What kind of education & training does a Naturopathic Doctor receive?
What are the accredited Naturopathic Medical Schools?
What makes Dr. Nate Champion & Dr. Nita Champion unique or different, compared to other Naturopathic Doctors?
What types of medicine or therapies can I expect?
What should I expect during the initial, new patient visit?
What about follow up visits?
Do you treat acute conditions as well?
How long will it take me to feel better?
What kind of education & training does a Naturopathic Doctor receive?
Naturopathic Doctors (ND’s) attend four-year graduate-level Naturopathic Medical Schools and are educated in the same basic sciences as in conventional medical school. The ND program features a wide variety of effective natural therapies with a strong foundation in biomedical sciences such as anatomy, physiology, biochemistry and pathology along with physical, clinical, and laboratory diagnosis.
During the last two years of medical school, in addition to studying natural therapeutics, naturopathic students continue to take courses in conventional medical fields, including; pharmacology, cardiology, pulmonology, gastroenterology, endocrinology, obstetrics, gynecology, neurology, pediatrics, and dermatology. Students are also required to intern for two years under the close supervision of licensed doctors (ND’ s, MD’s, DO’s, and DC’s) in a clinical setting. This clinical training provides students with an integrative approach to medicine while encompassing natural therapeutic philosophies and emphasizing the practical information necessary to establish a successful practice. At the end of their training students obtain a specialized focus in preventative medicine and natural therapeutics.
Upon completion of the graduation requirements, the student is awarded a Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine degree (ND). Graduates sit for professional board exams to become licensed as general practice naturopathic doctors within licensed states or as individual jurisdictions allow.
For more information and Frequently Asked Questions regarding Naturopathic Medicine, please click on the following link: Naturopathic Medicine FAQs
What are the accredited Naturopathic Medical Schools?
The Association of Accredited Naturopathic Medical Colleges (AANMC) offers seven accredited naturopathic medical programs at eight campus locations in North America. These superior colleges are accredited and meet both federal and academic standards.
To learn more about these 7 schools, please check out the following link: //www.aanmc.org/the-schools.php
What makes Dr. Nate Champion & Dr. Nita Champion unique or different, compared to other Naturopathic Doctors?
In addition to being licensed naturopathic doctors, they attended SCNM and received one of the best homeopathic medical educations available. They completed many additional clinical training hours (above what is required by local and national licensing agencies) in studying the art and science of homeopathy from some of the world’s leading homeopaths, including Dr. André Saine, ND, DC and Dr. Stephen Messer, ND, DHANP. They have also completed post-doctoral classes/training through the Canadian Academy of Homeopathy, taught by Dr. André Saine. Additionally, since the were trained and originally licensed in the state of Arizona which has one of the broadest scopes of practice in the country, they have obtained a very high number of didactic (teaching) and clinical training hours (across the many therapeutic modalities) in order to be eligible to take national licensing board exams and obtain a license in the state of AZ.
What types of medicine or therapies can I expect?
We utilize a variety of safe, effective, natural medicines including:
- Classical homeopathy
- Botanical medicine (Herbal remedies)
- Clinical Nutrition
- Diet/Lifestyle guidance
What should I expect during the initial, new patient visit?
Your initial visit includes a comprehensive discussion (typically 1.5–2.0 hrs) to learn more about you and your health concerns. At this visit, we will review your health history, new patient paperwork, and perform any pertinent physical exams (examples: listen to your heart and lungs, perform an abdominal exam, measure your blood pressure, examine your ears, nose, and throat, etc.). We will then make specific recommendations regarding any relevant specialized diagnostic/laboratory testing, imaging, bloodwork, and treatment options, such as homeopathy, clinical nutrition, herbal remedies, and any other pertinent treatments. It is also helpful to bring to your appointment any recent bloodwork, imaging, and any other recent laboratory/test results, if you have them.
If homeopathy is recommended, we will have you return for a dedicated homeopathic intake (typically 1.5-2.0 hours), where we will build upon what we learned about you at your initial visit, involving an in-depth examination of your symptoms and what makes your situation unique. We will then prescribe a homeopathic medicine at the end of your visit, along with specific recommendations.
What about follow up visits?
Regularly scheduled follow up visits are very important in your journey towards optimal health. These visits typically range from 30-60 minutes in duration, where we check-in with how you are doing, making adjustments to your individualized treatment plan as needed. For chronic conditions, follow up visits are typically once per month until a certain level of improvement is achieved and then follow up visits become less frequent over time, with our goal being to completely resolve your health issues.
Do you treat acute conditions as well?
Yes, we treat a variety of acute (sudden onset) conditions, such as the common cold, flu (influenza), sinusitis, ear infections (otitis media), sore throat, diarrhea, upper respiratory infections (URI’s), bronchitis, pneumonia, urinary tract infections (UTI’s), and others, without the use of antibiotics or other pharmaceuticals.
We also have the experience and knowledge to refer to other medical professionals when appropriate and necessary.
Click here for a more extensive list of commonly treated conditions: Conditions We Treat
How long will it take me to feel better?
This varies significantly from person to person and from condition to condition. However, most individuals begin noticing improvement within the first several weeks (sometimes faster) of treatment for chronic conditions and typically within a few hours/days of treatment for most acute conditions.
