Includes Naturopathic basic principles, processes, treatment practices and an example of using diet therapy as medicine.

1. Peggy Horne
HW499/Kaplan University
March, 2017
Introduction to Naturopathic Medicine

2. Syllabus
General Information Instructor: Peggy Horne
Email: peggyhorne@kaplan.edu
Course Meetings: Online Credit Hours: 4.5
Course Description
This course will serve as an introduction to Naturopathic
Medicine and its practices. This class will be dedicated to
understanding the basic concepts and principles of
naturopathy, how it differs from allopathic medicine, the
importance of assessment in treatment and prevention,
treatment practices, and how treatment administration works.
Course Prerequisites None
Course Objectives
1. To understand the basics of natural medicine principles
and approaches
2. To understand the differences between naturopathic and
allopathic practices
3. To learn the importance of assessment in natural medicine
4. To understand what to expect during a visit to a
naturopathic physician
5. To learn how diet therapy practices can be used to treat
illness.
6. To feel confident in knowing when and how to use
naturopathic medicine in one’s healthcare plan

3. Syllabus
Required Materials: Macozzi, M. (2011). Fundamentals of
Complementary and alternative Medicine, fourth edition.
Saunders Elsevier. St. Louis, Missouri.
Lee, R. Nieman, D. (2013). Nutritional Assessment (6th ed.).
St Louis: McGraw Hill.
Computer
Recommended Materials: Schlenker, E., Long. S. (2011).
Williams' essentials of nutrition and diet therapy, 10th edition
[VitalSouce bookshelf version]. Retrieved from
http://online.vitalsource.com/books/
Skidmore-Roth, L. (2010). Mosby’s Handbook of Herbs and
Natural Supplements, 4th Edition [VitalSouce bookshelf
version]. Retrieved from http://online.vitalsource.com/books/
Grading Scale: TBD
Grading is based on a cumulative score of tests, quizzes,
labs, and write-ups

4. Course Outline
· Lesson One:
Natural Medicine Basics
o What is a naturopath? (video) 16:32 minutes
o How are they different from Allopathic
doctors?
o Why should I use it in my healthcare plan?
· Lesson Two:
The Assessment Process/Getting to the roots
o Why assessment?
o What types of assessments are necessary
o Assessment for prevention
· Lesson Three:
Natural Treatment options
o Diet & Nutrition Therapy
o Supplements
o Manipulation Therapy
o Botanical medicine
Diet Therapy
o Food as medicine
o Anti-inflammatory diet

5. Disclaimer
Everyone’s health is unique to self. This presentation
does not offer any health claims or personal medical
advice.
Always consult with your personal healthcare
professional before making any changes to medical
plan or lifestyle

6. Lesson 1 Lecture Notes
3. First Do no harm-Three main guidelines are followed to
do no harm
1. Choosing treatment methods, assessment
methods, and substances that pose the least risk
or harm
2. Limit the suppression of symptoms as much
as possible
3. Respect the individual as they are, to work
with clients as individuals with unique ideas,
beliefs, and understanding levels and to work with
them in identifying the process of healing that is
best for them.
4. Doctor as Teacher-Naturopathic doctors work to
educate patients in the process of healing self and to
encourage self-responsibility in their own health. A great
value is placed in the doctor/client relationship as a team in
the healing process.
5. Treat the whole person- All aspects of the individual are
considered in assessment, diagnosis, and treatment. Such
aspects include physical, psychological, emotional, genetic,
environmental, social, spiritual and more. According to AANP
(2016) each aspect, including spiritual health, are
encouraged to be explored and strengthened by clients.
6. Prevention- Naturopathic physicians believe that
preventions the best medicine. This includes assessing and
considering all risk factors and creating health plans to
intervene in potential risks and working with clients to prevent
such illnesses as much as possible.
AANP, 2016

7. Lesson 1 Lecture Notes
Lesson Summary: This lesson addresses the question,
"What is Naturopathy and why should I use it?" It addresses
the basic principles and concepts behind naturopathy, the
difference and similarities between it and allopathic medicine.
Lesson Content: What is Naturopathic medicine?
According to the American Association of Naturopathic
Physicians (AANP) naturopathic medicine is “a distinct
profession, emphasizing prevention, treatment, and optimal
health through the use of therapeutic methods and
substances that encourage individuals’ inherent self-healing
process. The practice of naturopathic medicine includes
modern and traditional, scientific, and empirical methods.”
(2016)
Naturopathic principles and concepts
There are 6 foundational principles that make up the
naturopathic philosophy
1. The healing Power of nature.-Naturopaths understand
and recognize the power the body has to heal itself as well as
the power in nature to assist in that healing. First, the
obstacles that hinder healing are identified, then those
assisting recovery are added to assist the body in the act of
self healing as much as is possible.
2. Search out and identify the cause-ND work to identify
the root of illness and focus treatment there rather than
treating or suppressing the symptoms of illness
(AANP, 2017)

