Syllabus For Licensing Examination of  MD Clinical Naturopathy -NHPC NEPAL

This is a Syllabus for Licensing Examination of MD Clinical Naturopathy released on 2023 by Nepal Health Professional Council Bansari, Kathmandu 

Table of Content

 1. Philosophy & Practice of Naturopathy 

•  History & evolution of therapies used in naturopathy. 
•  Principles of Naturopathy.  
•  The concepts of health & disease according to naturopathy 
•  Innate healing and heath realization.  
•  Concept of drugless therapies and their relevance in healthcare. 
•  Principles of health promotion and disease prevention. 
•  The curative aspects of diseases and quality of life in naturopathy. 
•  Relevance of naturopathic approach in the prevention and management of stress related disorders. 
•  Relevance of naturopathic approach in the prevention and management of lifestyle related disorders. 
•  Relationship between naturopathy and spirituality 
•  Influence of demographic, cultural, socioeconomic, environmental &occupational factors on health according to naturopathy. 
•  The integration of natural living based on naturopathy in public health and its’ cost effectiveness in sustainable health care.  

2. Physiological Basis & Clinical Relevance of Natural Therapies: 

Unit1 Fasting Therapy  

•  Introduction 
•  Types of fasting  
•  Methods of fasting  
•  Physiological effect of fasting therapy on human system and systemic diseases Effect of fasting in immune system, cardiovascular system, gastrointestinal system, brain, blood picture 
•  Autophagy  
•  Indication, Contraindication, precautions,  
•  Modern and recent researches  

Unit 2 Modern Nutrition and dietetics  

•  Introduction 
•  Carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, enzymes, vitamins and minerals, water 
•  Digestion, absorptions, transport, assimilation, metabolism and elimination of nutrients and metabolic waste products  
•  Types, Classifications, Composition and nutritive values, processing of 
•  Cereals, pulses, milk and milk products, vegetables and fruits, oils, dry fruits, 

Unit 3 Naturopathic diet, nutrition and dietetics  

•  Introduction, Philosophy and Concepts of Naturopathic diet  
•  Types and Classification of naturopathic diet 
•  Physiological effects of naturopathic diet 
•  Mucus generating diet, mucolytic diet
•  Nervous stimulating and calming diet 

•  Dietgutbrain axis 
•  Diet gut lung axis 
•  Dietgutskin axis 
•  Diet gut immune axis 
•  Science of food combination 
•  Clinical applications 
•  Prebiotic and Probiotics 
•  Recent Advances in human nutrition 
•  Nutritional regulation of gene expressions, epigenetics 
•  and nutrigenomics 
•  Therapeutics diet 

Unit 4 Hydrotherapy  

•  Introduction 
•  Physiological effect of hydrotherapy on human system and systemic diseases
•  Clinical applications of different treatment methods of hydrotherapy 
•  Recent advancement in hydrotherapy 

Unit5 Manipulative therapies [massage therapy; Chiropractic; Osteopathy & physical therapy] 

•  Introduction 
•  Physiological effect of manipulative therapies on human system 
•  and systemic diseases  
•  Clinical applications of different treatment methods of manipulations  
•  Recent advancement in manipulation therapies  

Unit6 Acupuncture, moxibustion, cupping and Acupressure 

•  Introduction 
•  Physiological effect of acupuncture, moxibustion, cupping and acupressure therapies on human system 
•  Clinical applications of acupuncture, moxibustion, cupping and acupressure in systemic diseases 
•  Recent advancements in acupuncture, moxibustion, cupping and acupressure

Unit7 Color therapy & magnet therapy  

•  Introduction 
•  Physiological effect of Color therapy & magnet therapy on human system and systemic diseases  

Unit8 Energy medicine  

Unit9 Health/Clinical psychology and Counseling

3. Clinical applications and underlying mechanisms for the individual and combinations of treatments used in naturopathy.  

