A study done at the University of Central Florida shows that children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) may actually learn best when they are moving. According to the study recently published in the Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, movements such as foot-tapping and leg-swinging help the children to work out complex cognitive tasks. This goes against the prevailing approach that children with ADHD must learn how to sit still in order to fit into a traditional classroom setting. You can read more about this topic on the Science Daily blog.
A Look at Naturopathic Education
I find that many people are surprised that Naturopathic Doctors go through a full four years of medical training. Although there are many differences between Naturopathic and Medical Doctors, our basic education is actually very similar. Naturopathic Doctors go through thousands of hours of basic sciences, medical sciences, and clinical training, along with extra training in nutrition, herbal medicine, and homeopathy, all so that we can provide the best possible care for our patients.
The charts below compare the clinical and basic science educations of various practitioners. number of educational hours students receive at various accredited naturopathic and medical colleges. It also compares the differences in education of Naturopathic Doctors who attend accredited medical schools and unlicensed naturopaths who attend two-year vocational schools. There are currently six accredited naturopathic colleges in the U.S. and two in Canada. In states that do not license and regulate naturopaths, the difference can be quite confusing! If you live in a state that does not currently license naturopathic medicine and you are in doubt, you can always ask your naturopath about their education and credentials.
You can also find listings of licensed Naturopathic Doctors in your area by checking out the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians. If you would like to see Naturopathic Doctors licensed in your state, write your legislators and let them know this is an important issue to you.
Here’s how the schools measure up:
Dr. Cori Burke 