Alternative medical practice explained

http://www.thedailyaztec.com/media/paper741/news/2005/10/19/City/Alternative.Medical.Practice.Explained-1025104.shtml

By Stephanie Nehmens, Senior Staff Writer On Saturday Oct. 8, San Diego Students of Naturopathic Medicine held its first Prenaturopathic Medical Conference in Montezuma Hall called "Naturopathic Physician Impact Today and in the Future.""Naturopathic medicine is just like allopathic medicine (traditional medical practice) in terms of how you diagnose, physical exams and lab work," Naturopathic Doctor Amy Fasig said. "But it comes from a different place in terms of philosophy and principles." Fasig has a part-time naturopathic practice in Seattle, Wash. and serves as the ND advisor for Bastyr University.Fasig said there's no one thing that is considered naturopathic medicine. It's the way the NDs use that medicine that distinguishes it from allopathic practices. "So it's using our principles and our philosophy in a therapeutic order," Fasig said. "It is how we use anything that makes it naturopathic. "We really want to get to the core issue, so we don't look just as symptomatology, we try to get to the core reason of why that person is sick or not having optimal wellness." Naturopathy is based around four great modalities: physical medicine, clinical nutrition, botanical medicine and homeopathy, Fasig said. "Clinical nutrition is the number one modality - we do that with every patient," she said. "We're well educated about clinical nutrition and diet therapy and being able to individualize a diet for each patient."ND Jonathan Kalman said most common ailments people seek naturopathic treatment for are fatigue, weight and thyroid problems, allergies, menstruation, headaches and other common afflictions."Why do you need us?" Kalman asked. "When 400 million people could die by 2015 from preventable illnesses, like heart disease, there's a need."One of the exciting things about being in naturopathic medicine is that I will never say there is never an option because the options are unbelievable, what we can do to the human body to help someone heal," Kalman said. Certain states in the United States, such as Washington, allow naturopathic doctors to prescribe medication like antibiotics and perform minor surgeries.Fasig said there are four accredited schools in the United States for Naturopathy: Bastyr University in Seattle, Wash.; National College of Naturopathic Medicine in Portland Ore.; Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine in Phoenix Ariz.; and University of Bridgeport in Connecticut. "Any graduate from any of those schools is able to sit for the board exam, which you take after graduation to then get your license to practice," Fasig said. "It takes four years after you get your bachelor's degree." Sociology freshman Laura Cuarenta said she learned new things at the conference about naturopathic medicine."I hadn't heard about it before today but I learned new concepts," Cuarenta said. "I'm thinking about actually looking into it."Biology senior and founder of the SDSNM, Elizabeth Avery, said she hopes to bring recognition to SDSU by bringing the naturopathic program to campus."If we can get a school here or a clinic, all the better, and if SDSU can do that that will be great having that doctoral program," Avery said. "We are the first (naturopathic student organization) in the United States." SDSNM was founded in October 2004. The organization is located on campus but is open to all students in the nation, SDSNM's Web site said.