What’s the Difference Between Functional Medicine and Naturopathic Medicine?

By Dr. Marion Clement, Naturopathic Doctor, Natural Health Center

Here at the Natural Health Center, we have both naturopathic doctors and functional medicine nurse practitioners. As a patient, you may be asking, “What’s the difference? And which type of provider is right for me?” In this blog post, we’ll explore both healthcare approaches and provide some suggestions to help you make the best decision for your unique needs.

Naturopathic and Functional Medicine: The Similarities

Both the naturopathic doctors (NDs) and the functional medicine nurse practitioners (NPs) at the Natural Health Center practice holistic, evidence-based, patient-centered care. In addition, the goal of our naturopathic doctors and functional medicine nurse practitioners is the same: To find and treat the root cause of problem, rather than just the symptoms.

This means that both types of providers will take all of your symptoms into account, apply them to your unique environment, history, genetics and lifestyle, and address the problem where it started, in addition to helping to reduce symptoms.

Naturopathic and Functional Medicine: The Differences

Our nurse practitioners obtained functional medical education after graduation to learn a more natural approach to medicine, whereas our naturopathic doctors are taught this natural approach throughout their medical training.

Functional medicine is built on the foundation of Western medicine, which holds that disease and illness come from biochemical and biophysical processes. Functional medicine also incorporates some concepts of naturopathic medicine within its system.

Naturopathic medicine offers all that the functional medicine training provides, in addition to extensive training in herbal medicine, nutrition, homeopathy and traditional naturopathic therapies, such as hydrotherapy.

Harnessing the Healing Power of Nature

Another key difference between naturopathic medicine and other types of Western medicine is true adherence to their vitalistic principle: The Healing Power of Nature.

Naturopathic doctors trust and support of the body’s innate ability to heal itself. All naturopathic therapies work in concert with this vital force to enhance and support the body’s natural healing capacity. Removing obstacles to healing is an approach that is inherent in naturopathic practice.

Prescription Medication Access

One aspect of modern practice the naturopathic doctors have training in, but do not currently have access to in the state of Alaska, is the ability to prescribe prescription medication. (We encourage you to contact your state representatives to rectify this!)

Our functional medicine nurse practitioners are able to prescribe medication, and our providers work closely together to ensure our patients have access to prescription medication, when appropriate.

Choosing the Right Provider for You

If you are looking for a healthcare provider, we encourage you to take a look at our providers’ biographies to see which will be the best fit for your needs. Remember, whichever discipline you choose, your well-being will be the center of attention with either the functional medicine nurse practitioner or the naturopathic doctor.

About Dr. Marion Clement, Naturopathic Doctor

Dr. Marion Clement is a naturopathic doctor in general family medicine who enjoys caring for patients of all ages. She treats patients will all health complaints, both acute and chronic, and especially likes working with children, women’s health, and preventative medicine so that small problems stay small.

Learn more about Dr. Clement or contact us to schedule an appointment.