8. Lesson 1 Lecture notes continued
How is it different from Allopathic Medicine?
The National Institute of health defines allopathic medicine as the “system in which medical doctors and other health
professionals treat symptoms and diseases using drugs, radiation, or surgery” (2017)
Why should someone consider using naturopathy?
Allopathic medicine is focused in treating illness only after it occurs and in its very nature treats each illness as it is separate
from the individual. By using naturopathic medicine practices in one’s healthcare plan, clients are treated as individuals with
all aspects of life as a connection of the whole with prevention as the first order of treatment and illness being addressed
from the cause to bring whole healing to each person as they are. Each practice has value and a place in maintaining the
best health or each client.

9. Handout

10. Virtual Field
Trip and
Reading
Please visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6d4-
l1Ho2_4 and watch the 17 minute video about the
day and the life of a naturopathic doctor.
*Be advised that the video will pause for about 30
seconds between two pieces at around 8 minutes and
20 seconds
Read Chapters 22 Complementary and Alternative
Medicine Macozzi, M. (2011). Fundamentals of
Complementary and alternative Medicine, fourth
edition. Saunders Elsevier. St. Louis, Missouri.

11. Lesson 2 Lecture Notes
Lesson Summary: This lesson discusses the need and
purpose of assessment in naturopathic medicine. It will
discuss the different types of assessments that are done and
the reason behind such thorough investigation of health
status.
Lesson Content:
Assessment Process As with allopathic medicine, medical
history is taken along with a client's personal assessment of
health or lack of. Because of the naturopathic philosophy to
get to the root cause of illness it is essential that we
investigate every aspect of health for potential root
contributions. Additionally, creating an extended time to
interact with clients allows for an investment in relationship,
an integral part of treatment in naturopathic medicine.
Types of Assessment
There are four main type of assessment process multiple
aspects, tools, and purposes for each.
1. Clinical Assessment- This is the first assessment taken
for any new client as with allopathic medicine. First
appointments always last around 90 minutes with initial family
and medical history being completed before the visit and
returned beforehand whenever possible. In addition to family
and medical history is the observational exam that is done
using all the senses, sight, sound, smell, touch to determine
the overall health of a client by looking for signs of illness.
2. Dietary and Anthropometric Assessments - Measuring
the diet includes surveys a survey and analysis of dietary
intake usually for a 24-hour recall or week food diary. This
type of assessment works to establish potential lack of
essential nutrients or an abundance of harmful substances
(Lee, 2013). Anthropometric assessments include gross
composition of the body as well as physical dimensions. Such
assessments are utilized based on client need.

12. Lesson 2 Lecture Notes
3. Biochemical Assessment- One of the most common
assessments utilized by allopathic and naturopathic doctors
alike, this assessment uses biochemical and laboratory tests
which measure nutrient or their metabolite in bodily fluids or
secretions (Lee, 2013). Such assessments are not without
error but provide one of the clearest pictures of internal health
or illness. Many major chronic diseases can be detected
using some form of biochemical assessment method (Lee,
2013)
4. Psychological and spiritual Assessments- Included in
the initial visit are general psychological and countenance
assessments through questioning and observation. If
additional assessments are needed naturopaths utilize
traditional clinical assessments to determine the needs of
clients though often addressing root causes of illness will
correct many psychological suffering clients are going
through.
NOTE- When psychological assessments are done ethical
considerations need to be made in regards to individual
beliefs, age, gender, sex or sexual orientation, ethnicity and
so on. The Psychological Association's code of ethics should
be followed in each case and can be reviewed at
http://www.apa.org/ethics/code/
Assessment and Prevention
In practicing natural medicine, the principle of prevention is a
driving force that calls for assessment even when health
seems at it’s peek. This is to ensure that all potential efforts
can be made to maintain and prevent illness as much as
possible. This may seem excessive but this also reduces
medical costs by preventing major illness and limiting chronic
illness symptoms from taking over one’s health. (ACPM,
2017)

13. Lesson 2
Lecture
Notes
continued
Naturopathic Education and licensing
Education - Health science BA equivalent plus 4 years
Graduate Education in naturopathic medicine with 2
years of clinicals.
Licensing - There are currently registration and
licensing laws in 19 states as well as US territories and
districts that require licensing for practicing
naturopaths with Canada having similar requirements
(AANP, 2017).
Go to AANP website and find out what the licensing
laws and requirements are for your state.

14. Virtual Field
Trip and
Reading
Please visit http://www.apa.org/ethics/code/
Go to APA and Read the code of ethics. Pay special focus on
to ethical issues
Watch videos about 10 minutes total - Healthcare Strategy
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IiCXH1-Bzvw
-What you can expect from a visit to a naturopathic doctor
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rT7LE3OGlEY
Read Nutrition Assessment Chapter 1 -Lee, R., Nieman, D.
(2013). Nutritional Assessment (6th Ed.). St Louis: McGraw
Hill.

