Dr. Celisha Gerber​,ND, LAc

The credential “ND” held by Dr. Celisha Gerber, ND, LAc, signifies that she holds a doctorate in naturopathy. In order to acquire this, one must attend one of the seven nationally accredited naturopathic medical schools in North America, pass a national exam, and comply with the required continuing education for the state in which the license is held. Dr. Gerber is a licensed ND by the state of Oregon, where the scope of practice includes prescriptive rights of certain medications, minor surgery, manual manipulation of the spine and extremities, homeopathy, nutrition, herbal medicine, hydrotherapy, the ordering of labs and imaging for the purpose of diagnosis, and more. 

 

Read more about Naturopathy: 

(taken from the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians website)

 

Naturopathic medicine is a distinct primary health care profession, emphasizing prevention, treatment, and optimal health through the use of therapeutic methods and substances that encourage individuals’ inherent self-healing process.  The practice of naturopathic medicine includes modern and traditional, scientific, and empirical methods.
 

The following principles are the foundation of naturopathic medical practice:

 

• The Healing Power of Nature (Vis Medicatrix Naturae): Naturopathic medicine recognizes an inherent self-healing process in people that is ordered and intelligent. Naturopathic physicians act to identify and remove obstacles to healing and recovery, and to facilitate and augment this inherent self-healing process.

• Identify and Treat the Causes (ToIle Causam): The naturopathic physician seeks to identify and remove the underlying causes of illness rather than to merely eliminate or suppress symptoms. 

• First Do No Harm (Primum Non Nocere): Naturopathic physicians follow three guidelines to avoid harming the patient

  • Utilize methods and medicinal substances which minimize the risk of harmful side effects, using the least force necessary to diagnose and treat; 

  • Avoid when possible the harmful suppression of symptoms; and

  • Acknowledge, respect, and work with individuals’ self-healing process. 

• Doctor as Teacher (Docere): Naturopathic physicians educate their patients and encourage self-responsibility for health. They also recognize and employ the therapeutic potential of the doctor-patient relationship. 

• Treat the Whole Person: Naturopathic physicians treat each patient by taking into account individual physical, mental, emotional, genetic, environmental, social, and other factors. Since total health also includes spiritual health, naturopathic physicians encourage individuals to pursue their personal spiritual development. 

• Prevention: Naturopathic physicians emphasize the prevention of disease by assessing risk factors, heredity and susceptibility to disease, and by making appropriate interventions in partnership with their patients to prevent illness.

 

Naturopathic physicians combine the wisdom of nature with the rigors of modern science. Steeped in traditional healing methods, principles and practices, naturopathic medicine focuses on holistic, proactive prevention and comprehensive diagnosis and treatment. By using protocols that minimize the risk of harm, naturopathic physicians help facilitate the body’s inherent ability to restore and maintain optimal health. It is the naturopathic physician’s role to identify and remove barriers to good health by helping to create a healing internal and external environment.

Besides taking the time to carefully and fully assess a patient’s root problem, NDs speak and understand the language of conventional medicine. They can diagnose the way MDs do—yet, they bring to the patient a whole new arsenal of treatments and insights. Instead of waiting for a disease to emerge, NDs work to head it off before it happens.

 

Currently, 23 states, the District of Columbia, and the United States territories of Puerto Rico and the United States Virgin Islands have licensing for naturopathic doctors. In these states, naturopathic doctors are required to graduate from an accredited four-year residential naturopathic medical school and pass an extensive postdoctoral board examination (NPLEX) in order to receive a license.

Licensed naturopathic physicians must fulfill state-mandated continuing education requirements annually, and will have a specific scope of practice defined by their state's law. The states that currently have licensing laws for naturopathic physicians are:

 

• Alaska

• Arizona

• California

• Colorado

• Connecticut

• District of Columbia

• Hawaii

• Idaho

• Kansas

• Maine

• Maryland

• Massachusetts

• Minnesota

• Montana

• New Hampshire

• New Mexico

• North Dakota

• Oregon

• Pennsylvania

• Rhode Island

• Utah

• Vermont

• Washington

• Wisconsin

• Puerto Rico

• Virgin Islands