3 ms·

If you happen to live in a state where naturopath is a legally protected term, with state licensing boards and all that, naturopathic doctors are legit medical

If you happen to live in a state where naturopath is a legally protected term, with state licensing boards and all that, naturopathic doctors are legit medical professionals, and in my experience they can be far more knowledgeable and helpful than registered dieticians (who are also great, within their wheelhouse) not to mention many doctors. The naturopaths I've seen have actually provide links to high quality, peer reviewed research in presenting me with diagnoses and treatment options on occasion. The modern, licensed naturopath undergoes extensive science-based education and rigorous training like any medical professional. If you live in a state or country where 'naturopath' is not a legally protected term, then yeah, proceed with abundant caution. You may well be seeing a high school dropout who has an unhealthy fascination with crystals, lol.

copperx 3y ago
Is naturopath a legally protected term in the US? I did a few Google searches, but I can't tell.
- InSteady 3y ago
  It varies state by state: https://aanmc.org/licensure/ https://aanmc.org/licensure/ States with certifying body and licensing requirements have legal protections on using terms such as naturopath, ND, etc.
chpatrick 3y ago
> naturopathic doctors are legit medical professionals But not actual doctors right?
- buildsjets 3y ago
  Yes, actual doctors / physicians. "A person represents himself or herself as a naturopath when that person adopts or uses any title or any description of services that incorporates one or more of the following terms or designations: Naturopath, naturopathy, naturopathic, naturopathic physician, ND, or doctor of naturopathic medicine." https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=18.36A.030 https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=18.36A.030
  - chpatrick 3y ago
    That just says that you can't call yourself a naturopath without a naturopathy license, but it doesn't mean you have to know anything about real medicine.
- InSteady 3y ago
  Where naturopath is a legally protected term and there is government licensing body, they are given the title ND. As in doctor of naturopathy.
  - chpatrick 3y ago
    So not a real doctor.
    - QuercusMax 3y ago
      I have a close family member who's an ND in Oregon, and as part of their training they had 4 years in regular college (studying biology/biochem), then 4 years at an accredited naturopathic school, and a 2 year residency. It's highly rigorous and not just quack stuff.
      - chpatrick 3y ago
        I'm sure there are highly rigorous schools for feng shui too. If this stuff works why isn't it part of mainstream evidence-based medicine? Big pharma conspiracy?
        eutropia 3y ago
        Because "evidence-based" medicine isn't. At least in the US, Medical Training for MDs is probably the most dogmatic science-related discipline. Change is incredibly slow, because tenured professors will lecture positions and practices on topics directly contradicted by the very textbooks they assigned for the class (which they haven't read in several editions). It doesn't take a conspiracy for an incredibly valuable pool of people to remain insulated from things that would challenge their status quo (or worse, the egos of those in charge). Medicine advances one death at a time - and it's not the deaths of patients, but rather from the death of the old guard.

copperx 3y ago

Is naturopath a legally protected term in the US? I did a few Google searches, but I can't tell.

InSteady 3y ago
It varies state by state: https://aanmc.org/licensure/ https://aanmc.org/licensure/ States with certifying body and licensing requirements have legal protections on using terms such as naturopath, ND, etc.

chpatrick 3y ago

> naturopathic doctors are legit medical professionals But not actual doctors right?

buildsjets 3y ago
Yes, actual doctors / physicians. "A person represents himself or herself as a naturopath when that person adopts or uses any title or any description of services that incorporates one or more of the following terms or designations: Naturopath, naturopathy, naturopathic, naturopathic physician, ND, or doctor of naturopathic medicine." https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=18.36A.030 https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=18.36A.030
- chpatrick 3y ago
  That just says that you can't call yourself a naturopath without a naturopathy license, but it doesn't mean you have to know anything about real medicine.
InSteady 3y ago
Where naturopath is a legally protected term and there is government licensing body, they are given the title ND. As in doctor of naturopathy.
- chpatrick 3y ago
  So not a real doctor.
  - QuercusMax 3y ago
    I have a close family member who's an ND in Oregon, and as part of their training they had 4 years in regular college (studying biology/biochem), then 4 years at an accredited naturopathic school, and a 2 year residency. It's highly rigorous and not just quack stuff.
    - chpatrick 3y ago
      I'm sure there are highly rigorous schools for feng shui too. If this stuff works why isn't it part of mainstream evidence-based medicine? Big pharma conspiracy?
      - eutropia 3y ago
        Because "evidence-based" medicine isn't. At least in the US, Medical Training for MDs is probably the most dogmatic science-related discipline. Change is incredibly slow, because tenured professors will lecture positions and practices on topics directly contradicted by the very textbooks they assigned for the class (which they haven't read in several editions). It doesn't take a conspiracy for an incredibly valuable pool of people to remain insulated from things that would challenge their status quo (or worse, the egos of those in charge). Medicine advances one death at a time - and it's not the deaths of patients, but rather from the death of the old guard.