Unit1 The disease specific naturopathic treatments strategies are evolved based on  

•  Historical use of natural therapies, 
•  Available physiological effects of individual therapies 
•  Clinical observations 

Unit2 Applied Basic Medical Sciences Relevant to Naturopathy marks 

• Applied anatomy related to advancement in understanding the physiological effects of natural therapies. 
• Applied physiology related to advancement in understanding the physiological effects of natural therapies. 
• Applied Biochemistry related to advancement in understanding the physiological effects of natural therapies. 
• Physiological basis for symptomatology and diagnostic procedures used in naturopathy i.e. facial diagnosis, Iris diagnosis, Chromo diagnosis. 
• Microbiology related to advancement in understanding of pathos physiology and pathogenesis relevant to the concepts of health and disease in naturopathy
• Pathology related to advancement in understanding of pathos physiology and pathogenesis relevant to the concepts of health and disease in naturopathy 

Unit3 Clinical Pharmacology 

•  Introduction to principles of drug therapy 
•  Adverse reactions to drugs 
•  Physiology and pharmacology of the autonomic nervous system 
•  Nitric oxide and its’ biologic and medical implications. 
•  Analgesics, Antibiotics, antihypertensives, Hypoglycemics, Diuretics, antipyretics, anthelminthics, tranquilizers, antipsychotic, Anticoagulants  
•  Required knowledge to handle patients who are on conventional medication s while offering naturopathic treatments 

4. Diagnosis Using Conventional Medicine & naturopathy and the naturopathic treatment for the disorders 

Unit 1 Disorders of the cardiovascular system  

•  Dyspnea, cough, 
•  Approach to the patient with a history of stable or unstable angina, 
•  Approach to the patient with hypertension; cyanosis; edema; shock. 
•  Diagnosis and approach to the patient with heart disease physical examination of the cardiovascular system.  
•  Knowledge about conventional treatments. 
• Disorders of the heart; normal and abnormal myocardial functions, heart failure; congenital heart disease in the adult, rheumatic fever, vascular heart disease, corn pulmonale; cardiomyopathies; myocarditis; pericardial disease; cardiac manifestations of systemic diseases.  
•  Vascular disease; atherosclerosis; acute myocardial infarction; ischemic heart disease; hypertensive vascular disease; vascular diseases of the extremities.  
• Cardiac rehabilitation 

Unit2 Disorders of the respiratory system  

•  Diagnosis and approach to the patient with disease of the respiratory system.  Knowledge about conventional treatments. 
•  Disturbances of respiratory system; disturbances of respiratory functions. 
•  Disease of the respiratory system; bronchial asthma; chronic bronchitis. 
•  COPD; emphysema and airway obstruction; disorders of ventilation;  
•  sleep apnea; acute respiratory distress syndrome  
•  Pulmonary rehabilitation  

Unit3 Disorders of the kidney and urinary tract  

•  Alterations In Urinary Functions and Electrolytes;  
•  cardinal manifestations of renal disease; voiding dysfunction, incontinence and bladder pain;  
•  fluid and electrolyte disturbances; acidosis and alkalosis.  
•  Alterations In Thermogenetic Tract: impotence; disturbances of menstruation and other common gynecologic complaints in women.  
•  Approach to the patient with diseases of the kidneys and urinary tract. Knowledge about conventional treatment. Disturbances of renal function, acute renal failure and chronic renal failure.  

 Unit4 Disorders of the gastrointestinal system  

•  Alterations In Gastrointestinal Functions: dysphagia, nausea, vomiting and indigestion; diarrhea and constipation; gastrointestinal bleeding; jaundice abdominal swelling; ascites. 
•  Approach to the patient with gastrointestinal disease.  
•  Knowledge about conventional treatments  
•  Diseases of the esophagus; peptic ulcer and related disorders, disorders of absorption; IBS; ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease.  
•  Liver and biliary tract disease; 
•  approach to the patient with liver disease;  
•  evaluation of liver function;  
•  derangements of hepatic metabolism;  
•  bilirubin metabolism and hyperbilirubinemia; 
•  toxin and drug induced hepatitis; chronic hepatitis; 
•  cirrhosis and alcoholic liver disease;  
•  infiltrative and metabolic disease affecting the liver; 
•  disease of the gall bladder and the bile ducts. 

