The basic difference is that in naturopathy it's not the doctor that does the curing, it's the patient. -Dr. John Bastyr (1985)
distinguishing between naturopathy and conventional medicine
What is Naturopathy?
Naturopaths are Experts in Natural Medicine.
A licensed naturopathic physician (ND) attends a four-year, accredited, graduate-level naturopathic medical school and is educated in all of the same biomedical sciences as an MD (click link to learn the difference between an ND and MD). In addition to medical and clinical sciences, naturopathic education incorporates natural and nontoxic treatments with a strong emphasis on disease prevention and optimizing wellness. Naturopathic medical education incorporates standard medical curriculum, and studies including clinical nutrition, physical medicine, homeopathic medicine, botanical medicine, psychology, and counseling. A naturopathic physician takes rigorous professional board exams so that they may be licensed by a state or jurisdiction as a primary care general practice physician.
Scope of Practice in Washington
Naturopathic Scope of Practice in WA State
According to Washington State Law as of February 2022: Naturopathic medicine is the practice by naturopaths of the art and science of the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of disorders of the body by stimulation or support, or both, of the natural processes of the human body. A naturopath is responsible and accountable to the consumer for the quality of naturopathic care rendered. The practice of naturopathic medicine includes manual manipulation (mechanotherapy), the prescription, administration, dispensing, and use, except for the treatment of malignancies, of nutrition and food science, physical modalities, minor office procedures, homeopathy, naturopathic medicines, hygiene and immunization, contraceptive devices, common diagnostic procedures, and suggestion; however, nothing in this chapter shall prohibit consultation and treatment of a patient in concert with a practitioner licensed under chapter 18.57 or 18.71 RCW. No person licensed under this chapter may employ the term "chiropractic" to describe any services provided by a naturopath under this chapter.
Learn More
Washington State Laws on Naturopathic Medicine: https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=18.36A.040
Bastyr University Doctorate of Naturopathic Medicine in Seattle, WA and San Diego, CA: https://bastyr.edu/academics/naturopathic-medicine/what-naturopathic-medicine
ND and MD Training comparison: https://aanmc.org/comparing-nd-md-curricula/
Naturopathic Medicine Institute (NMI)
Become a General Public Associate
$75 for 12 months
Open to the general public who wish to learn about Vitalistic Naturopathic Medicine and support the NMI mission. General Associates receive a 10% discount on live, in-person and virtual events from NMI and access to select Vital Conversation archives as well as a discount from Kangen Water by Enagic and Flaska Structured Water glass bottle company and access to the film How Healthcare Became Sick Care: The True History of Medicine and others.
Featured Vital Conversations (Free!)
- April 8, 2020: Drs. Rick Kirschner and Hilary Andrews “Personal Responsibility and The Healing Power of Nature“
- Mar 25, 2020: Drs. Rick Kirschner and Thomas Kruzel ”Treating Viral Illness as a Vitalist”
- Dec 11, 2019: Tribute to Jim Sensenig, ND
- Nov 13, 2019 VC: Sensenig and Crista: “Mold, mold, mold.”
- Sep 4, 2019 VC: Camp and Morstein “Avoiding Diet Extremism”
- March 13, 2019 VC: Sensenig and Cisar “The ABC’s of Therapeutic Intervention”
- Feb 13, 2019: Sensenig and Kirschner: “Vitalism Defined”
- Feb 7, 2018: Sensenig and Swope “Homeopathy is for Everyone”
- June 20, 2018 VC: Sensenig and Holcomb “How Medications Influenced Practice”
- July 18, 2018 VC: Zeff and Camp “Childhood Illnesses”
- Sept 5, 2018 VC: Sensenig and Zeff “Doctrine of Suppression”
- October 31, 2018 VC: Sensenig and Zeff “Herring’s Laws”
- November 14, 2018 VC: Sensenig and Wertkin “Dr Sensenig, The Interview”
- Dec 12, 2018 VC: Sensenig, Zeff, Dick-Kronenberg, Wertkin “A Message of Hope and Inspiration”
- Oct 4, 2017 VC: Sensenig “Infectious Disease Without Antibiotics or Vaccination” (2 hrs)