WELLNESS AUTHOR
Therese Vonesh
KEEPING IT NATURAL n Naturopathy seems mysterious, especially in Texas where naturopathic physicians aren’t licensed. Here’s what to know about the practice.
T
he topic of naturopathic medicine is a complicated one. Although naturopathic medicine requires the same education level as a medical doctor plus additional courses on nutrition and herbal/physical medicines, naturopathic physicians aren’t formally licensed in all U.S. states, including Texas. Amy Tyler is a South Central Austin-based naturopathic physician. She received her B.A. in chemical engineering at The University of Texas at Austin and shortly thereafter, found herself more invested in her own health and the health of others. Tyler then stumbled upon the benefits of naturopathic medicine. “I told my mother, who was struggling with asthma, allergies and eczema, that she lived in a state that licenses naturopathic physicians and should consider (naturopathy) as an option,” Tyler says. “And she did. She had success in reversing all of those conditions!” Her mother’s recovery inspired Tyler to pursue naturopathic medicine further. Tyler then obtained her naturopathic doctorate degree at the Bastyr University of Seattle. Since Texas is not among the U.S. states that recognize naturopathic medicine as an official practice, physicians like Tyler must follow their state
JUNE 2022
restrictions and regulations. Thus, naturopathic physicians in Texas cannot work as primary care doctors but rather as health and wellness consultants. According to Tyler, qualification for a state to provide licensing comes down to the numbers. Naturopathy is a small profession, and there must be a substantive and organized community of naturopathic physicians in a given place to advocate for a bill and secure licensure in that state. But what exactly is naturopathic medicine, and how does it differ from things like natural medicine or homeopathic medicine? In the most basic sense, naturopathic medicine is the introduction of natural remedies to support the body as it heals itself. Essentially, in licensed states, a naturopathic physician can act as your primary care provider while homeopaths cannot; they are not trained to do so. Naturopathic physicians often use natural and homeopathic medicine as tools but aren’t nearly the same as homeopaths. At a traditional doctor, patients may receive news that nothing is wrong but still feel unwell; this is where naturopathy can step in. “Sometimes people need some more fine-tuning and adjusting, more subtle help,” Tyler says. There are six principles that form the foundation for the practice of naturopathic medicine by licensed
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