Clinical nutritional medicine

Historically, clinical nutritional medicine may be considered a more contemporary discipline to naturopathic medicine. However, its role and importance in human health has continually been made evident in scientific research.

What is clinical nutritional medicine?

Clinical nutritional medicine refers to clinical nutritional therapeutics in the form of specific or blended nutrients in tablets, capsules, powdered forms, and some liquid forms. This includes the use of minerals, vitamins, and some food-based extracts. Using nutritional medicine in the naturopathic scope of practice can address specific vitamin or mineral deficiencies, a particular aspect of a patient’s health or disease, or a general approach to increasing patient wellness.

Clinical nutritional medicine in naturopathic care

Clinical nutritional medicine is a core discipline in naturopathic care and is fundamental in the function of the human body and aligns with the naturopathic principle identify and treat the cause – Tolle causam Schloss et al., 2021. Naturopaths can prescribe a range of clinical nutritional medicines including vitamin C, essential fatty acids, and specific amino acids and other nutrients that are essential to the fundamental functioning of the human body – known as Biochemistry. By using clinical nutritional medicine in clinical care, naturopaths can tailor an individual approach to the patient’s needs. Like botanical medicine, naturopaths can use clinical nutritional medicine to address specific disease pathways or prevent the occurrence of a nutrient deficiency that could impact a patient’s quality of life or contribute to disease development and onset. A very common nutritional deficiency is iron anaemia where individuals may not be able to absorb or store iron which results in a reduction in oxygen in the blood and can cause fatigue and other symptoms. Naturopaths can discern the use of iron in this example, including what form to take, how long to take iron for, and if there are other nutrients that can support the absorption of iron such as Vitamin C.