Naturopathic Medicine
Let’s seek to find and resolve root causes first
Licensed in Oregon since 1927 — naturopathic medicine is a branch of modern science-based western medicine that enjoys a robust scope of practice in the state. Naturopathic medicine offers Oregonians a real choice in how they choose to pursue personal health and medical care.
Naturopathic Primary Care
Naturopathic medicine is by first intention primary care — the first doctor you go to with a health concern. Naturopathic doctors utilize what you are experiencing, your health history, in office physical examination, laboratory testing and diagnostic imaging in forming their understanding of you. All these sources of information are viewed by the doctor through western scientific understandings of medical conditions, human physiology and biochemistry to create a personalized diagnosis and treatment plan that meets the needs of just one person — you.
What Sets Naturopathic Medicine Apart
The distinction of naturopathic medicine centers on this holistic approach while seeking to identify and remedy your specific root causes whenever possible. Another distinction is the large and appropriate utilization of lifestyle strategies, applied biochemistry (nutrients), and herbal medicines in addition to the judicious use of prescription pharmaceutical drugs. Naturopathic physicians provide referrals to advanced medical care including surgery when needed — a wide versus narrow tool box. One that prioritizes safe, low force interventions over riskier high force interventions, whenever possible and appropriate, with as little prescription pharmaceutical dependency as possible.
Solid Medical Education
Naturopathic physicians (ND) complete an accredited four year doctorate degree[1] after studying and applying western medical sciences in both the classroom and clinic. The naturopathic education is focused on primary care — being the first doctor you see to sort out your health concerns/problems and addressing them, and knowing when to send you to advanced care.
Gastroenterology (GI) is an emerging ND specialty. Recognizing that health “starts in the gut” is a universal ND value and you will find most NDs are experts in addressing functional “belly” problems. Conventional medicine tends to focus on drug based symptom control and surgeries for serious GI pathology, which NDs are happy to refer you for as needed.
Competent Doctors, Political Underdogs
Is there conflict between NDs and conventional doctors? Absolutely, but it is far less in 2022 than in years past. Sadly NDs and MDs have far too much in medical agreement to justify any conflict. The primary conflict from the conventional side is perpetually about protecting turf and the inordinate economic flows that have been directed towards them.
Respect for NDs has been hard earned. You will find a fully tenured ND medical professor and researcher at Oregon Health Sciences University (OHSU) , along with several other ND researchers and clinical practitioners. More and more integrative clinics with both MD and ND practitioners have been emerging within the state.
At the end of the day, competence and positive patient results will always shine through the slander, slings and arrows serving economic protectionism.
NDs are experts at primary care, we are here to serve you, and we will continue to persist because patients are reliably benefiting from the naturopathic approach and the interventions they provide.