Re: Re: SCNM training vs. allopathic (UA med)

Reading these posts, there are a lot of good questions.

Please be sure to understand naturopathic medicine - i.e. homeopathy, nutrition, physical medicine, etc. is absolutely, unequivocally NOT in an MDs scope of practice. Please do not enter an MD program under the impression that you will be able to practice naturopathic medicine. In fact, state BOMEX (board of medical examiners) come down hard on MDs who practice outside of their scope (which would include those modalities they are not trained in - i.e. natural medicine). If you are under this false impression - please contact your state BOMEX.

For instance, most MD programs offer one course in nutrition. In ND school I've had to take six to eight courses. Furthermore, to assume that an MD can practice natural medicine is an oversimplification of naturopathic medicine. An MD that simply prescribes an herb (or takes two courses in acupuncture or botanical medicine) does not make that practitioner a naturopathic physician. The difference is in the underlying identification of a root cause of disease and treating the patient toward optimum health - not simply treating symptoms.

I am a naturopathic medical student. There is no question that I have received excellent biomedical science training and I am now engaged in clinical training. Each day I am presented with different pathologies and patients where I see the benefits of naturopathic medicine. I am looking at the entire individual, not superficial symptoms. I don't prescribe a 'one size fits all' approach to my patients and I am able to spend more than 10 minutes with a patient.

Choosing between an ND program and an MD program should hinge on your personal philosophy about medicine and how patients/disease should be treated and viewed.

Josie

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