SPECIAL HEALTH
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ACUPUNCTURE
doctor is a primary care physician who is trained to diagnose and prescribe, as opposed to “traditional” naturopath who can do neither. She also sees a growing demand for CAM approaches. “With a shortage of primary care doctors, exponentially escalating health care costs, epidemics of lifestyle-related chronic disease and obesity and increasing dissatisfaction with conventional medicine, naturopathic doctors are a valuable solution in light of these critical shortages,” she says. Naturopathic approaches emphasize direct care, prevention, wellness and health promotion. Axtell has a doctorate in naturopathic medicine from the National University of Natural Medicine and is board certified by the North American Board of Naturopathic Examiners. She’s currently licensed as a primary care physician in the state of Oregon—one of 22 states that has licensing or registration laws for naturopathic doctors.
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Shepherd Express
BROWN: “IT’S ABOUT NUTRITION, SUPPLYING WHAT THE BODY NEEDS AND LOOKING FOR UNDERLYING CAUSES. IF SOMEONE HAS A HEADACHE, THERE ARE PILLS FOR HEADACHES, BUT WE LOOK TO FIND OUT WHY THEY HAVE A HEADACHE." Axtell notes that a licensed naturopathic doctor attends a four-year, in-residence, graduate-level naturopathic medical school; studies conventional, holistic and nontoxic approaches to therapy; is educated in the identical basic sciences as an M.D. or D.O. (Doctor of Medicine or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine); has three years supervised clinical training as part of medical school; and takes rigorous, national, professional board exams. She’s one of many licensed naturopathic doctors in the state advocating for naturopathic licensure in Wisconsin.
“We are gaining momentum here in Wisconsin and hope to gain licensure in the near future,” Axtell says. “The Wisconsin Naturopathic Doctors Association has generated great support from both Democrats and Republicans in both houses of the legislature. They have worked hard to educate legislators on the importance of licensure for NDs. When legislators fully grasp the positive impact naturopathic medicine has on the health of Wisconsinites, legislators in turn support licensure, which will increase access to and ensure safe delivery care by highly trained natural medical providers.” The Association hopes to see a licensure bill introduced in the 2021 session. The Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services is the state agency that licenses medical professionals, including M.D.s, D.O.s, nurse practitioners and dieticians. They also license professionals practicing alternative medicine modalities such as chiropractic, acupuncture and massage. There’s currently
