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ND(NMD- Naturopathic Doctor) versus DNM(Doctor of Natural Medicine) Whats the Difference?

DESIGNATION CONFUSION? or just Politics?

By Shalomim Y. HaLahawi NMD., DNM., D.Psy(PC)., DPHC, DPH

Question: I’ve seen the designation D.N.M after certain practitioners. I know that it stands for Doctor of Natural Medicine, and I know that isn’t the same as an ND, or Naturopathic Doctor. Can you explain exactly what the differences are?

Answer:

The differences between a DNM (Doctor of Natural Medicine) and an ND (Naturopathic Doctor) is more political than academic, although academic differences do exist. Both require 2000 hours of allopathic medicine Studies; both require 1000 hours of Natural medicine; both require 1500 hours of supervised clinic work.

The differences are: a) how and where they are recognized; b) in the 1000 hours of Natural and alternative medicine and c) the design of the clinic work.

A DNM is given a title recognized more Internationally than State or provincially. Whereas currently, the ND is more recognized State wise(very limited number of States) than the DNM, and an ND is provided a diploma(in Canada). The DNM is recognized by the World Health Organization whereas the ND is not. The DNM can practice in 132 countries around the world whereas the ND is only recognized in 5 countries around the world.

All Doctors of Natural Medicine have main stream medical training but because of a higher level of consciousness receive additional training in Natural Medicine therapies (at least 1,000 hours of additional training in Natural Medicine). Most Doctors of Natural Medicine outside of North America are engaged in areas of medicine that are restricted to non-allopathic Doctors in North America, including Primary Care.

Secondly, a DNM chooses the area of specialization and may choose as many as he wants; as long as there are sufficient hours in each. Whereas the ND covers a little of everything from: massage, homeopathy, chiropractic, botanical, TCM, to nutrition. Finally, a DNM may have the fortunate opportunity to choose his/her clinic supervisors and as such only chose those that are considered at the top of their fields with years of experience behind them. An ND has to abide by whatever the school employs.

Doctors of Natural Medicine are a multiple disciplinary group of Natural Health care professionals — Naturopaths, Homeopaths, Osteopaths, Dentist, Holistic Medical Doctors, Chiropractors, Orthomolecular Medical Doctors and Eastern Medicine Doctors, among others who have dedicated themselves to providing basic Natural Medicine health care worldwide.

Naturopathic Doctors, Also known as Naturopathic Physicians(in the USA) are a small special interest group that has about 6 colleges, their own exams to certify their own Doctors(NPLEX), which is similar in structure to the National Board of Medical Examiners(allopathic) and use federal and state laws to try to incorporate Allopathic Pharmaceutical drugs into their practice and to belittle Traditional Naturopaths and those who choose not to use Drugs, X-rays and other unnatural methods of diagnostics and assessments, including trying to make it illegal to practice Traditional Natural Medicine altogether. They are only recognized in about 16 states and Canada and are many times a stumbling block to the progress of the advancement of Natural Medicine Healthcare by being isolationist in their relationship to the larger Natural Medicine Community. Their political statements on many clinical and association sites usually are statements to make it look like their education and experience is greater than all the other Natural Medicine and Naturopathic Training; In an arrogant way touting their 4 year educational courses as a political way of belittlement of other Institutions of Natural Medicine and salesmanship more so than concern for the public. The Truth is, they are no better in quality than any other Schools of Natural Medicine that exists nationally and Internationally. They have on several occasions in past been reprimanded by the government for questionable and un-ethical practices in regards to their education and accreditations. (http://www.amsa.org/AMSA/Homepage/About/Committees/NaturopathicMedicine.aspx; http://www.anma.org/).

