Naturopathic Physician
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NATUROPATHIC PHYSICIANS diagnose, treat, and prevent diseases using natural methods. Naturopathic medicine is a term used for many medical careers, such as acupuncture, ayurveda, herbal medicine, homeopathy, massage, and oriental medicine. Naturopathic physicians prescribe drugs, herbs, and natural medicines to stimulate the body's ability to heal itself. They look for underlying causes of illness and disease, such as physical or psychological stress, nutritional deficiency, food allergies, chemicals, and lack of sleep or exercise. They address the environmental, lifestyle, attitude, and emotional and physical aspects of a patient's health, and encourage patients to take responsibility for their own health. Naturopathic physicians counsel patients on wellness and nutrition and refer patients to other specialists when necessary.
Salary, Size & Growth
- $73,000 average per year ($35.00 per hour)
- A medium occupation (31,400 workers in 2010)
- Expected to grow rapidly (2.2% per year)
Entry Requirements
Advancement for NATUROPATHIC PHYSICIANS is usually in the form of a larger practice with more patients. As with other health professions, it takes time to build a practice and success depends upon individual initiative, experience, and ability. Some naturopathic physicians may work in research and development, marketing, government, teaching, or consulting positions.