We Need to Stop Treating Naturopaths Like They’re Medical Doctors

[passiveporcupine]

91. Are you not concerned with the length of training to become a Naturopathic Doctor?

She got her degree in four years, which included learning all about natural healing methods, and also In some states including Oregon they can also prescribe pharmaceutical drugs if needed.

To become a medical doctor, you have to go to school a lot longer.

Depending on whether you plan to work as a general physician or as another type of doctor, training can take between eleven and sixteen years. Most doctors complete at least four years of undergraduate school, followed by four years of medical school and then three-to-eight years of residency programs.

To become a nutritionist

Typically, a bachelor's degree takes four years to earn, though many online programs allow you to earn your degree in a shorter period of time. In some states, you only need a certificate or associate's degree to be eligible for your nutritionist license, and these can be achieved in two years or less.

To become a dentist

Dental school takes four years to complete at full-time status, so those who complete a bachelor's degree first will be in school for eight years. Those who do not finish a bachelor's degree first or who complete a combined bachelor's and doctoral degree program may take less time to finish their schooling.

It takes longer to become a pharmacist than a dentist or a naturopathic doctor.

Three to four years of undergraduate pre-professional (prerequisite) coursework, followed by four academic years in the professional program. Most students need four years to complete their prerequisite courses. Thus, it usually takes eight years of college study to earn a Pharm.D. and become a pharmacist.

I am glad that you feel better and the treatment seems to be working, but I do worry that you seem to think she is a regular doctor as well as a naturalist. She does not have the credentials to be a regular doctor, and I'm actually surprised that ANY state would allow her to prescribe pharmaceutical drugs.

I have two sisters who are also into natural healing and they are both licensed massage therapists. I believe massage therapy can be considered a real source of healing (especially Lymphatic Drainage Massage), but it doesn't make them doctors. They have both tried to pass on their beliefs and have pushed homeopathic treatments, crystals, magnet therapy, detoxing your feet in a tub of water with an electrical charge or something (I didn't try that one). None of any of the treatments I tried (just to pacify them) did any good at all for me.

That's not to say there are natural treatments that do work for many things, because many of our prescribed medicines and vitamins etc, are made from natural plants and minerals.

I use Melatonin when I can't sleep at night. It's OTC. An aspirin is well known to keep your heart healthy. and wine (especially red wine) will help open your veins, so it's good for your heart and helps clear up edema. A healthy diet and balanced electrolytes are essential to good health, and that doesn't take an MD to figure out. I use many other OTC drugs too, for various things, but they are all proven to work, not just on people who want to believe in them, but in everyone. For example...benadryl works the same way for everyone. Some people may have different side-effect than another person might have, but the general OTC drugs often started out being prescription drugs that had to pass tests to qualfiy, before they became OTC. I don't know what I'd do without ranitidine and prilosec. I believe they were both prescription first and now at lower doses are OTC.

Still, all the flower remedies my sisters believe in, or little pills that dissolve under your tongue to make your symptoms go away...they do absolutely nothing for me. I think the real benefit they may have is as a placebo, and in that case, it's your mind healing your own body. Now they may also use things that have been proven to work and are OTC...I have never been to a naturopath, so I don't know. In your case...if you are actually getting a thyroid replacement drug...even if it's not the standard one doctors use, it may still be working for you. I hope it continues to work and you recover fully.

But I seriously have a problem with a four year degree in natural medicine to qualify someone for prescribing pharmaceutical drugs. I'm sorry to hear that Oregon participates in that, as I don't believe it is wise (and I'm an Oregonian).

I know doctors can and do make mistakes. I've had my share of problems that way, but not all doctors are careless, or think they are know-it-alls and won't listen to the patient...something they really do need to do. I do hope that your caregiver does refer her patients to a specialist if they have a serious problem and her natural path to healing is not working for them.

Anyway, that is how I feel and it probably doesn't mean anything to you. Take care and be well.