Several government reports, including the Florida sunrise report has actually viewed that Naturopathic Physicians are more of a risk and pose a greater danger to the public than Traditional Naturopaths(or Natural Medicine Doctors) for their aspirations to use allopathic drugs that they are poorly trained to use in comparison to allopathic doctors (http://www.naturowatch.org/licensure/flasunrise2004.html). In fact a Naturopathic Physician using allopathic drugs cannot compare to a Allopathic Doctor (MD) trained in Naturopathic or Natural Medicine, Which makes a small special interest group of Naturopathic Physicians wanting to use allopathic methods irrelevant, pointless and in-effective(really a menace to society). From my current understanding, the Naturopathic Physicians Association is so exclusive they don’t even have or allow MD’s who have trained in Natural or Naturopathic Medicine to join their association or take their exams? The exact opposite of the Associations of Natural Medicine such as the World Organization of Natural Medicine Practitioners, American Naturopathic Medical Association or the American Association of Integrative Medicine.

It is of interest to note that most recently the Louisiana Naturopathic association has modified themselves as the Louisiana association of Natural Medicine Doctors. The Ontario Board that governs Naturopathic Medicine, The Board of Drugless Therapy’s sound very similar to the Traditional Natural Medicine Association in America Called the American Association of Drugless Practitioners. (http://www.boardofnaturopathicmedicine.on.ca/ ; http://www.aadp.net/).

The Doctor of Natural Medicine in Canada is in the same position as Naturopaths, Homeopaths, Chinese Medical Doctors and any other unregulated Doctors in Canada. It is also interesting to note that the Alberta Government recognize Doctors of Natural Medicine and a submission for regulation under Health and Wellness Alberta was submitted by the Alberta association of Natural Medicine Doctors three years ago. Many insurance are now reimbursing clients for services offer by Doctors of Natural Medicine. In the USA, DNM can be used in any State, whereas some states make it illegal to practice Naturopathic Medicine/ Naturopathy(Fla, SC, Tenn,). In states with no licensing of Naturopathic Physicians, they are no different than Natural Medicine Doctors. In fact anyone can claim they are a Doctor Naturopathic of Natural Medicine(always check their credentials and education). Furthermore Education to become a Naturopathic Physician is extremely high(up to 165,000), whereas Education to become a Natural Medicine Doctor is very reasonable(up to 25,000).

In regards to Natural Childbirth, Naturopathic Physicians may do so in states that allow(which is still a small few) after they obtain specialized Training(some state actually restrict Naturopathic Physicians from Childbirth altogether). Natural Medicine Doctors have the option to go through Midwifery training to obtain the specialization through various routes and take the NARM exam to become Certified Professional Midwives and obtain licensing in those states that have midwifery licensing. In fact, this route is available in Florida, whereas Naturopathic Medicine is illegal. Midwives may use natural medicines as apart of their practice.

Naturopaths, Naturopathic Doctors or Naturopathic Physician can register or become Board Certified as “Doctor of Natural Medicine” But a Doctor of Natural Medicine is not necessarily a Naturopath or Naturopathic Physician. It is of interest to note that many Naturopathic Physicians are crossing over to the Doctor of Natural Medicine practice and Associations to become apart of the much larger international community, instead of the small isolated special interest Naturopaths who are apart of the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians.

Naturopathic Physicians and Natural Medicine Doctors both, in most cases, use the same Herbal or Homeopathic Pharmacies or same therapies and methods of treatment, including using external referrals to Labs for further Diagnosis.

They are two sources of alternative medicine. They each have their strengths and their weaknesses. They understand allopathic medicine sciences and can provide alternative natural choices, except one chooses to incorporate allopathic drugs(High risk) with a license(ND) and the other uses all natural medicines(DNM, Low risk). After weighing all the facts its quite clear which one is more likely a potential disservice to the public and is ineffective overall and which one has a international reputation of high quality. However Choose what suits your needs best.

Always check the educational standard of the Practitioner. They should have at least 4000 hours of combine Education in Basic Medicine Sciences, Public Health, Natural Medicines and clinical skills, have the leadership skills and knowledge to do the jobs they set themselves out to be and be affiliated and Board Certified by a reputable Association or Organization that has high quality standards of professional health regulations. Remember Licensing doesn’t always=quality, especially if it’s of special interests groups.

Shalomim Y. HaLahawi NMD., DNM., D.Psy(PC)., DPHC., DPH.