? The philosophy behind the naturopathic field is invidualization and viewing the patient as a whole, emphasizing disease prevention and personal responsibility and treating the underlying cause of disease or illness.
? NDs in B.C. are licensed and insured as primary care providers, are regulated and have prescribing authority.
? NDs can serve as complementary care providers to traditional family doctors and other medical professionals.
? Naturopathic medicine can include clinical nutrition, acupuncture and other traditional Asian medical approaches, botanical medicine, homeopathic medicine, psychological counselling and diagnostic testing.
? Boucher Institute is the only accredited school of naturopathic medicine in Western Canada. The not-for-profit institute first opened in 1998 as the West Coast Naturopathic Medical College.
? Naturopathic medicine has been a designated health profession under the province's Health Profession Act since January 2000 and is regulated by the College of Naturopathic Physicians of B.C. (www.cnpbc.bc.ca).
