Re: SCNM or Bastyr

I am a student in a professional healthcare degree right now. I have fully investigated the alternative health fields. I have visited all of the naturopathic schools on the west coast. I actually have a 4-year postgraduate alternative health degree in one, which I don't want to disclose here. I wouldn't waste your time with any of these naturopathic schools. You already have all the credentials you need. If you want to do research you are already far more qualified as a pharmacist than you will ever be as a naturopath.

These naturopathic schools look enticing at first, but most of the clinical training and experience with real patients is entirely lacking. This is why NCNM students actually have to do their rectal exams on their fellow classmates.

The evidence-based part of the curriculum is also lacking. The naturopathic degree is such a hodge-podge of different healing modalities and philosophies that it is hard to get an idea of who you really are.

If you want to do clinical work with nutrition, a MS in nutrition such as the online program at University of Bridgeport is far cheaper and more evidence-based.

There are numerous herbal seminars you can go to such as Medi-herbs multi-weekend seminar on herbs that will teach herbs far better than the teachers at these naturopathic schools.

If you want to learn homeopathy there are numerous online diplomate programs one can learn from.

Most naturopaths learn about Chinese medicine but they aren't actually allowed to practice acupuncture unless they get an acupuncture degree.

If you want to learn about manipulation, I will tell you that the manipulation taught at natuopathic schools is woefully inadequate. NCNM even had a PT teaching their courses on chiropractic manipulation and no one learned anything.

I have seen far too many graduates of naturopathic schools struggle heartily, default on their loans, and have to switch professions.

The amount of time spent doing the naturopathic degree is exorbitant compared to all the fluff classes and and the deficient clinic experience. Until naturopaths are hooked into real residencies at real hospitals and medical settings it will be hard for them to see the variety of patients they are supposed to treat and have the physical diagnosis skills.

All the teachers have their own pet ideas of what they think works, and it is hard to get a really good sense of naturopathic medicine really is since everyone seems to have their definition for it. Many of the pet ideas are quite ridiculous such as muscle testing for nutritional products, using x-ray homeopathic remedies on people who were just x-rayed, and clearing food allergies using acupressure.

I predict that the naturopathic schools will face a lot of difficulty in the next few years. With the economy in recession, fewer people are using these services-- especially since most of them are cash-based. Also, the naturopathic degree is not really a great value because there aren't many jobs or great starting salaries. A look at any naturopathic job posting board is usually quite deficient. The tuition has expanded beyond the point of being affordable, and with the recession new students are thinking harder about this kind of thing. There are just so many other ways to practice natural medicine than being a naturopath. Naturopaths face brutal competition from chiropractors, acupuncturists (which are gaining new rights and priveledges as Doctors of Oriental Medicine), alternative MDs, osteopaths, nurse practicioners, nutritionists, massage therapists, online naturopaths (graduates from schools like Trinity), unlicensed natural health care practicioners (there are lots of them floating out there), and more.

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