NYANP Promotes Access to Natural Medicine The New York Association of Naturopathic Physicians is committed to ensuring that citizens in New York and all 50 states have the freedom to access natural health care and the broad array of alternative therapies available. Our goal is to build awareness of the efficacy of natural medicine and the positive results our patients experience.
Naturopathic doctors are specialists in natural medicine who work closely with their patients to establish long-term health. Naturopathic doctors (NDs) use familiar, conventional diagnostic techniques and treat illness using traditional therapies and the healing power of nature. We are working diligently, with our alliance of consumers and providers, to transform the future health of our nation. Together, we seek to safely improve access by licensing trained, naturopathic doctors in New York State.
THE INTENT OF OUR LEGISLATIVE EFFORT IS TO EXPAND ACCESS TO NATURAL MEDICINE BY LICENSING NATUROPATHIC DOCTORS TO DIAGNOSE AND TREAT UNDER A DEFINED SCOPE OF PRACTICE.
It is not the intent of the NYANP to restrict practitioners of natural health modalities from practicing now or in the future.
It is not the intent of the NYANP to restrict the use of natural therapies to naturopathic doctors. We recognize that many of the therapies used by naturopathic doctors, including nutritional supplements, herbs, and such physical forces as heat, cold, water, touch, and light, are not the exclusive privilege of naturopathic doctors. We do not support prohibiting or restricting their use to licensed naturopathic doctors.
It is not the intent of the NYANP to restrict the use of homeopathy to naturopathic doctors. The only restriction we promote would apply to those who identify themselves as naturopathic doctors, whom we believe must have a license in order to identify themselves as naturopathic doctors, and as such, also be eligible to prescribe a homeopathic remedy or any other natural therapy.
It is not the intent of the NYANP to expand a ND’s scope of practice beyond his or her training. Naturopathic doctors receive a Doctorate of Naturopathic Medicine from U.S. Department of Education accredited institutions; they are not Doctors of Chiropractic, Osteopathy or Medicine, nor do they practice as such.
WE DO INTEND TO PROTECT THE PUBLIC FROM UNTRAINED PRACTITIONERS WHO PROMOTE THEMSELVES AS DOCTORS OR PHYSICIANS, BUT HAVE OBTAINED THEIR CREDENTIALS FROM DIPLOMA MILLS. WE DO INTEND TO PROTECT THE PUBLIC FROM PEOPLE WHO TREAT AND DIAGNOSE WITH LITTLE OR NO CLINICAL TRAINING.