Why to refer to Naturopathic Doctors at Charm City Natural Health
Naturopathic doctors are trained as experts in natural medicine, and can complement any conventional medical or mental health practice. There are a wide number of situations in which you might refer to an ND, but here are some of the most common clinical situations:
- Patient in need of significant lifestyle changes (e.g. diet, exercise, sleep, stress management)
- Patient is self-prescribing supplements, herbs, vitamins or natural therapies
- Patient interested in natural approach to ailment
- Natural Medicine Consult/Patient not progressing with current treatment
- Adjunctive/supportive therapy needed for continuation of conventional treatment/side effect reduction
While naturopathic doctors are trained as general practitioners and can see most conditions, the most common conditions seen are listed on our Conditions and Treatments page. If you ever have questions about referring a patient to a naturopathic doctor, please call us! We would love to speak to you.
What to expect from a Naturopathic Doctor
Referring practitioners should expect that a naturopathic doctor will:
- Recommend science-based natural therapies
- Prevent interactions between conventional and natural therapies
- Provide written evaluations and plans on request
- Maintain contact with referring providers
- Recommend continued care with referring provider
Naturopathic doctors are trained to practice within the mainstream medical system, and provide nothing but the highest level of professionalism. A naturopathic doctor should not dispute or malign your recommendations or prescriptions; we are here to augment the medical system. If you ever have questions about an ND’s recommendations, please call and we’d be happy to discuss the question.
Our Qualifications
It’s important to refer to an appropriately trained, qualified ND. CCNH NDs are graduates of four-year accredited naturopathic medical schools. Naturopathic medical schools are accredited by the Council on Naturopathic Medical Education (CNME), which is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. CCNH NDs have passed the Naturopathic Physicians Licensing Exam (NPLEX) Steps 1 and 2. The NPLEX is the naturopathic equivalent to the USMLE. CCNH NDs are licensed by the Maryland Board of Physicians.
What Do Naturopathic Doctors Do?
Naturopathic doctors offer complementary natural health consultations. This may include:
- Dietary recommendations
- Lifestyle counseling
- Herbal medicine
- Homeopathy
- Vitamin, mineral, and nutrient recommendations
- Drug/herb and Drug/nutrient interactions screening
Naturopathic doctors provide individualized recommendations that complement conventional therapies. NDs order labs and imaging, perform physical examination, prescribe treatments, and refer to other health care providers and medical specialists.