If you are interested in a career as a holistic health practitioner or wellness provider, you can attend a naturopathy college to learn key principles and practices in the field of naturopathic medicine. Naturopathy colleges teach students how to offer whole-patient wellness services and create self-care programs for patients suffering from different types of illnesses and conditions. Naturopathic doctors (NDs) are classified as primary care physicians and are clinically trained in the field of natural therapeutics at an accredited naturopathy college.
What to Expect at Naturopathy Colleges
Naturopathy colleges focus on holistic practices and holistic medicine, and prefer to use a whole-body approach to treat chronic and acute conditions. Each naturopathy college and school has its own curriculum and bio-medical science courses, but typically train students in the following areas:
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Physical Manipulation
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Clinical Nutrition
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Homeopathy
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Counseling
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Acupuncture
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Hydrotherapy
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Herbal Medicine
Most naturopathy colleges design their curriculum around the following therapeutic methods and modalities of Naturopathic medicine:
1. First Do No Harm (primum non nocere) – use only therapies that are safe and effective
2. The Healing Power of Nature (vis medicatrix naturae) – focus on the human body's ability to restore its own health naturally, without toxic therapies
3. Discover and Treat the Cause, Not Just the Effect (tolle causam) – seek and treat the underlying cause of a disease
4. Treat the Whole Person (tolle totum) – consider multiple factors in health and disease when treating the whole person
5. The Physician is a Teacher (docere) – the physician's primary role is to educate, empower, motivate and encourage patients to be more responsible about their health
6. Prevention is the Best “Cure” (praevenire) – focus on preventive medicine practices and consider risk factors, heredity and other circumstances that could be preventing healing
Naturopathy Degrees and Naturopathy Degree Programs
Many colleges of natural health, naturopathy schools and naturopathy colleges offer several degree and certificate programs. Naturopathy degree programs typically include courses in the field of holistic nutrition, herbology, and natural health. Naturopathy study may fall under the following types of degree programs and courses of study:
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Bachelor of Science in Natural Health
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Bachelor of Science in Holistic Nutrition
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Master of Science in Natural Health
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Master of Science in Holistic Nutrition
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Doctor of Education in Holistic Health and Wellness
Students may choose to complete a naturopathy degree online, through a distance education program or offline at a regular school or college campus.
Some naturopathy colleges and schools also offer certificate programs. Certification may be available in the following areas:
Types of Naturopathy Courses
You may be able to take a course in naturopathy at a naturopathy college or at a college of holistic medicine. Some of the most common types of naturopathy courses required with a naturopathy degree program include:
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Aromatherapy
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Ayurveda
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Bach Flower
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Basic Nutrition
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Color Therapy
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Naturopathic Manipulations
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Botanical Medicine
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Nutritional Assessment and Counseling
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Immunology
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Internal Cleansing Practices
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Blood Chemistry and Urine Analysis
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Homeopathy
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History and Practice of Naturopathy
Attending a Naturopathy College
Naturopathy is quickly becoming more important for total body and mind wellness and many healthcare organizations now hire qualified and professional naturopathic doctors who have completed an approved naturopathy degree program or graduated from an approved naturopathy college. Naturopathic medical professionals must achieve the following:
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Complete education at an accredited educational institution
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Obtain professional licensing through their state
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Maintain national standards of practice and care
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Participate in peer review programs
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Make an ongoing commitment to the state-of-the-art scientific research
Naturopathy colleges may offer an intensive naturopathy course and training in the following areas:
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Clinical Nutrition
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Botanical Medicine
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Flower Essences Healing
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Physical Medicine
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Homeopathy
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Counseling
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Hydrotherapy
Some naturopathy colleges also offer certification in related fields such as midwifery and acupuncture.
Naturopathy Diploma Programs
Online naturopathy degree and advanced diploma training programs are available at many naturopathy schools and offer an alternative to standard degree programs. Naturopathy diploma programs are designed for students who wish to obtain entry-level positions in the field and put an emphasis on practical learning. Naturopathy diploma programs may include courses that are more broad in scope, such as:
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