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Traditional Naturopathy
and Naturopathic Medicine
Find Naturopathy Schools and Get Naturopathy Career Information

Naturopathy Schools | Naturopathic Medicine Career Resource Center

Traditional naturopathy and naturopathic medicine are both based on a similar belief system—that the body, mind and spirit are ultimately connected. There is inherent self healing built into living organisms, and naturopathy focuses on this idea. But the term "naturopathic medicine" has only been around for 100 years. In order to understand the progressive naturopathic medicine, you have to first understand traditional naturopathy and how it has evolved into a modern medicine that is even practiced in today's hospitals...

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What is traditional naturopathy?

naturopathic medicine

Traditional naturopathy has been practiced since the beginning of human life, and is based on the philosophy that the body has tremendous innate abilities to heal itself. The traditional naturopathic practitioner counsels patients on nutrition and a healthy lifestyle, merely initiating and guiding the body in its healing by performing non-invasive procedures and using a variety of techniques including massage, herbology, homeopathy and other natural healing methods.

These holistic health modalities promote self-healing in contrast to Western medicine's treatment-of-symptoms through drugs approach. Practitioners of traditional naturopathy believe in the healing power of nature; they do not focus on trying to diagnose and treat a specific illness but rather they focus on strengthening the body's own defenses.

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What is the difference between traditional naturopathy and naturopathic medicine?

It is important to distinguish the difference between the ancient practice, or traditional naturopathy, and the evolved practice, naturopathic medicine—both on a philosophical level as well as on an educational level.

Traditional naturopathy can be easily confused with naturopathic medicine by those not familiar with the differences in philosophy and practice between the two. Although the two overlap in many areas, they differ significantly.

Traditional naturopathy:

Practitioners trained to be traditional naturopaths may obtain their training at any number of institutions, some of which may even be correspondence schools, which require little, or no actual classroom time. Traditional naturopaths believe that natural healing is an art based on observation and experience. They typically study the alternative medicine belief system, but are not qualified physicians.

Naturopathic medicine:

Those trained in naturopathic medicine attend accredited four year schools (of which there are seven in North America), and graduate as naturopathic doctors (NDs). They believe naturopathy is a system of medicine based in scientific roots, and their practice may include diagnosing and treating diseases, some types of invasive surgical procedures, and prescribing of pharmaceuticals.

Naturopathic medicine doctors require a similar amount of training as medical doctors, so you need to decide which type of naturopathy you wish to practice before you attend naturopathy school.

Where can I get training?

Delaware
Tai Sophia Institute - Master of Acupuncture Program - Training in Laurel, Maryland
Tai Sophia Institute - Master of Science in Herbal Medicine - Training in Laurel, Maryland
District of Columbia
Washington Institute of Natural Medicine - Washington
Tai Sophia Institute - Master of Acupuncture Program - Training in Laurel, Maryland
Tai Sophia Institute - Master of Science in Herbal Medicine - Training in Laurel, Maryland
Florida
Everglades University - Orlando - Altamonte Springs
Everglades University - Boca Raton - Boca Raton
Everglades University - Sarasota - Sarasota
Maryland
Tai Sophia Institute - Master of Acupuncture Program - Laurel
Tai Sophia Institute - Master of Science in Herbal Medicine - Laurel
Massachusetts
Tai Sophia Institute - Master of Acupuncture Program - Training in Laurel, Maryland
Tai Sophia Institute - Master of Science in Herbal Medicine - Training in Laurel, Maryland
Michigan
Institute for Integrative Health Training - Ypsilanti
New Jersey
Tai Sophia Institute - Master of Acupuncture Program - Training in Laurel, Maryland
Tai Sophia Institute - Master of Science in Herbal Medicine - Training in Laurel, Maryland
New York
Tai Sophia Institute - Master of Acupuncture Program - Training in Laurel, Maryland
Tai Sophia Institute - Master of Science in Herbal Medicine - Training in Laurel, Maryland
North Carolina
Tai Sophia Institute - Master of Acupuncture Program - Training in Laurel, Maryland
Tai Sophia Institute - Master of Science in Herbal Medicine - Training in Laurel, Maryland
Pennsylvania
Tai Sophia Institute - Master of Acupuncture Program - Training in Laurel, Maryland
Tai Sophia Institute - Master of Science in Herbal Medicine - Training in Laurel, Maryland
Virginia
Washington Institute of Natural Medicine - Chesapeake
Tai Sophia Institute - Master of Acupuncture Program - Training in Laurel, Maryland
Tai Sophia Institute - Master of Science in Herbal Medicine - Training in Laurel, Maryland
West Virginia
Tai Sophia Institute - Master of Acupuncture Program - Training in Laurel, Maryland
Tai Sophia Institute - Master of Science in Herbal Medicine - Training in Laurel, Maryland

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