Question 1

What is the difference between a Naturopathic Doctor (ND) and a Medical Doctor (MD/DO)?

Accepted Answer

Naturopathic doctors and medical doctors both complete four-year doctoral-level medical education and have the right to call themselves physicians. Naturopathic education incorporates extensive coursework and clinical training that emphasizes integrating diet and nutrition, herbal medicine, lifestyle optimization, counseling, and other natural approaches alongside medication management. Naturopathic doctors practicing primary care have essentially the same scope of practice as PCPs that are MDs or DOs (or nurse practitioners or physician assistants). The biggest distinction is naturopathic philosophy, which emphasizes treating the whole person and finding the root cause of disease; you can read more here.

Question 2

Why should I choose a naturopathic doctor?

Accepted Answer

You want a doctor who will treat all of you, not just your illness.
You want personalized treatment.
You want to treat the root cause of an illness, not just the symptoms.
You want to actively participate in managing your own health.
You have tried all conventional medical options for diagnosing and treating a health condition

Question 3

How is a first appointment with you different from a visit with a conventional primary care doctor?

Accepted Answer

Our first visit is much longer (60 minutes), giving me the time to get to know you, your life, and your medical history in a way that visits with conventional doctors don’t. We’ll spend a lot of time talking about your life and lifestyle, and how your health concerns impact you day to day. You might find yourself sharing more than you ever have with a physician; I like to dive deep so we can figure out the best approach for you.

Question 4

What should I bring to our first appointment?

Accepted Answer

Recent labs/test results are usually quite helpful, either printed out, or if available, by logging into your external patient portal during our first visit. If you have multiple chronic conditions, or symptoms that have yet to be explained or diagnosed, a written timeline can be super helpful as well and save us a lot of time during the visit. If you can share any of these before the appointment, that can save us even more time.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between a Naturopathic Doctor (ND) and a Medical Doctor (MD/DO)?

Why should I choose a naturopathic doctor?

How is a first appointment with you different from a visit with a conventional primary care doctor?

What should I bring to our first appointment?