Doing what comes naturally
Local doctors fight for right to practice naturopathic medicine By Tony Houston Warwick Two local naturopathic doctors (NDs) are spearheading the drive to have members of their profession licensed by New York State. Donielle Wilson, spokesperson for the New York Association of Naturopathic Physicians, and Beth Newhard spoke about this effort in a recent interview. Wilson lives in Chester, but her practice is in Danbury, Connecticut. She works two days a week in a practice with other NDs, specializing in women’s and children’s health. Connecticut is one of the 14 states in which NDs are licensed. Newhard lives in Warwick and does health consulting throughout Orange County. “It’s an awkward situation,” said Newhard, “it’s difficult to practice naturopathic medicine in an unlicensed’ state.” Naturopathic medicine was founded more than 100 years ago upon the philosophy of treating the whole person. It combines natural therapies with scientific advances in modern medicine. In addition to diagnosis and treatment, naturopathic medicine stresses prevention, good nutrition and a healthy lifestyle. Government got involved with the medical care of its citizens in 1965 and has seen the cost of Medicare, Medicaid and drug programs escalate far beyond what was anticipated. Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee has said that preventative medicine and lifestyle change is the only way to keep the federal government from going bankrupt. He didn’t mention naturopathic medicine, but has priorities in common with it. Wilson received her ND degree from Bastyr University in Kenmore, Wash. “We work in many rural and underserved communities,” said Wilson, “therefore, we need to be able to prescribe medicine-we have the training to do this safely and should be able to do it. We know how to diagnose and to refer, so neither the patients nor the Medical Doctors (MDs) will be missing out on anything.” Charles Umhey, a retired physician who practiced in Orange County, said, “I’m pleased to hear that the NDs are making referrals to us - I just hope they do so in a timely manner.” Newhard, who received her ND degree from the National College of Naturopathic Medicine in Portland, Or., would like to work more within her profession. “It’s difficult to return to New York and not be able to participate to the extent that I did in Oregon,” she said, “I want to be able to contribute to my community.” New hard said. “The demand is there to have integrated care’ - MDs and NDs working together.” Mary Martin Geyer from Warwick is a fourth-year student at Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine in Tempe, Ark. She was recently interviewed by telephone between seeing patients on her physician supervised student clinical rotations. “I will graduate this December,” said Geyer, “and I’m looking forward to taking the second part of the Naturopathic Physicians Exam.” The examination is given in two parts - Basic Science and Clinical Sciences. The naturopathic licensing bill is doing better in the state Senate than in the Assembly. Sponsors of the bill whose districts include part of Orange County are state Senators William J. Larkin Jr., R-C-Cornwall-on-Hudson, and Thomas P, Morahan, R-New City, and Assemblywoman Nancy Calhoun, R-Blooming Grove. The licensing of NDs is opposed by the Medical Society of New York and by some naturopathic physicians with little training. Editor’s note: Tony Houston, the reporter for this article, is a former Warwick town supervisor who once wrote a letter of support of homeopathic medicine.