http://www.seacoastonline.com/news/d...0_8health8.htm

Naturopathic doctors’ license now expanded


The ability of naturopathic doctors to prescribe more useful everyday medicines has expanded in the state of New Hampshire. The Department of Health and Human Services has released an announcement that increases the Naturopathic Formulary — which is the medicines that they can prescribe — to include antibiotics, testosterone, and vaccines. The formulary already contains hormones like estrogens, herbal medicines, and vitamins.

“This is an important step for naturopaths in New Hampshire and the people seeing naturopaths as their health care providers,” said Keith Spaulding ND, naturopathic doctor at Gentle Currents Wellness Center in Greenland. “Some people see naturopaths for their general health care needs, and if the doctor believes the person needs antibiotics, they have to send them to a walk in clinic, which is frustrating, time consuming, and expensive.”

Some naturopaths may use antibiotics in the acute situation of bacterial pneumonia or a urinary tract infection while using diet and herbs to help build their immunity, to help heal faster, and to prevent another infection.

The growth of naturopathic medicine in New Hampshire has been slow but steady. Initially licensed eight 8 years ago, naturopaths are edging into mainstream health care.

“People are beginning realize there are alternatives in medicine,” said Spaulding, “You can find a licensed doctor from a four-year medical school, that has the ability to use lab work and x-rays to help find the problem, but uses more natural methods like herbs, supplements, and diet changes to treat the condition.”

To find information or a naturopath near you, visit www.naturopath.org, the Web site of the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians, or look in your local yellow pages.

(see the formularly at http://www.state.nh.us/pharmacy/naturo.htm)

__________________
Moderator - State Licensing Forum

Still skeptical after all these years.
This is it. There are no hidden meanings.WYSIWYG

http://www.internetmedicalschool.homestead.com

http://www.chiropractormds.homestead.com/index.html

I wonder how long it will be before there is a follow-up article where a patient dies as a result of Naturopaths increased prescibing power...

the blurring of 'naturopthic' and prescriptions and minor surgery in some states should concern you as an MD to be indeed.

__________________
Moderator - State Licensing Forum

Still skeptical after all these years.
This is it. There are no hidden meanings.WYSIWYG

http://www.internetmedicalschool.homestead.com

http://www.chiropractormds.homestead.com/index.html

What is so naturopathic about Levofloxacin?

What about drug-herb interactions? Most have NOT been studied. That leaves them wide open for lawsuits. Testosterone is schedule III (same as Vicodin) Absolute insanity.

G

__________________
AUC Class of '99
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.

when people go to a naturopath they think that person will be doing 'natural' things but if that person is prescribing meds look out. We had that happen here in az where ND's can write an even larger formulary

http://www.pharmacy.state.az.us/NMDnews.pdf

__________________
Moderator - State Licensing Forum

Still skeptical after all these years.
This is it. There are no hidden meanings.WYSIWYG

http://www.internetmedicalschool.homestead.com

http://www.chiropractormds.homestead.com/index.html

Yup, being natural, that's the fun of being a naturopath. hahaha

I would not worry too much about it. Look what happened to the Osteopaths. Werent they supposed to be "natural" at one time?

Not sure how many of you are aware of the vigorous training licensed Naturopaths endure. Thought I would shine a little light on this profession....as it definitely deserves it!

Naturopathic students must have 3 years of university training with basic science pre-med courses as pre-requisites. They do not require an MCAT. A true naturopathic education (not the mickey mouse ones that offer an ND or NMD after one week or month) is 4 years in duration. The first two years are comparable to conventional medical training. Biochem, immunology, micro, histology, anatomy, physiol, path, etc.... Students must complete basic science exams at the end of second year so they will be allowed to continue upper year studies and enter the on-site school clinic. Any of this sound familiar? Not much of a difference right? Then the students go on to clinical education....differential diagnosis, physical/clinical assessment, lab diagnosis (yes, medical tests), etc... upper year courses include pharmacology (yes, pharm), clinical nutrition (how many hours of nutrition does a conventional med student get? exactly!) Obstetrics, pediatrics, emergency med, parenteral therapy (IV vitamins....they are the best!! especially around exam times) physical medicine (adjustments, soft tissue therapy, physical modalities such as ultrasound, hydrotherapy) and radiology. Then there are all the natural focussed treatment courses.....acupuncture (3 years duration), homeopathy (3 years duration), nutrition (3 years duration), physical medicine (3 years duration), herbal/botanical medicine (3 years duration). So please don't tell me these health professionals are quacks. To view a naturopath as a quack is a sign of pure ignorance. It is in fact an insult to them.

Keep in mind that not all health professionals can treat every single person who walks through their door. Sometimes a patient will expect their medical doctor to know about herbs or herb-drug interactions. What will your answer be? If it is anything like my friend experienced....her MD said....herbs won't hurt you. And so she continued to take her St Johnswort while taking her SSRI's. She wound up in hospital because of this lack of knowledge. Yes, herbs and drugs do interact sometimes, so it is up to physicians to know them. Naturopaths know these interactions and do write nation-wide licensing exams in both Canada and the USA. Actually, they write 14 exams in 4 days! How is that for an exam conflict faux pas? I know of a very affluent dentist who gave up his full-time practice just to become a naturopath. He now focusses primarily on natural cancer treatment approaches. Do you trust a naturopath enough to let them treat your leukemia? or perhaps your multiple myeloma? I do!

As for herbs in general.....YES! there are numerous studies on them at the scientific level. YES! many of them are standardized. YES! they can be just as powerful in their therapeutic effect as allopathic drugs. YES! they can have next to none or no side-effects.....

Enough of that. Just wanted to help encourage open minds here. After all, your patients deserve it! When your patient tells you they are seeing a naturopath, the only question you should be asking is.....where did they study! That is how you will help your patient! Remember, try to refrain giving an opinion about anything or profession unless you speak with someone in the profession...or maybe more than one of them.

On top of the basic sciences, nd also study acupunture, physical medicine, botanicals. So they take 9-10 courses and this leaves little time to be good in any of the basic sciences of physiology, pathology, microbiology, biochemistry, anatomy.




14 exams taken after their basic clinicals. NDs need to be good at what they do during the 2 years of basic clinicals. With all their modalities they need to know in the 2 years and with a limited patient base, how competent can they be?

Hence why naturopaths do not have the same privileges as MD's right now, due to less training. I do believe they earn the privileges they have though and that they should be licenced in all states.

__________________
Future ND

ok, well ive decided only after a small amount of time to drop out of Nat Medical College. It isn't for me. The profs in courses other than basic medical science stuff like anatomy and physiology, have made really crazy comments that I just can't be a part of. There are too many downsides to being a Naturopath, especially trying to convince myself about all these alternative therapies.

__________________
Future ND