15. Lesson 3 Lecture Notes
Lesson Summary: The focus of this lesson will be on
treatment options and how to apply and utilize one of the
most common healing practices of natural medicine, Diet
therapy or “food as medicine”. We will discuss areas in which
such treatment options are appropriate, what is involved for
clients to practice such treatment and how it affects the body
in the healing process.
Diet Therapy
One of the most common treatments utilized by naturopathic
medicine is the use of the power of food in fostering the
healing processes in an individual. In addition to such
treatment is the biochemical antibody assessment for
potential food sensitivities to remove foods that an
individual’s body reacts negatively to.
Antibody Assessment
Antibody assessment works to identify the body’s immune
system response to foods, spices, herbs and even inhalants
(Biotek 2015). Three different antibody types are tested
against blood samples and then processed through specific
labs like BioTek, to determine responses. Food panel reports
are then generated for doctors and clients to help determine
potential food sensitivities and appropriate diets.
Field trip To to US BioTek and learn about the
different antibody panels.

16. Lesson 3 Lecture notes continued
Diet Therapy
Many aspects of food we eat today are used as medicine in
pharmaceuticals though such compounds are identified and
then removed from the food itself to create such medicines.
Natural medicine practitioners choose instead to use the food
in its whole and natural form (University of Minnesota, 2017).
Foods like garlic for antibiotics, honey, yogurt, or sauerkraut
for probiotics, or ginger for gut health are just a few
examples. When understanding the healing properties of
foods whole diets can be created to bring about the greatest
benefits of healing for an ill individual.
Many diseases today can be treated with food by
eliminating foods that promote such illness and
increasing foods that strengthen the body's natural
defences against it. Illnesses like
Cancer IBS
Heart disease Crohn's
Diabetes Cold
Gerd
Flu

17. Anti-Inflammatory Diet Handout
Following is an example of how a diet can be
prescribed as medicine for healing.
Anti-Inflammatory Diet. Handout
Try to eat only the following organically grown foods for 21
days.
Steamed vegetables:
~The primary reason for using steamed vegetables is that steaming
improves the utilization and/or availability of the nutrients in
vegetables, and it reduces the initiating residue in the gut, allowing
it to restore itself.
~Eat a variety of vegetables they you tolerate (except tomatoes,
potatoes and eggplant).
Grains:
~Eat one of two cups of cooked grains per day, choosing grains that
you tolerate well.
~Allowed grains are millet, basmati or brown rice, quinoa,
amaranth, oatmeal, parley, buckwheat, rye, and teff.
~Other grain foods that may be eaten are rice crisps and was a
crackers.
Legumes:
~Eat a variety of the following legumes, choosing those that you
tolerate well.

18. Anti-Inflammatory Diet Handout
Fish
~Eat fish, preferably deep sea fish such as salmon, halibut, cod,
sardines, tuna and mackerel.- Absolutely no shellfish
~The fish should be poached, baked, steamed or boiled.
Chicken:
~Eat only white meat from free-range or organically grown chicken.
Do not eat the skin.
~The chicken should be baked, broiled or steamed.
Fruit:
~Eat 1 or 2 pieces of fruit (except citrus).
Sweeteners:
~Very small amounts of maple syrup, rice syrup, barley syrup and
honey may be used.
~Absolutely no sugar, NutraSweet, or any other sweetener is
allowed.

19. Virtual Field
Trip and
Reading
Please visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d0IhZ-
R1O8g
And Watch Food is Medicine by Dr. Gregger.
1.15hours so set time aside.
Consider reading Skidmore-Roth, L. (2010). Mosby’s
Handbook of Herbs and Natural Supplements, 4th Edition
[VitalSouce bookshelf version]. Retrieved from
http://online.vitalsource.com/books/
This Book offers you insights into the powerful healing
properties of many foods, herbs, and supplements as well as
contradictions, and dosages.

21. References
AANP. (2016). Definition of naturopathic medicine. Retrieved from
http://www.naturopathic.org/content.asp?contentid=59
ACPM. (2017). Preventive medicine. Retrieved from
http://www.acpm.org/page/preventivemedicine
NIH. (2017). Allopathic medicine. Retrieved from
https://www.cancer.gov/publications/dictionaries/cancer-terms?cdrid=454742
University of Minnesota. (2017). Consider food as medicine. Retrieved from
https://www.takingcharge.csh.umn.edu/enhance-your-wellbeing/health/diet-
nutrition/consider-food-medicine
US BioTek. (2015). Foodstats antibody assessment. US Biotek Laboratories. Shoreline,
WA.