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Naturopathic Medicine

What is a licensed naturopathic medical doctor ?

Naturopathic doctors are the physicians who listen.  They will evaluate the whole person and determine the root of the problem needing treatment.  Naturopathic Medical Doctors (NMD) are licensed in Arizona as physicians after they complete pre-med courses, graduate from a four year naturopathic college, pass national licensure board exams and finally are accepted by the Arizona Board of Naturopathic Medical Examiners (NPBOMEX). They are trained to use both conventional and alternative therapies, so they can write prescriptions, do acupuncture, practice homeopathy, nutrition, counseling, manipulation, botanical medicine and many more modalities. 

A good NMD will try to avoid treatments which merely suppress the symptoms instead of stimulating true healing.  Natural therapies usually work with the body’s natural healing mechanisms, moving the body towards health.

Will my insurance pay for a naturopath?

Many insurance companies do pay. If the insurance policy says they will pay for your choice of a “physician” then in Arizona they are required to pay for a licensed naturopath since they are physicians. If you have HMO coverage they generally dictates which physicians you see and Dr. Helms is not signed up with any plans.

For many people their insurance is a contract between them and their employer. Encourage your employer to offer plans covering naturopaths, if they don’t already. If you are self employed, consider looking at an insurance plan with a high deductible and a Health Savings Account to pay for regular wellness expenses such as your naturopath, eye glasses or teeth cleaning.

Our office does accept credit cards. If you file promptly with the insurance company, frequently you can have your reimbursement by the time the credit card bill comes.

What is the difference between naturopathy and homeopathy?

Naturopathy is an inclusive form of medicine based on the principle of seeing the whole person and getting to the root of the problem. Naturopaths are licensed in Arizona and can use the initials NMD or ND. They use homeopathy, herbs, acupuncture, physical manipulation, nutrition, counseling, IV therapies and various other treatments. Some naturopaths specialize in one or a couple of areas of treatment.
 

Homeopathy is a method of treating using the principle of like cures like. A naturopath might use it as a therapy, but also can be used by medical doctors licensed in Arizona as M.D.(H) to practice it. It is very complementary to other naturopathic treatments because the principles are very similar. Homeopathy looks at and treats the whole person and has a clearly defined goal of greater health. Health is an increase in freedom, creativity and being able to express yourself better.

In Arizona a medical doctor licensed as an M.D.(H) can practice homeopathy along with many other alternative modalities. Some doctors licensed as M.D.(H) only practice the other modalities, not homeopathy.

Other Frequently Asked Questions

 

How are naturopathic and mainstream physicians alike?

Admissions into both naturopathic and mainstream medical school requires a bachelor’s degree with a standard pre-medical education. Each physician graduates from a four-year accredited medical school that includes a curriculum of biomedical sciences -- anatomy, physiology, embryology, histology, biochemistry, pathology, and others.  Clinical sciences are also shared including minor surgery and pharmacology. Finally, both kinds of physicians are licensed to diagnose disease, predict its course, and prescribe treatment.

Are naturopathic medical programs accredited?

Yes.  The Council on Naturopathic Medical Education (CNME) is the only accrediting body for naturopathic medical schools recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.  The CNME has accredited four naturopathic medical programs in the U.S. (as well as one in Canada).  Upon successful completion of any of these programs a naturopathic physician is eligible to take state and national board examinations to obtain licensure.

What about correspondence education?

None of the CNME accredited institutions offer any portion of the naturopathic medical degree via correspondence and the graduates of non-accredited institutions are not eligible to sit for the national board exams in naturopathic medicine.

How is naturopathic medicine different from mainstream medicine?

Naturopathic physicians (ND or NMD) treat patients as individuals by addressing the genetic, environmental, lifestyle, attitudinal, and emotional aspects of health.  After finding the cause or causes of disease, the naturopathic physician uses the most logical, natural, and non-invasive therapies that facilitate the individuals ability to heal.  In contrast, mainstream medicine generally addresses and treats the symptoms of disease while using pharmaceuticals and surgery as the most common therapies.

In the U.S. there are over 800,000 licensed MDs and there are only 2,500 licensed naturopathic physicians. All fifty U.S. states license MDs and DOs (osteopaths) while naturopathic physicians are only currently licensed in fourteen states. 

Is naturopathic medicine scientific?

Yes.  Naturopathic medicine is based on a solid body of knowledge that has evolved and been refined over centuries.  There have been 3,500 randomized clinical studies on natural medicine published in the past 10 years.  The "Textbook of Natural Medicine" contains over 10,000 citations to the peer reviewed scientific literature documenting the efficacy of naturopathic therapies.  Naturopathic physicians use standard scientific diagnostic tools to assess and monitor patients including physical exams, laboratory tests and diagnostic imaging.

What treatments do naturopathic physicians use?

Naturopathic physicians treat each patient individually combining different therapies. These include clinical nutrition, botanical & homeopathic medicine, physical medicine (manipulation, hydrotherapy, ultrasound, exercise physiology,…), Ayurvedic & Chinese medicine, minor surgery, counseling & stress management, natural childbirth, and pharmaceutical drugs. 

What is the status of naturopathic medicine in other countries?

There is no exact counterpart to naturopathic medical education outside of North America.  However, many naturopathic-type modalities are widely used and supported by foreign governments and insurance companies, especially in Europe and Asia.

 How do naturopathic physicians interact with other health professionals?

Effective naturopathic practices have extensive cross-referrals with other practitioners - including MD,  DO, psychotherapists, etc.