Differences are primarily philosophical

Both are doctors, both provide primary care and both are similarly trained.The primary differences between naturopathic and conventional medicine are the philosophical approach and the therapies used.

Naturopathic medicine understands symptoms as an attempt of the body to heal itself.

Naturopathic medicine is founded on the understanding that the body has an innate healing mechanism, which, if properly supported, will allow the organisms to heal. Simultaneously, symptoms are seem as an attempt of the organism to restore balance and are therefor meaningful and not just to be suppressed.

Conventional medicine controls and suppresses symptoms

Conventional medicine generally considers the symptom to be a problem to be controlled or managed, primarily with drugs, and the idea of innate healing ability of the organism is not something that is part of allopathic/conventional medicine.

NDs treat individuals

Naturopathic doctors (NDs) treat patients as individuals by addressing the physical, environmental, lifestyle, attitudinal, and emotional aspects of health. This allows Naturopathic doctors to find and treat the cause of the disease using natural, non-invasive therapies.

MDs treat disease

Allopathic doctors generally do not treat the individual, but rather the disease. Patients with certain diseases are given specific drugs, such as anti-hypertensive, anti-depressants, anti-inflammatories - notice the 'anti' prefix, etc. and rarely if ever are issues such as lifestyle, nutritional, emotional and other factors addressed, which may be causing the person's health problem.

Inherent limitations of the conventional system

By and large this is not the fault of the doctors, but an aspect of a medical system founded on reductionistic principles which considers the body to be something like a complex machine. Medical doctors are also confined by a system which only pays them between $17.00 and $30.00 for a standard appointment, forcing many of them to see as many as 40-60 patients a day just to make ends meet financially.

The luxury of time

Naturopathic doctors have the luxury of being paid by the hour which allows for more time in getting to know the whole person as well as educating him or her regarding their health.

Many medical doctors are just as frustrated by the limitations of the regular health care system as their patients and deserve admiration, understanding and compassion in trying to work within a system which is very limiting to both them and their patients.