Who is the Examining Board of Natural Medicine Practitioners?
The Examining Board of Natural Medicine Practitioners Inc was founded in 1998 to service the need of an ever growing demand for natural medicine health care in Canada. The founding directors adopted the principles and model of the WHO sanctioned Medicina Alternativa Institute (Alma Ata 1962 Accord). In 2005, the EBNMP Canada™ was formed and the trademarked and protected titles DNM®, RNP®, RAP®, RNMP® and RLMP® were transferred to this National organization in order to safeguard the identity and services of the members in good standing within the organization.
Who are Natural Medicine Practitioners?
There are three different groups of practitioners that use the science of natural medicine:
- ND - Naturopathic Doctor:
- Currently regulated in Canada: Ontario (BDDT-N), Alberta (AANP/CNDA), Manitoba (MBND), Saskatchewan (SANP), Nova Scotia (NSAND) and British Columbia (CNPBC).
- DNM®
- Natural Medicine Practitioners©:
- DNM® is in the category of Natural Medicine Practitioners and maintain a strict definition of natural healing and do not incorporate surgical, non-natural pharmaceutical or obstetrical care into their practice. Training must include graduation from a formal course of study plus clinical internship.
- DIM© - Western trained medical
professionals who utilize Natural Medicine Modalities as a
complement to conventional treatment:
- DIM© includes but is not limited to Chiropractors, Medical Doctors, Dentists, Osteopaths, Orthomolecular Practitioners and Nurse Practitioners. These practitioners must have completed at lease 1000 hours of training and experience in natural medicine as a complement to conventional treatment.
Increasing Popularity of Natural Medicine
Natural Medicine Practice falls within what is known as complementary / alternative or “folk” medicine. Such practices include an variety of natural medicines, manual techniques and exercises that are used to maintain well-being and to treat or prevent illness worldwide.
According to World Health Organization (WHO), the use of natural medicine in both developing and developed countries has greatly increased in the last 30 years. In most developing countries, it is the only source of health care. In the developed world, consumers look to natural medicine for a less invasive means to manage chronic diseases.
While the EBNMP Canada™’s members may be qualified in aspects of Natural Medicine, it is strongly stressed that patients must always consult their primary health practitioner (MD) before undergoing any natural medicine treatment.