Recently, naturopathic doctors from all over the United States came together for the first naturopathic conference hosted by the Naturopathic Medicine Institute (NMI), on Vitalism.

Vitalism, as defined by Taber’s Medical Dictionary

the opinion that a force neither chemical nor mechanical is responsible for the phenomenon of life.

The conference discussed and elaborated, in detail, how this fundamental belief defines the paradigm from which naturopathy operates and the importance of naturopathic philosophical thinking. This conference was the first of a series of conferences that are aimed to provide Vitalistic training for naturopathic physicians who want to expand their knowledge and use of nature cure techniques to facilitate the healing process.

Vitalist Training

Jim Sensenig, ND, from Connecticut, with over 35 years of clinical experience in Vitalistic philosophy, facilitated most of conference. He is one of the many well versed Naturopathic Doctors that champion a paradigm of medicine which asserts that the body is always attempting to bring itself back into balance.

The conference boasted an attendance of well over a hundred doctors and students, who are looking to gain the expertise of Vitalist training (it was sold out, and the building was at capacity). This way of approaching medicine, and healing, is an integral, historical and necessary component of naturopathy. NMI has a deep desire to provide this education as post-doctoral fellowship programs, online training modules, and conferences. They have begun a wonderful interview series called the Vital Conversations, which are weekly talks with elder docs who have been in practice for decades using Vitalist medicine. The next conference, which will have a clinical, experiential/training focus, will be held sometime in October, and more details will be coming on their website.

Naturopathic Medicine Institute

Node Smith, associate editor for NDNR, is a fifth year naturopathic medical student at NUNM, where he has been instrumental in maintaining a firm connection to the philosophy and heritage of naturopathic medicine amongst the next generation of docs. He helped found the first multi-generational experiential retreat, which brings elders, alumni, and students together for a weekend campout where naturopathic medicine and medical philosophy are experienced in nature. Three years ago he helped found the non-profit, Association for Naturopathic ReVitalization (ANR), for which he serves as the board chairman. ANR has a mission to inspire health practitioners to embody the naturopathic principles through experiential education. Node also has a firm belief that the next era of naturopathic medicine will see a resurgence of in-patient facilities which use fasting, earthing, hydrotherapy and homeopathy to bring people back from chronic diseases of modern living; he is involved in numerous conversations and projects to bring about this vision.