Welcome to AMSA's Naturopathic Medicine Interest Group!

The Naturopathic Medicine Interest Group was established in 2005 to educate AMSA members about the profession and practice of Naturopathic Medicine through an active listserve, an informative monthly newsletter and dynamic programming at the National and Regional conventions. The Group is also dedicated to cultivating a relationship with the members of the Naturopathic Medical Student Association and to helping naturopathic medical students get involved with AMSA

GET INVOLVED

Sign Up for the Naturopathic Medicine Listserve
Join a group of allopathic, osteopathic and naturopathic medical and premedical students interested in building bridges between all of our professions in order to better serve our patients. We encourage you to use this electronic mailing list for group discussions and announcements. Listserve Guidelines

What is Naturopathic Medicine?
Naturopathic Medicine is a distinct branch of medical science and art that recognizes the integrity of the whole person and emphasizes the body's ability to heal itself. The practice of Naturopathic Medicine emerges from six underlying principles of healing. These principles are based on the objective observation of the nature of health and disease and are continually reexamined in light of scientific analysis. It is these principles that distinguish the profession from other medical approaches:

• The Healing Power of Nature (Vis Medicatrix Naturae)
• Identify and Treat the Cause (Tolle Causam)
• First, Do No Harm (Primum No Nocere)
• Treat the Whole Person
• The Physician As Teacher (Docere)
• Prevention is the Best Cure

Naturopathic Physicians (NDs) are primary care providers trained in conventional medical sciences, diagnosis and treatment, as well as nutrition, botanical medicine, physical medicine, homeopathy, hydrotherapy and minor surgery. Some NDs chose to receive further training in natural obstetrics and Chinese Medicine. All licensed NDs must complete four years of graduate medical education at a school accredited by the Council on Naturopathic Medical Education (CNME) and pass a two-step board examination (similar to USMLE Steps 1 and 2). Currently, 14 states, the District of Columbia and the US territories of Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands have licensing laws for naturopathic doctors.

LEARN MORE!

Connect With Fellow Students to Learn More
We encourage allopathic, osteopathic and naturopathic medical students (especially those in Arizona, Connecticut, Illinois, Oregon and Washington) to take advantage of this Interest Group and to start building bridges with your medical colleagues. If you would like to connect with a AMSA or NMSA chapter in your area, contact us.

Spend Time With A Naturopathic Doctor to Learn More
If you are a MD/DO student who is interested in Naturopathic Medicine and would like to spend time with a ND, please contact us.

Travel to Nicaragua to Learn More
Natural Doctors International is an international public health organization created and led by naturopathic physicians. NDI sponsors 10-day medical brigades on the island of Ometepe in Nicaragua. Brigades are multi-faceted, offering participants the opportunity to deliver primary care naturopathic medicine to at-need communities, to learn about the global economic system and how this system impacts global public health and to build relationships with the local residents.

Attend the CAM Summer Program to Learn More
Bastyr University, located just outside of Seattle, Washington, offers a one month summer program in complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) to graduate and professional students in the Health Sciences.

CURRENT NEWS

• AANP President Lise Alschuler to speak at AMSA National Convention!
• NCCAM Member Carlo Calebrese, ND, MPH interviewed in the Fall 2007 issue of CAM at the NIH

RESOURCES

ORGANIZATIONS

• American Association of Naturopathic Medical Colleges (AANMC)
• American Association of Naturopathic Physicians (AANP)
• American Holistic Medical Association
• Council on Naturopathic Medical Education (CNME)
• National Center for Complimentary and Alternative Medicine
• Naturopathic Medical Student Association (NMSA)
• North American Board of Naturopathic Examiners (NABNE)
• Consortium of Academic Health Centers for Integrative Medicine

CNME ACCREDITED NATUROPATHIC MEDICAL SCHOOLS

• Bastyr University in Bothell, WA
• Boucher Institute of Naturopathic Medicine in New Westminster, BC
• Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine in Toronto, Ontario
• National College of Natural Medicine in Portland, OR
• Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine in Tempe, AZ
• University of Bridgeport College of Naturopathic Medicine in Bridgeport, CT

PUBLICATIONS

• Integrative Medicine: A Clinician's Journal
• International Journal of Naturopathic Medicine
• Naturopathic Doctor News and Reviews
• Exhaustive listing of Alternative Health Medical Journals
  
  For more CAM information, including links to online database research websites, newsletters and journals, visit the ICAM Resource Center.

