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How and Why do Naturopathic Doctors Use Botanical Medicine?

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NDs are expert at choosing and effectively prescribing herbal medicines to:

  • treat the underlying cause of illness
  • minimize side effects and drug interactions
  • individualize doses and formulations for the maximum therapeutic benefit

How and why do naturopathic doctors use botanical medicine?

Botanical medicine, also known as herbal medicine, is the science and practice of using medicinal plants and extracts to improve overall health, support wellness, and treat acute and chronic disease. Many conventional pharmaceutical drugs are derived from plants. Modern botanical medicine combines evidence-based science along with centuries-old experience to provide safe and effective treatments that support the body’s ability to heal.

Botanical medicine expands treatment options for patients. Alone or in combination with other naturopathic treatments, botanical medicine can be a safe, appropriate, and effective choice for addressing numerous health concerns ranging from frequent illness to gastrointestinal discomfort to depression, and more. During medical school, NDs complete an average of 130 classroom hours of botanical medicine education.

A cornerstone of naturopathic medicine, botanical medicine is one of the most effective therapies that licensed naturopathic doctors (NDs) use to gently and safely treat illness while minimizing the risk of harmful side effects

Botanical medicine is taught in a series of courses that build upon each other through an ND’s four-year, science-based medical education. Naturopathic medical schools are accredited and are recognized by the United States Department of Education. In addition to classroom study, naturopathic medical students refine and apply learnings in various settings, including over 1,200 hours of clinical rotations with patients.

Naturopathic Botanical Medicine Curriculum

Through this rigorous curriculum, naturopathic doctors learn how to choose and effectively prescribe herbal medicines to treat the underlying cause(s) of illness, minimize side effects and drug interactions, and individualize doses and formulations for the maximum therapeutic benefit. Core areas of focus in naturopathic botanical medicine curriculum include:

  • History and current use of Western herbal medicine
  • Herbal properties and actions of plants
  • Herbal constituents (compounds that have medicinal properties), medicinal actions (function in the body), and indications
  • Critical evaluation of literature and research in regard to both efficacy and interactions/contraindications of botanical medicines Naturopathic Medicine
  • Optimal extraction and delivery for a variety of plants
  • Botanical prescription writing
    • Organ systems-based botanical medicine formulation and topical application, including gastrointestinal, respiratory, immune, cardiovascular, ears/eyes/nose/throat, reproductive, urinary, endocrine, musculoskeletal, and nervous systems
  • Choosing, assessing and preparing herbal medicine in various forms including aqueous extracts, tinctures, herbal oils and salves, syrups, capsules, oxymels, poultices, and compresses. This includes evaluating comparable advantages and disadvantages of each type of preparation
  • Dose ranges, contraindications, toxicity, side effects, and interactions o Sustainability of herbal medications
  • Effective creation of individualized formulas for patients
  • Translation of labels to determine the purpose and application of over-the-counter herbal products

This comprehensive training combined with a focus on treating the whole person—mind, body, and spirit—enables naturopathic doctors to utilize botanical medicine when best suited to effectively treat the patient based on their diagnosis and presentation. By spending extra time to evaluate and diagnose patients and then drawing on a spectrum of therapies including botanical medicine, clinical nutrition, and behavioral and lifestyle medicine, naturopathic doctors tailor comprehensive treatment to each patient, with a close eye on safety

Botanical Medicine for Cold and Flu

Naturopathic doctors individualize botanical medicine as a treatment for numerous acute and chronic conditions. One example is cold and flu prevention/treatment. More people are seeking alternatives to prescription pharmaceuticals such as antibiotics, which can damage the gut, and to over-the-counter medications such as analgesics, decongestants, and antihistamines, which can suppress the body’s ability to produce antibodies and/or cause unwanted side effects. Examples of safe and effective botanical medicines commonly used by NDs for cold and flu prevention and treatment include:

  • Elder (Sambucus)—a flower or berry that can be used as an anti-inflammatory, anti-viral, antioxidant, often used in syrup form
  • Garlic—an anti-microbial herb that can help break up mucus, and is delivered through tinctures, syrups, capsules, or crushed fresh
  • Thyme—an anti-microbial herb, also an immune stimulant, effective against biofilms, and can also help relax a spastic cough
  • Echinacea—an anti-inflammatory, immune modulating herb that can activate white blood cells to fight infection and also be used for prevention

While licensed naturopathic doctors are also trained to use pharmaceutical drugs, and can prescribe them where state license permits, they emphasize less toxic substances like botanical medicine that promote natural healing first, following the Therapeutic Order to provide the greatest benefit to patients with the least potential for damage.

The AANP and the INM would like to acknowledge Patricia Gaines, ND, and Sheila Kingsbury, ND, for their contributions to the content of this FAQ.

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This article is provided by

The Institute for Natural Medicine, a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization. INM’s mission is to transform health care in the United States by increasing public awareness of natural medicine and access to naturopathic doctors. Naturopathic medicine, with its person-centered principles and practices, has the potential to reverse the tide of chronic illness overwhelming healthcare systems and to empower people to achieve and maintain optimal lifelong health. INM strives to fulfil this mission through the following initiatives:

  • Education – Reveal the unique benefits and outcomes of evidence-based natural medicine
  • Access – Connect patients to licensed naturopathic doctors
  • Research – Expand quality research on this complex and comprehensive system of medicine

About The Author(s)

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Institute for Natural Medicine Staff

Our dedicated content team of professional staff writers represents decades of experience covering essential natural health topics in an accessible, evidence-based, and engaging way. Guided by a shared passion for holistic well-being, each and every one of our writers strives to empower our readers to take charge of their health.

Supported by a rigorous fact-checking and medical editing process from licensed naturopathic doctors that examines the latest in peer-reviewed research, our team brings their in-depth knowledge of natural health practices into every piece of content we produce. We strive to be the gold standard for evidence-based natural medicine, providing trustworthy information and inspiring narratives to help you live your best health, naturally.

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