While many high school students will enter traditional colleges at summer's end, quite a few (students) will be taking a different educational path by enrolling in a naturopathic medicine school. What are they? Naturopathic medicine schools are designed to prepare students to become naturopathic physicians.
To establish a concise idea about what naturopathic medicine is, naturopathic medicine schools base their natural health teachings on the following six principles [1]:
- First do no harm (primum non nocere)
- The healing power of nature (vis medicatrix naturae)
- Discover and treat the cause, not just the effect (tolle causam)
- Treat the whole person (tolle totum)
- The Physician is a teacher (docere)
- Prevention is the best cure
Now that you?ve got a small overview, you can easily understand what the primary teachings at a naturopathic medicine school entail. Founded on philosophies of natural health and healing, naturopathic medicine schools provide education and training in a variety of natural modalities including but not limited to acupuncture; bodywork; clinical nutrition; counseling; herbal medicine; homeopathy; and other natural therapy education.
Naturopathic medicine schools frequently offer non-degree and degree programs to prospective students. Some common courses that act as a continuing education for those seeking to brush up on, or enhance their professional skills in naturopathic medicine may involve plant medicine; homeopathic medicine; hydrotherapy; philosophies in naturopathic medicine; and Oriental Medicine ? to name just a few.
Students who desire to become Naturopathic Medicine primary care health care providers must enroll in a degree program. Prerequisites often include college-level coursework in a variety of topics including biology, chemistry and physics. Naturopathic medicine schools ordinarily provide a four-year Naturopathic Medical Degree (N.D. ? Naturopathic Doctor) program that encompasses in-depth studies similar to that of a traditional medical college or school - the difference being that future practitioners of naturopathic medicine will place a chief emphasis on natural, preventive medicine and natural therapies as opposed to conventional medical treatments.
Students who are enrolled in a naturopathic medicine school are often encouraged to pursue a dual degree in Oriental medicine and acupuncture to better accommodate their professional practice in the future. In addition to clinical training, students enrolled in a degree program at a naturopathic medicine school can anticipate a complete curriculum in anatomy; biology; biochemistry; botanical medicine; communications; homeopathy; microbiology; pathology; physiology; pharmacology in botanical medicine; Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and many other relevant studies.
As with most health care professions, students who have successfully completed a naturopathic medicine school course and have achieved all necessary requirements to become a naturopathic medicine doctor can expect lucrative earnings and ample career opportunities for years to come.
If you are thinking about enrolling in a Naturopathic Medicine School to attain your education in naturopathic medicine, feel free to visit the Natural Healing Directory at SchoolsGalore.com for more information.
References:
- Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine: Naturopathic Philosophy
?08/30/2006 ? Naturopathic Medicine Schools ? What are they?
By C. Bailey-Lloyd in association with Media Positive Communications, Inc., Managing Organization for SchoolsGalore.com
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