USEFUL WEBSITES

• Blood Chemistry Analysis
  A wealth of information about using functional diagnosis and blood chemistry analysis. You'll never look at CBC the same way again! Run by Dr. Dicken Weatherby.
  
  
• Bravewell Clinical Network
  8 leading clinical centers that deliver integrative care
  
  
• The Bravewell Collaborative
  Founded in 2002 by a small group of leading philanthropists dedicated to transforming healthcare by returning the soul to medicine.
  
  
• Cancer Treatment Centers of America
  Integrative Cancer Care (including naturopathic medicine) and Research in 4 states
  
  
• Eclectic Medical Publications
  Small, independent press that offers several excellent books on botanical safety and on interactions between drugs and natural medicines.
  
  
• Healing Mountain Publishing
  Provides physician-level information for both student and practitioner of natural medicine. Offers comprehensive study aids for students preparing for the NPLEX examinations.
  
  
• Herbal Educational Services
  Upcoming herbal conferences with recordings and proceedings books from older conferences available for purchase
  
  
• Homeopathic Symposium
  Created by Dr. Malcolm Smith, this ground breaking website features interactive video cases that present remarkable cures by homeopathy plus online seminars by world renowned homeopaths like Rajan Sankaran.
  
  
• iCaduceus
  Web-based diagnostic and treatment support system for integrative and holistic physicians. Uses standard (Western) medical definitions of conditions, but provides only non-pharmacological treatments. Student subscriptions available.
  
  
• Integrated Healthcare Policy Consortium
  Broad, active coalition advocating public policy to ensure all Americans access to safe, high quality, integrated health care
  
  
• Integrator Blog
  News, reports, opinion and networking for the business, education, policy and practice of Integrated Medicine, CAM and Integrated Health Care
  
  
• The Institute for Functional Medicine
  A nonprofit educational organization whose mission is to improve patient outcomes through prevention, early assessment and comprehensive management of complex, chronic disease.
  
  
• Mercola Optimal Wellness Center
  Almost everything you want to know about CAM/Integrative Medicine. Offers an excellent weekly email update.
  
  
• Michael Moore's Southwest School of Botanical Medicine
  One of the largest collections of medicinal plant images, plus PDFs of dozens of classical botanical texts- all for free!
  
  
• One Lucky Duck
  Everything you need to go raw!
  
  
• SaluGenecists, Inc.
  Created by a group of NDs and MDs, this company is utilizing artificial intelligence to bring integrative medicine to the masses. This is interesting info from both a personal and professional perspective.
  
  
• Teleosis Institute
  An excellent resource and link to a community of practitioners dedicated to Green Healthcare. The Institute also offers an online course in Environmentally-Sustainable Medicine.
  
  
• Weston A. Price Foundation
  A wealth of information on traditional diets (including info on cultured foods, raw milk and the dangers of soy), basic nutrition and the pros and cons of various diets (including vegetarian, macrobiotic and traditional). Dr. Price was a dentist who studied the effects of nutrient-dense whole foods and animal fats on health.
  
  
• Whole Health Now
  Information on Radar Software, a calendar of homeopathy seminars around the world and MP3s of over fifty teleconferences with many of the best homeopaths alive.
  
  
• WHO Traditional Medicine Site
  Provides links to websites and centers collaborating with the World Health Organization to study Traditional Medicine. A fact sheet that describes the use of Traditional Medicine around the world, as well as WHO's priorities for promoting the use of this medicine, is available.
  
  
• Wild Fermentation
  Information on cultured and fermented foods including Miso, Kefir, Kombucha and Yogurt.

NATUROPATHIC MEDICINE RESEARCH

• Bastyr University
• Center for Holistic Urology at Columbia University Medical Center
• The Helfgott Research Institute
• Oregon Center for Complimentary and Alternative Medicine in Neurological Disorders (ORCCAMIND) at Oregon Health and Sciences University