Here at BrandHive, some of our favorite people are Naturopathic Doctors (NDs).

That’s why (while we are generally less-than-enthusiastic about the goings-on of our Congressional representatives) we are positively stoked about the recent unanimous U.S. Senate resolution that designates Oct. 7-13 as Naturopathic Medicine Week.

Passage of this resolution is historic. That’s because this is the first time Congress has recognized the ability of naturopathic physicians to provide safe, effective and affordable health care. Not to mention the fact that the nation’s 4,400 licensed NDs help address the nation’s pressing shortage of primary care physicians.

NDs are trained to look at the whole patient and to focus on underlying causes, not just a list of symptoms. They emphasize prevention and ongoing wellness. They also tend to spend more time with each patient, educating and guiding them on ways to take charge of their health. Having graduated from an accredited 4-year naturopathic medical school, NDs treat a full range of illnesses.

BrandHive’s work with clients who provide products and services to Healthcare Practitioners have given us a “front row seat” to many dramatic stories of transformation. Routinely NDs help their patients manage chronic pain, avoid major surgery, and assess and address the source of illness. Their ability to reduce suffering and return a patient to wellness is truly impressive and admirable.

Next time you seek treatment that includes prescription drugs or surgery, consider a second opinion from an ND.  Not only will you get the expertise of a doctor level physician, but you might also learn about treatments that are less invasive and less expensive than conventional drugs and surgery. And a bonus: Effective in January 2014, health insurance plans are required to include and reimburse NDs in health insurance plans.

So this week we tip our hats to Naturopathic Doctors. At a time when the average American consumer fills 12 prescriptions per year, NDs epitomize the wisdom that “less is more” and “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” Thank you, NDs!

Naturopathic Doctors (NDs) are notoriously passionate about nutrition and good health, as demonstrated by this BrandHive client.