You have a cut that looks infected or a sore throat that will not go away, and your first instinct may be to see a medical doctor for an antibiotic. And in many situations that is precisely the thing to do, especially for children, diabetics, the elderly and people taking medicines that suppress the immune system. However, a growing number of Americans concerned about developing antibiotic resistance are making their first calls to an alternative medicine practitioner such as a naturopathic or chiropractic physician.

Jane Drobin grew up with parents who were interested in alternative medicine—but it wasn’t until she started looking into natural lifestyles for herself that she discovered naturopathic remedies were aligned with her personal interests.

It’s bedtime.  You toss and turn. Or you fall asleep, exhausted, then wake up at 2:00 a.m. Maybe you work a night shift and your internal clock just won’t reset. Whatever the reason you can’t sleep, you are not alone. According to the Centers for Disease Control, 30 percent of American adults report not getting the recommended 7-9 hours of sleep each night.

As a future naturopathic doctor (ND), it will be your privilege and responsibility to connect with patients to find health care and lifestyle solutions that will help them lead better lives. When working with those who have eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa, bulimia or binge-eating, understanding that these are forms of illness and not mere habits is integral to their eating disorder treatment and ongoing care.

Before starting the naturopathic and chiropractic medicine programs at NUHS, I was initially a pre-med major preparing to become a traditional medical doctor. At the time, I wasn't sure I wanted to work in a hospital setting or if I liked the largely drug-based practice style that a lot of doctors had.

Our bodies are home to tens of trillions of microbial cells. The entire collection of microorganisms which inhabit our body, both inside us and on our skin is known as the microbiome.

In recent years, an increasing amount of research has emerged demonstrating the effects of the organisms that live with us, especially the bacteria living in our gut microbiome.

The gut microbiome can be influenced by antibiotics, the type of food we eat and possibly other factors like stress. When the balance of microbes is out of whack it can cause many more problems than just digestion issues or an upset stomach. Here are five ailments that may also be caused by an imbalance of bacteria in your gut.

Since the NUHS Whole Health Center opened a new hydrotherapy suite in 2017, interns and clinicians have been utilizing the therapeutic benefits of water to treat several types of ailments and boost various body systems and functions.

In this blog post originally published as a feature article for the Association of Accredited Naturopathic Medical Colleges in February, Fraser Smith, ND, NUHS assistant dean of naturopathic medicine, discusses how hydrotherapy can keep you in good health for the long term.

With the rising prevalence of chronic disease, more Americans are choosing holistic, lifestyle-based care like naturopathic medicine. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, this demand for alternative health care will continue to grow because of “research and changing attitudes about alternative, non-invasive health care practices.”

In order to make naturopathic care accessible, more states are recognizing and licensing naturopathic doctors (NDs). Currently 20 states, the District of Columbia and two U.S. territories license NDs with three states gaining licensure approval in the last year alone: Rhode Island, Massachusetts and Pennsylvania.

While several states continue their effort toward ND licensure, NUHS naturopathic medicine graduates are still finding lucrative careers in prelicensed states like Illinois where their program is based.

Below, three NUHS graduates describe their current careers and provide insight into their success.

National University of Health Sciences (NUHS) graduates Ashley Biscoe, ND, and Alison Egeland, ND, both of the class of 2014, opened their naturopathic medicine practice in September 2016. Their practice, Attune Functional Medicine, (AFM) is located in Broomfield, Colorado. Today, Drs. Biscoe and Egeland are complementary care providers, co-managing patient health with an integrative medical philosophy.

Now, nearing the second anniversary of AFM, Dr. Biscoe shares a wealth of experience for those considering opening their own practices. Whether you are a current student, or a prospective student thinking about becoming a naturopathic physician, read on for 5 questions to ask yourself before opening your own naturopathic medical practice.  

Are you considering pursuing a degree in Naturopathic Medicine? Naturopathic Medicine is a distinct primary health care profession that combines the traditions of natural healing with the rigors of science and evidence-based practice. Naturopathic doctors are trained as primary care physicians and focus on the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of illness.