Louise Edwards, ND, LAc
Lecturer, Clinical Science
Dr. Louise Edwards earned her ND degree from National College of
Naturopathic Medicine, and her LAc from the Oregon College of
Oriental Medicine. In the video below, hear what she feels are the
strengths of the NUHS naturopathic medicine program:
Collaborative learning, strong traditional philosophy and
amazing faculty and students are some of the reasons Dr. Louise Edwards feels NUHS offers an
exceptional degree program in naturopathic medicine.
About Dr. Louise Edwards
Louise Edwards, ND, LAc, hails from a
generation that began a "back to earth" movement. "In the 1960s,
the 'hippie generation' explored whole foods, ecology, herbal
medicine, and alternative lifestyles. It was very progressive," she
explains.
Deciding she wanted to help transform adverse influences in
ecology that resulted in adverse effects on human health, she
realized that the field of natural medicine would allow her to do
both.
After graduating with degrees in both oriental medicine and
naturopathic medicine, Dr. Edwards chose to live and practice in
Colorado. "Another part of why I chose to become an ND is that I
wanted a means to earn a living in a small mountain town.
Naturopathic medicine allows me the ability to earn a living almost
anywhere in the world without having to rely on industrial
resources. Naturopathic medicine is really the people's medicine,
partly because it's a low-tech medicine."
"I loved practicing in a rural area. I had a genuine
family practice seeing generations of people." Her files boasted
6,000 charts in a town of 15,000 people. "Of course I drew from a
much larger rural population. Since I was the only ND in a large
area, people traveled quite a distance to see me."
"I taught my patients that re-establishing the basis for health
means looking at some of the simplest things: breathing and the
quality of the air we breath, hydration and the quality of the
water we drink, nutrition and the quality of the food we eat. By
educating my patients on these determining health factors, I could
secondarily motivate them to get engaged in doing things to help
transform the environment."
Dr. Edwards joined the naturopathic profession during the
beginning of its historic renaissance. In 1988, she took the very
first NPLEX exams. She was present at the first meeting of the
American Association of Naturopathic Physicians and served on the
board during the mid-'90s as a legislative chair when very few
states had licensure laws for naturopathic physicians. Dr. Edwards
was also a part of a team involved in political efforts that
resulted in a big jump in the number of licensed states in the
'90s.
At National University of Health Sciences, she shares
several courses with other instructors. "I teach two courses on
naturopathic philosophy and principles. We also teach a course that
takes what students are learning in physiology, anatomy and
biochemistry and shows them exactly how it affects health, like how
hydration affects the cell or how air is utilized by bodily
systems. I also teach an 'Introduction to Oriental Medicine' course
and two courses in advanced and applied clinical theory." She also
guest lectures in practice management, clinical nutrition,
counseling, and offers in-service teachings on special topics in
the NUHS Whole
Health Center.
Dr. Edwards encourages those considering a career in natural
medicine: "I have never worked harder than I did in becoming an ND
and an acupuncturist, and it was the most worthwhile thing I've
ever done. I love what I do. It's worth all the work that it
takes."
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