Training and Education

Naturopathic physicians (NDs) are licensed in the state of Oregon as primary care providers. All licensed NDs have completed a 4-year in-residence program and have passed two sets of medical board exams. NDs can diagnose illness, prescribe medicine, order labs and imaging, and work in collaboration with medical practitioners including conventional medical primary care providers and specialists and other allied health professionals.

Naturopathic Medicine

Naturopathic physicians (NDs) are trained in primary care medicine. Dr. Menk Otto uses the appropriate medical science to treat each patient individually using a combination of therapies, both conventional and complementary to achieve treatment aims. The focus of treatment is to treat the source of illness while attending to contributors to illness and barriers to health. Treatment plans are tailored to the unique circumstances, preferences, and life demands of each patient.

The principles of Naturopathic Medicine are as follows:

1. Identify and treat the cause: Attempt to identify and treat the cause of illness or symptoms rather than focusing the treatment solely on the removal of a symptom.
2. First do no harm: Appropriate treatments with the lowest risk profile are typically favored when appropriate.
3. Doctor as teacher: Empowered and informed patients are their own best advocate.
4. Treat the whole person: the person is an integrated whole system. Mental, emotional, and social as well as physical factors are considered during assessment and treatment.
5. Prevention: Prevention of disease and/or disease progression is the ideal outcome, which facilitates healthy productive years and a sense of well-being. Individual modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors are addressed as part of care.