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Jan. 18, 2025
Naturopathic Medicine
Stan, Clarence, Barry, and the Health Chatter team chat with Andrew Litchy, N.D., about naturopathic medicine and its role in modern healthcare.
Dr. Litchy is a naturopathic doctor who treats people of all ages, focusing on digestive and cardiovascular health, chronic illnesses, and overall wellness. He is also a faculty member, meditation teacher, and collaborator with research programs aimed at integrating naturopathic approaches and mindfulness practices into broader healthcare solutions.
Join us for an enlightening discussion about the principles and applications of naturopathic medicine, and stay tuned to gain fresh perspectives on holistic health.
Join the conversation at healthchatterpodcast.com
Brought to you in support of Hue-MAN, who is Creating Healthy Communities through Innovative Partnerships.
More about their work can be found at huemanpartnership.org.
Quick Facts
- National survey data show that 0.2 percent of U.S. adults used naturopathy in 2002 and 1.3 percent used it in 2022.
- A central tenet of naturopathic philosophy is vis medicatrix naturae (the healing power of nature), an ancient concept often ascribed to Hippocrates
- Some swear by the benefits of naturopathy but
What is Naturopathy?
- Naturopathy is a distinct type of primary care medicine that blends age-old healing traditions with scientific advances and current research.
- Naturopathy is not a replacement for conventional medical care but can complement traditional treatments and therapies to help achieve optimal health, example: adjunctive oncology
- Naturopathic treatments often focus on the condition’s root cause rather than treating the symptoms.
- Naturopathy is guided by a unique set of principles that recognize the body's innate healing capacity, emphasize disease prevention, and encourage individual responsibility to obtain optimal health.
- Naturopathic treatment modalities may include diet and clinical nutrition, behavioral change, lifestyle modification, hydrotherapy, homeopathy, botanical medicine, physical medicine, pharmaceuticals, and minor surgery.
How do patients benefit from naturopathy vs traditional medicine?
- Individualized and Tailored treatment → Naturopathic medicine is a holistic approach to healthcare that focuses on individualized treatment plans, meaning treatments are tailored to each patient’s needs, allowing them to focus on their specific health concerns. This individualized approach ensures patients receive the most effective and appropriate natural therapies, which is especially useful in patients with chronic disease.
- Medication Management → While medication can help treat certain conditions, there are times when patients can benefit from a more holistic approach such as lifestyle modifications or a different medication that has less side effects. Naturopathic medicine can prevent drug interactions and help reduce medication use, which is especially beneficial for those who want to avoid the side effects of certain medications.
- Emphasis on Prevention → Naturopathic medicine is a great way to prevent diseases. It focuses on lifestyle changes, such as healthy eating, exercise, and natural remedies to support the body and its overall health. Naturopathic medicine also seeks to identify and address the underlying cause of a health issue rather than just treating the symptoms, which can help prevent the disease from reoccurring.
3 types of practitioners:
- Naturopathic physicians - generally complete a 4-year, graduate-level program at one of the North American naturopathic medical schools accredited by the Council on Naturopathic Medical Education, an organization recognized for accreditation purposes by the U.S. Department of Education. Some U.S. states and territories have licensing requirements for naturopathic physicians; others don’t. In those jurisdictions that have licensing requirements, naturopathic physicians must graduate from a 4-year naturopathic medical college and pass an examination to receive a license. They must also fulfill annual continuing education requirements.
- Traditional naturopaths - also known simply as “naturopaths,” may receive training in a variety of ways. Training programs vary in length and content and are not accredited by organizations recognized for accreditation purposes by the U.S. Department of Education. Traditional naturopaths are often not eligible for licensing.
- Other health care providers - (such as physicians, osteopathic physicians, chiropractors, dentists, and nurses) sometimes offer naturopathic treatments, functional medicine, and other holistic therapies, having pursued additional training in these areas. Training programs vary.
Downsides of naturopathy:
- Insurance coverage is limited – Although naturopathic care is often more affordable than conventional medical treatments, insurance coverage can vary greatly depending on where you live, as well as your health plan.
- Time Consuming And Requires Commitment – One of the biggest challenges with naturopathic care is that it usually requires a fair amount of time and commitment in order to see results because the treatment plan might include different components, such as diet modifications, herbs and supplements, lifestyle changes, acupuncture appointments, or even surgical procedures. It’s important to understand that naturopathic care is typically a long-term commitment, not something that will cure an illness overnight.
- Limited Research And Clinical Studies To Support Claims – While many people swear by the effectiveness of naturopathic medicine, there is still a lot that we don’t know about it in terms of solid clinical data. For example, research has been limited when it comes to evaluating the safety and efficacy of different methods and protocols used by naturopaths. Some medical professionals have gone as far as calling this type of medicine unethical due to the lack of modern day evidence base for some practices such as homeopathy.
- Homeopathic Immunizations - Certain homeopathic products (called “nosodes” or “homeopathic immunizations”) have been promoted by some as substitutes for conventional immunizations, but the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says there’s no credible scientific evidence to support such claims. When families opt for “homeopathic immunizations” they are risking their child and their community’s safety.
- A 2015 comprehensive assessment of evidence by the Australian government’s National Health and Medical Research Council concluded that there is no reliable evidence that homeopathy is effective for any health condition
- Disclaimer: Many practices that naturopathy recommends may be supported by data such as lifestyle modifications and tissue manipulation for pain relief but some are not supported by data.
Safety Notes
- Regulations, licenses, or certificates do not guarantee safe, effective treatment from any health care provider—conventional or complementary.
- Tell all your health care providers about any complementary or integrative health approaches you use. Give them a full picture of what you do to manage your health. This will help ensure coordinated and safe care.
Sources
https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/naturopathy
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6399603/
A link to the MNANP, the MN professional organization:
A link for the AANP, the national organization:
Journal of Dietary Supplements, 8(4):369–377, 2011 byInformaHealthcareUSA,Inc. Available online at www.informahealthcare.com/jds DOI: 10.3109/19390211.2011.623148
Naturopathic Physicians: Holistic Primary Care and Integrative Medicine Specialists
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