What is the difference between naturopathic medicine and homeopathy?
Naturopathic Doctors (NDs) are general practitioners of natural medicine. They are trained to treat ailments using clinical nutrition, acupuncture, botanical medicine, physical medicine, lifestyle counselling and homeopathy. Homeopaths, on the other hand, are trained to practice in one discipline – homeopathy. So while a homeopath would prescribe a homeopathic therapy, a naturopathic doctor would use any of the approaches listed above, including homeopathy, in their treatments. In addition, homeopathy is not a regulated or licensed health profession in Ontario. Naturopathic medicine is regulated and licensed in Ontario.
Homeopathy is a 200-year-old medical practice that is based on the principle of similars (like cures like). It uses minute doses of substances to stimulate the healing mechanisms of the body. Naturopathic doctors are general practitioners in natural medicine. They are trained to diagnose, treat, and prevent disease using a variety of natural therapies, including all of those listed in the services section. A Naturopathic doctor may choose to use homeopathy as one of their approaches to treatment when it is appropriate, a homeopath would only use homeopathic therapy. In contrast to the training of NDs, most homeopathic programs are only two to three years in length. Also, Naturopathic medicine is regulated and licensed in Ontario, whereas homeopathy is neither a regulated nor licensed profession.
Homeopathic medicine is just one of the modalities in which naturopathic doctors are trained. While naturopathic medicine is a regulated profession in the province of Ontario, anyone can call himself/herself a homeopath since there is no regulation for homeopathic practitioners. Naturopathic doctors are trained in the use of homeopathic medicines as part of their school curriculum and must pass both school exams and provincial board exams before they can be registered to practice in the province of Ontario.
Naturopathic doctors are general practioners of natural medicine. They are trained to diagnose, treat and prevent disease using a variety of natural therapies including botanical medicine, clinical nutrition, acupuncture, lifestyle counseling and homeopathy. A Naturopathic doctor may use homeopathy as one of their approaches to treatment, a homeopath would only use a homeopathic therapy. Naturopathic doctors have eight years of postgraduate training that includes four years of university as well as four years of full time study at an accredited Naturopathic medical college. In contrast, most homeopathic programs are only two to three years in length. In addition, Naturopathic medicine is regulated and licensed in Ontario, in contrast to homeopathy which is neither a regulated nor licensed profession.
You can liken naturopathic doctors to general practitioners of natural medicine; they are trained to treat ailments using clinical nutrition, acupuncture, botanical medicine, physical medicine, lifestyle counseling AND homeopathy. Homeopaths, on the other hand, are trained to practice in ONE discipline – homeopathy. So while a homeopath would prescribe a homeopathic therapy, a naturopathic doctor would use any of the approaches listed above, including homeopathy, in their treatments. In addition, homeopathy is not a regulated or licensed health profession in Ontario. Naturopathic medicine is regulated and licensed in Ontario.
