I am a practicing ND. I have been in private practice for 2 years. I completed an accredited residency from a CNME approved program.

IF I had it to do all over again, I would have gone to conventional MD. The main reason is that the potential for salaried income is pretty much non-existant. The secondary reason is that due to limited licensure (ND's are only licensed in 14 states & DC) we are unable to move to our desired state (CO). Finally, ND's are becoming more and more recognized but without insurance coverage or a general huge turnaround in the economy, people will have a hard time affording ND care and thus supporting a ND business.

Now in defense of the ND career path. The education is actually decent. I work with MD's, PA's, and NP's. I feel confident when it comes to identifying possible disease processes, diagnostic testing and treatment plans both conventional and alternative. I find it very rewarding when I am able to identify early treatment and preventable disease processes (DM, HTN, wt gain, etc) then provide the patient with a treatment plan that will help. Alsi I can provide the patient with a little more hope than "let's start this medication that you will be on for the rest of your life and oh yeah, in 2-3 years when that one is not enough we will have to add another medication, and another medication, and another, repeat, until you come in hopefully in your sixties and you will be on between 5 to 9 med's.

the final say I have is this. Go get a conventional MD at an integrative type school, U of Arizona, Yale, etc. Pursue an integrative fellowship. Get a great salaried position at one of the more progressive hospitals, Mayo or Cleveland Clinic in their preventative medicine wing, help people in much the same way an ND would but get paid for it so you can support your family and actually have some hope for retirement.

your post is grossly ignorant. have you even tried any natural methods?

There is a wonderful medical doctor in Europe (France) that owns and operates 4 homeopathic schools exclusively for medical doctors. Every year at the beginning of each term he asks all students one question. If any student can list one disease that modern medicine can cure 100%, then they will receive free tuition. That question was first asked almost 16 years ago and not once has a student (medical doctor) been able to answer it.

Naturopathic medicine has the ability to work with the body and its inherent ability to heal. I am not here to debate md vs nd. The vast differences in both paradigms would take much time to discuss. What I would rather offer up is that there is a place for both. There are times when someone may need medical intervention for acute, life-threatening issues, whereas there are times when prolonged medication does absolutely nothing positive for the body except create obstacles to healing. These conditions are likely best treated via natural methods.

One interesting concept is that of our own natural protection from disease and infection. We have barriers (skin, mucus membranes) to prevent microbes from entering our tissues, we will create an amazing fever to burn up offending microbes and we may ultimately rid our body of such microbes and other toxins via vomiting and/or diarrhea. Naturopaths support these basic body functions to help the body heal. Conventional medicine on the other hand tries to replace such natural healing methods via medications and in the process weaken the body. This unfortunately is one of the major causes of disease. Our bodies are programmed to heal. They always strive to do so. The more you suppress the body and block these basic body functions in time of attack, the further you place obstacles in the path to complete healing. If medical doctors and naturopaths were encouraged to work together (place all egos aside) and actually focus on the patient, then I believe this would be perfect medicine and lead to cure. Otherwise I see the future of medicine as incomplete.

For many doctors there often seems to be some financial motive involved in their career choice. We should not be defined by our financial acquisitions as health professionals but rather by the success we achieve when we help individuals achieve optimal health goals. After all, in China, medical doctors are only paid as long as the patient remains healthy. Food for thought....

I am sure the average person who sees a ND is quite a bit healthier than the one who ends up with the MD. So the ND perspective arguing for compensation based on patient outcomes is not really a valid argument for comparing the two fields. I doubt that people who smoked and drank all of their life go to see NDs very often. The reality is that people do live their lives this way and MDs treat their symptoms, these people will remain sick. Obviously the ND will have healthier patients, and will likely boast this fact to increase or validate their own compensation.
Like was said, there's a reason for both of these professions... related... but quite different.

Bottom line is, the MD will let you practice anything you want, should you choose to educate yourself in that area. Quite the opposite for the ND.

