
  • Gastroenterology
  • Gerontology
  • Gynecology
  • Neurology
  • Oncology
  • Pediatrics
  • Radiology
  • Respiratory
  • Rheumatology
  • Urology

Additional courses specific to NDs

  • Botanical Medicine
  • Homeopathy
  • Nutrition
  • Counseling
  • Hydrotherapy
  • Naturopathic Physical Medicine

A licensed or registered Naturopathic Doctor (ND) must attend a 4-year post-graduate accredited medical program, as well as pass 2 sets of national licensing board exams. There are currently 4 accredited schools and 5 campuses in the United States, as well as 2 in Canada.

Numbers Behind Our Training

In a survey of Naturopathic and Conventional medical universities, top schools in each category were found to encompass the following number of hours in their programs:**

National University of Naturopathic Medicine
4668 Hours
Bastyr University
4472 Hours
Yale University
4311 Hours
Johns Hopkins
5162 Hours
Medical College of Wisconsin
3674 Hours

**Source: MD program information: LCME Annual Medical School Questionnaire Part II; 130 schools provided data for 2013-14; no data shown for 2014-15 or 2015-16; AANMC Member Survey 2017; http://admissions.nunm.edu/files/2013/10/2016-17-ND-Curriculum.pdf; http://www.bridgeport.edu/academics/graduate/naturopathic-medicine-nd/curriculum-and-program-requirements/; http://www.scnm.edu/media/3591/4-year-pos-correct.pdf.