So Hell Week is coming to a close. Boards are over!! Oh my, they
were pretty tough! I am not going to sugar coat it at all! I
thought I was ready for four out of six of the exams for sure but I
was proven wrong! I am just praying that I passed them!! The
worst-case scenario for me would that I would have to re-take parts
over, which would be a tad bit devastating but definitely do-able.
At least now I can breathe!
Over the weekend, I babysat Sampson, Ryan's cat, because Ryan
went to Colorado for a friend's wedding, and I crammed as much as I
could into my already filled and tired brain. The entire experience
is nothing I would wish on anyone - [Studying, not babysitting
Sampson!] - but we all got through it. Biochemistry was the hardest
subject, which was surprising to me because I was terrified of
Physiology going into it. Now this week, we have two more midterms
and then the following week I have two papers and a presentation
due. Then one week after that, finals! I can't believe how fast
this crazy trimester has flown by.
So I promised to answer a question that one my readers
asked:
"What is the difference between a naturopathic physician
and a medical doctor?"
Well, I will try to answer this as brief but detailed as I can.
The philosophies of both physicians are entirely different. Both
are educated in basic medical sciences, diagnosis, and laboratory
analysis. However, the root of the difference is HOW a patient is
treated for a condition or disease. A medical doctor often treats
only the patient's symptoms using primarily a pharmaceutical drug
or even surgery! A naturopathic physician believes in looking at
the WHOLE person to heal the CAUSE of the symptoms using natural
therapies and nutrition.
Doctors of naturopathic medicine treat the person in all aspects
- body, mind, and spirit. In some instances, they will exacerbate
symptoms to aid the body in moving towards a healing/healed state
of being. They use a variety of treatments from all over the world
(homeopathy, oriental medicine, hydrotherapy, etc.). These
treatments will work with the body's natural healing mechanisms to
treat the disease (cause) and not just manage the symptoms, which
is what medical doctors do while they attempt to also treat the
cause.
Medical doctors are excellent in treating emergency health care,
whereas a naturopathic physician is exceptional in promoting a
disease-preventive lifestyle. NDs also believe that doctors are
teachers, so educating the patient and spending time with the
patient is something that is held very important.
So the preconceived notion of the differences between the two
physicians is that one is natural and one is not. However, that is
not the MAIN difference because in some states, NDs can prescribe
medicines but only do so in necessary cases.
Well, I hope that helped everyone! I promised that I would be
adding something new to my blogs. I will reveal that for next
week's blog so stay in tuned!! See you all next week!
Picture: Icicles! Oh, and say goodbye to the icicles! Enjoy the
weather - spring is around the corner! (Hopefully!)
Tip of the week: Let your parasympathetics do their work. In
less nerdy terms, REST AND DIGEST.