Naturopathic doctors are educated and trained in accredited naturopathic medical colleges. They diagnose, prevent, and treat acute and chronic illness to restore and establish optimal health by supporting the person's inherent self-healing process. Rather than just suppressing symptoms, naturopathic doctors work to  identify underlying causes of illness, and develop personalized treatment plans to address them. Their Therapeutic Order™ (see below), identifies the natural order in which all therapies should be applied to provide the greatest benefit with the least potential for damage. 

Naturopathic medical education curricula include certain areas of study not covered in conventional medical school. At the same time, aspiring naturopathic doctors receive training in the same biomedical and diagnostic sciences as MDs and osteopathic doctors (DOs). The result is a comprehensive, rigorous, and well-rounded scientific medical education that is both comparable and complementary to that of MDs and DOs. Separate fact from fiction with these mythbusters from the AANMC - 10 Common Myths about Naturopathic Medicine.