What is a Naturopathic Doctor?​ How are they different than MDs & DOs?

 A Naturopathic Doctor is a type of primary care physician that is trained to use the least invasive methods first to prevent and heal disease. It is a distinct method of healing that aims at treating the root cause of disease and promotes healing using natural therapies. Their practice is based around the Therapeutic Order; a system that helps guide the most approiate, effective, and least invasive therapies needed. There are 7 levels of the Therapeutic Order that can be read below. While Medical Doctors are only really trained to work with levels 6 & 7, drugs and surgery, Naturopathic doctors use the entire order ensuring healing is taking place from a complete picture as well as using the most appropriate therapy at the appropriate time. 
 

The Therapeutic Order consists of 7 levels:

1. Create the Conditions for Health(lifestyle modification such as diet, exercise, sleep, & stress management) 

2. Stimulate the Bodies Healing Processes / Stimulate the Immune System

3. Support & Nourish Engaged or Weakened Organs and Systems 

4. Correct Structural Integrity / Manual Medicine (adjustments, massage, promote blood flow)

5. Suppress Symptoms with Natural Means - (Herbal medicine, foods, homeopathic)
6. Suppress Symptoms with Synthetic Means (eg. Pharmaceuticals)

7. High Force Interventions (Drugs, Surgery, Steroids)
 

Why should someone see a Naturopathic Doctor?

 1. You want a doctor who will treat all of you as an individual, not just your illness.

-Naturopathic doctors are trained to treat the whole person. This requires taking the time to listen and understand the genetic, environmental, and behavioral/lifestyle factors that can affect your health.
 

2. You want personalized support.

-NDs understand there is no one - size - fits - all treatment that works for everybody. After your visit with an ND, you’ll leave the doctor’s office with a plan uniquely tailored to you, your health status, your health goals, and your lifestyle. 

3. You want to treat the root cause of an illness, not just manage the symptoms.
-Conventional medications are meant to counteract and cover up the symptoms instead of focusing on healing the body. This is why you need to take blood pressure medication for life. the medication doesnt fix the problem, it just lowers it for a little while till the effects where off. Naturopathic medicine looks to SUPPORT the body and PREVENT these conditions, so you don't need to stay on medication for life. 

​

4. You want to actively participate in managing your own health.

-One of the tenets of Naturopathic medicine is Doctor as Teacher. We get excited about teaching you how your body works, not talking over your head, and leaving you confused when you walk out of the office. An ND will help you learn what your body needs to get well and stay healthy. 
 

5. You have chronic pain and don’t want to use pharmaceutical drugs such as ibuprofen, acetaminophen, or highly addictive opioids to manage it forever.

-Pain that lasts six months or more is more complex than acute pain and requires a holistic, long - term approach to manage. NDs are trained to work with you to determine which combination of therapies will work best for you to heal or manage your pain safely so that you can resume daily activities.    
 

6. You have tried all the conventional medical options for diagnosing and treating a health condition.

-Certain chronic health conditions that have symptoms such as fatigue, insomnia, or gastrointestinal distress can be difficult to diagnose and treat, and can benefit from a holistic approach . NDs use diagnostic tools common in conventional medicine, and  also consider detailed diet history, lifestyle habits and choices, exercise history , and social/emotional factors to assess patients’ needs. These approaches can open doors to new treatment pathways and options. 

Do I have to stop working with my other doctors?

No! A quality medical team can be extremely beneficial to your health. Our team makes collaboration a priority, and will refer to other providers when we feel their expertise is needed. Although Naturopathic Doctors are trained as Primary Care Physicians, Illinois does not license them as such, like other states do, and you should not discontinue care with your current providers. We will be as open to working with your current team as much as they are open and willing to work with us. 

Do you accept my insurance?

We do not bill insurance directly, but upon request we can provide you with a superbill for you to submit to your insurance company for reimbursement. We absolutely would not be able to do what we do and offer the level of service that we think our patients deserve if we accepted insurance. The insurance system is what has lead to you receiving 7 minute visits at the typical doctor office you've likely experienced and that's not the type of healthcare we believe in or the type of healthcare that we think you deserve. For example, our new patient visit is two hours long so that we can spend the time needed getting to the bottom of your health concerns and create a comprehensive plan to address them. We also do accept health savings account and flex spending cards.  If price is a large concern, we do have options that can reduce your care down to no cost. Find out more HERE

What is the difference between a licensed ND and unlicensed ND?

Because Illinois does not have a current licensing law recognizing Naturopathic Medicine, technically anyone could call themselves a naturopathic doctor without repercussions and there are people doing as such, even some in Downers Grove. Many people attend online "correspondence schools" or diploma mills that give out fake doctorates and PhD's with no real work and a few hundred dollars. While these practitioners may claim to be a Naturopathic Doctor, they likely have never attended an in person medical school, passed a national licensing exam, or are they recognized in any state legislature.  We are actively working with the state legislature to change this.