I also like the 'go get an MD at Yale and a residency at Mayo', if you want to practice integrative medicine.

peptic ulcer disease secondary to H. Pylori.
Tuberculosis.
Infectious disease.

there are many other 'cures' that modern medicine has developed.

those doctors must be either really dumb (which i doubt) or this is just an attempt to equate a REAL doctor with those who are not.

(Infantile hypertrophic) pyloric stenosis
Appendicitis

A chance to cut is a chance to cure.

And how is it that these brilliant French med students never mentioned chlamydia or gonorrhea?

And ever heard of smallpox? Modern medicine erases a plague from the face of the earth . . . that's gotta count.

THis is true. People who seek out ND's are people who are interested in doing the best thing for themselves. MD's try (or should try) to encourage lifestyle modifications etc. for various diseases. If you look at stats, about 85% of people newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes won't have it if they get to a normal weight. 98% of patients (in my estimation) don't do it.

ND's probably see a more educated population, a more affluent population, and a more motivated population. This is great. It gives you the chance to really make a difference without drugs. Of course, many medications significantly reduce morbidity and mortality. It is nice to be able to implement these things as well. Not all western medicine is evil. I don't know why people have to take sides on the issue, the 2 approaches can co-exist well. Having an MD is a more stable approach financially, and lets you combine the 2 approaches as you see fit.

__________________
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Bored certified
I may be a jerk, but I'm a Jedi jerk like my father.

Some say I look like Buzz Lightyear....
(They're right)

DISCLAIMER: I have no financial stake in ValueMD, or any medical school.

In response to cured disease such as tuberculosis, smallpox etc…
The truth about the resolution of these diseases can be found on the site below for those who dare to seek the truth! These so-called medical cures that erase plagues from the face of the earth were NOT the truth cure. See for yourself. These diseases were already on a serious decline YEARS BEFORE modern medicine intervened. It was the natural hygiene movement that lead to the decline of them.
If you would like to know more about what the amazing smallpox vaccine actually did, I suggest you go to the following site and see for yourself.
The concept of vaccine was an amazing thought but had great fault.
http://www.truthquest2.com/vaccination.htm Look at the photos of the children and infants and the effect vaccines had on them.
Perhaps immunization graphs (which are available to the public) might help also show the true decline of these so-called plagues…
http://www.pamkilleen.com/Media/Vaccine%20Tables%20(R%20Obomsawin).pdf

By removing a body organ or tissue does not CURE. It merely removes the tissue in question. You have not addressed the CAUSE of disease. In the case of appendicitis, this type of individual needs to have their entire diet and digestive history reviewed. Then, and only then, can the physician truly understand why this patient had such a sever appendix flare-up. The type of individual who is at risk of appendicitis tends to be one who lacks adequate water and fiber intake, less likely to exercise (such as walking) eats a SAD diet, overweight (not always). Yes, appendectomies save a life, but the surgery did not address the CAUSE. There is a difference.....fortunately in the case of acute severe appendicits surgery will save the life.

The same holds true for gallbladder surgery. The cause must be addressed before considering removing a vital organ of the digestive system. God made us with both a gallbladder and an appendix (and other tissues).....my guess is that we are supposed to have them.

RE smallpox...... As I have already mentioned, smallpox was already on a serious decline by the time the vaccine was invented. Also, the alarming rise in smallpox was attributed to the smallpox vaccine itself. Not to smallpox. Many countries lost many citizens because of this vaccine. Germany lost over 200,000 people .....ALL WERE VACCINATED AGAINST SMALLPOX!!!

Unfortunately there are many hidden historical medical truths nowadays and the older the event the least likely it is fresh in our minds.

I truly invite you to look into the history of some of these supposed medical miracle cures. Vaccines are not the safest method to control outbreaks of disease. Vaccines are highly contaminated and will always be. (The lead scientist working on the polio vaccine at the time noted that all animals vaccinated developed leukemia. Did you know that??? Guess it was another historical medical fact long forgotten. If you can read about the history of these vaccines I am sure you will come to your own conclusions. Don't be afraid to give credit where it is due. It will make you a better doctor.