Who is a Natural Medicine Practitioner^©?

A multidisciplinary group of practitioners who make use of natural healing agents and therapies in the treatment of health conditions such as acupressure, reflexology, hydrotherapy, herbal medicines, biochemical therapy, clinical nutrition, homeopathic remedies and counseling.

Scope of Practice:

The assessment of emotional, mental and physical disorders using natural medicine techniques to promote, maintain and restore health and wellness.

• Clinical Nutrition - the use of specific diets and nutritional supplements to prevent disease or re-establish the body chemistry.
• Botanical and Herbal Remedies - use for their balancing and nutritional value.
• Electropathy - Micro-dose of natural substances aimed at stimulating the self healing response without side effects and could include the science of Homeopathy.
• Physical Medicine - therapeutic manipulation of soft tissue, exercises, hydrotherapy, electrotherapy, ultrasound and heat and cold therapy.
• Oriental Medicine - This system of Medicine is not traditionally a western Natural Medicine healing system. Practitioners who engage in Acupuncture or any technique that involve puncture of the skin must have proof of training from a recognized institution.
• Ayurveda and Indian Systems of Healing - a wholistic system of proprietary medicine that uses a constitutional model to provide guidance regarding dietary and lifestyle management.
• Lifestyle Counselling and Stress Management - Natural Medicine Practitioners are especially trained to offer coaching and education to the client on stress management, hypnotherapy, biofeedback as well as environmental factors that affect their health.

The following modalities are within the Scope of Practice for a DNM^®. This list may be updated at anytime. Please check back for updates. 

Educational requirements:

Historically, Natural Medicine Practitioners learned through observations and internship and established themselves as “Nature Doctors” who only used natural techniques and remedies for the treatment of human ailments.
 
Currently, the educational standards recommended by the founding fathers of Natural Medicine was that Practitioners should have the knowledge of Anatomy, Physiology, Biochemistry, Pathology and Public Health along with the modalities of Nutrition and Diet, Herbal and Botanical, Electropathy, Physical Medicine, Asian Therapeutics and Lifestyle & Stress Management.

Category A - Licensed Western Trained Health Professionals:

• Minimum of 1000 hours of training and experience in Natural Medicine Modalities as a complement to conventional treatment.
• Includes but is not limited to Chiropractors, Medical Doctors, Dentists, Osteopaths, Orthomolecular Practitioners, Nurse Practitioners.

Category B - Trained Natural Medicine Practitioners:

• Foreign or Local Certification
• Graduates of 4000 hours of training and experience in Natural Medicine
• Includes but is not limited to Naturopaths, Homeopaths, Medical Doctors, Eastern Medicine Doctors (Ayurvedic, Chinese, Indo-Pak), Aboriginal Healers, Alternative Medicine Doctors.

Registration Requirements for all categories:

• Potential registrant is required to submit proof of education and clinical internship.
• Potential Registrant must pass a challenge examination in order to be registered.
• Natural Medicine Practitioners who are Doctors of other regulated health care professions must show proof of license to practice in their primary field.
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EBNMP Canada™ strongly adheres to the principle that DNM^®s are not "Allopathic Medical Doctors", but they are trained to recognize conditions that are beyond their Scope of Practice and must refer clients to an "Allopathic Medical Doctor" or other appropriate healthcare practitioner when necessary.