Choosing the Right Physician For You

By Avanti Vadivelu

So you’re stuck in bed with a bad case of the flu, or you have a horrendous backache that you just can’t get rid of.  Whatever your symptoms may be, you DO have a choice as to who treats you and how you get treated.  These days, conventional medical doctors are being joined in large numbers by other forms of conventional doctors such as doctors of osteopathic medicine, as well as doctors of alternative medicine like ayurvedic doctors to bring well-rounded healthcare to patients. 

In the next few weeks, we here at MyHealthGate.com will be conducting in-depth research and interviews with doctors of various paths of medicine to de-mystify some unknown – or little known – areas of medicine.  It is our hope that this series of articles will also equip you with the knowledge to help you understand the background of who is treating you at the nearest hospital (no matter what letters follow their name on their white coats!), or who could treat you (if you choose to seek a private physician or practice).  Check back on this site regularly for updates to this special series and please use the following as a general guide to the different paths of medicine we will be taking a deeper look at:

OSTEOPHATHIC MEDICINE

General philosophy: According to the American Osteopathic Association, D.O.’s (doctors of osteopathic medicine) are fully licensed osteopathic physicians who specialize in all areas of medicine. D.O.s practice a “whole person” approach to medicine. Instead of just treating specific symptoms or illnesses, they assess the overall health of their patients including home and work environments.

Training required: D.O.s are required to attend a four-year osteopathic medical school, which includes clinical and classroom learning.  Following medical school graduation, D.O.’s must complete residency training in the area of which they are practicing.  In addition, D.O.’s also receive training in osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT). With OMT, osteopathic physicians use their hands to diagnose injury and illness and to encourage the body’s natural tendency toward good health.

CHIROPRACTIC MEDICINE

General Philosophy: The American Chiropractic Association states that doctors of chiropractic – often referred to as chiropractors or chiropractic physicians – practice a drug-free, hands-on approach to health care that includes patient examination, diagnosis and treatment. Chiropractic care is used most often to treat neuro-musculoskeletal complaints, including but not limited to back pain, neck pain, pain in the joints of the arms or legs, and headaches.  Chiropractors are also trained to recommend therapeutic and rehabilitative exercises, as well as to provide nutritional, dietary and lifestyle counseling.

Training required: Once accepted into an accredited chiropractic college, requirements include four to five academic years of professional. Because of the hands-on nature of chiropractic, and the intricate adjusting techniques, a significant portion of time is spent in clinical training.

NATUROPATHIC MEDICINE

General Philosophy: The American Academy of Naturopathic Physicians says that their basic assumption is that nature is orderly, and this orderliness is designed to result in ongoing life and well being. Naturopathic physicians (N.D.’s) believe that this dependable orderliness is guided by a kind of inner wisdom that everyone has and that this inner wisdom can be assisted to return a person to their best balance by naturopathic treatments.

Training required: N.D.’s attend a four-year graduate level naturopathic medical school focusing on basic sciences, but also studies holistic and nontoxic approaches to therapy with a strong emphasis on disease prevention and optimizing wellness. In addition, N.D.’s are required to complete four years of training in clinical nutrition, acupuncture, homeopathic medicine, botanical medicine, psychology, and counseling.

AYURVEDIC MEDICINE

General Philosophy: According to the National Institute of Health’s (NIH) description of ayurvedic medicine, it is based on theories of health and illness and on ways to prevent, manage, or treat health problems. Ayurveda aims to integrate and balance the body, mind, and spirit. The NIH states that a chief aim of ayurvedic practices is to cleanse the body of substances that can cause disease, which is believed to help reestablish harmony and balance.

Training required: Although the United States has no national standard for certifying or training ayurvedic practitioners as of yet, many practitioners can still be found.  The NIH says that practitioners of ayurveda in the United States have various types of training, many of whom study in India (of which ayurvedic medicine originated).  In India there are more than 150 undergraduate and more than 30 postgraduate colleges for ayurveda. This training can take up to 5 years.

TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINE

General Philosophy: In traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), the understanding of the human body is based on the holistic understanding of the universe as described in Daoism, and the treatment of illness is based primarily on the diagnosis and differentiation of syndromes. Typical TCM therapies include acupuncture, herbal medicine, and qigong exercises.
 
Training required: The current Chinese medical degree (CMD) education system is based on a system that dates back thousand's of years. It usually takes 6 years of systematic, rigorous, and comprehensive study, training, and practice to obtain a CMD degree in China.  The CMD degree is the official medical degree required by China Ministry of Health to practice Chinese Herbal Medicine (CHM) in China.  A physician holding a CMD degree is qualified to practice full spectrum CHM ranging from diagnoses to treatments of all diseases.  These days there are several TCM schools available in the United States as well.

We look forward to bringing you more details on each of these various paths of medicine, including the challenges that each path may face.  If you have had experience working with or as any of these medical professionals, we highly encourage you to share your thoughts or observations.  Stay tuned!