Unit5 Disorders of the pancreas 

•  acute and chronic pancreatitis.  

Unit6 Disorders of the immune system, connective tissue and joints  

•  Hematological alterations anemia; bleeding and thrombosis; enlargement
•  of lymph nodes and spleen. Pain pathophysiology and management chest discomfort and palpitation abdominal pain headache, back and neck pain  
•  Approach to the patient with the disorders of immune system, connective tissue and joints. Knowledge about conventional treatments 
•  Disorders of the immune system Introduction to immune system, 
•  Major history compatibility, primary immune deficiency disease; HIV disease; AIDS and related disorders;  Amyloidosis.  
• Disorders of immune mediated injury diseases of immediate type hypersensitivity; systemic lupus erythematosus; rheumatoid arthritis; derma to myositis and polymyositis; Sjogren’s syndrome; ankylosing spondylitis; undifferentiated spondyloarthropathy; Bechet’s syndrome the vasculitis syndromes sarcoidosis.  

Unit7 Disorders of the joints approach to articular and musculoskeletal disorders; 

•  Osteoarthritis; arthritis due to deposition of calcium crystals, 
•  Infectious arthritis;  
•  Psoriatic arthritis  
•  Arthritis associated with gastrointestinal diseases 
•  Relapsing polychondritis and other arthritis. 

Unit8 Endocrinology and metabolism  

•  Alterations in body temperature; 
•  fever and hyperthermia; 
•  fever and rash; hypothermia.  
•  Endocrinology approach to the patient with endocrine and metabolic disorders Knowledge about conventional treatments.  
•  Obesity, anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa; 
•  Enteral and Parenteral nutritional therapy; 
•  vitamin deficiency and excess disturbance in trace elements  
•  Neuroendocrine regulation and diseases of the anterior pituitary and hypothalamus; 
•  diseases of the thyroid; diseases of the adrenal cortex; pheochromocytoma; diabetes mellitus; hypoglycemia; disorders of the testes, ovary and female reproductive tract; endocrine disorders of the breast; disorders affecting multiple endocrine systems. 
•  Disorders of intermediary metabolism disorders of lipoprotein metabolism, hemochromatosis; porphyrins; gout and other disorders of purine metabolism. 
•  Disorders of bone and mineral metabolism calcium, phosphorus, bone metabolism; calcium regulating hormones; diseases of the parathyroid glands; metabolic bone disease; disorders of phosphorus metabolism 

Unit9 Neurological disorders  

•  Nervous System Dysfunction: faintness, syncope, dizziness, vertigo; 
•  weakness, abnormal movements and imbalance;  
•  episodic muscle spasms, cramps and weakness; 
•  numbness, tingling and sensory loss, acute confusional states; 
•  aphasia and other focal cerebral disorders;  
•  memory loss and dementia; disorders of sleep and circadian rhythms. 
•  Approach to the Patient with Neurologic Disease. Knowledge about conventional treatments.  
•  Electrophysiologic studies of the central and peripheral nervous systems; euro imaging in neurological disorders.  
•  Diseases Of the Central Nervous System migraine and cluster headache syndromes; seizures and epilepsy; Alzheimer’s disease and other primary dementias; Parkinson’s disease and other extra pyramidal disorders; ataxic disorders; disorders of ANS:  disorders of cranial nerves;  
•  diseases of spinal cord. gravis, muscular dystrophy and other diseases of neuromuscular junction; diseases of muscle. Chronic fatigue syndrome; Alcoholism and drug dependency alcohol and alcoholism opioid dig abuse independence.
•  Neurological rehabilitation. 

Unit10 Dermatological disorders 

•  Alterations in the skin approach to the patient with skin disorders. 
•  Approach to the patient with dermatological diseases. Knowledge about; Alterations in the skin approach to the patient with skin disorders. conventional treatments. Eczema; Psoriasis; Acne vulgaris, allergic dermatitis; other common skin; disorders; skin manifestations of internal disease. 

Unit11 Psychiatric disorders  

•  Approach to the patient with psychiatric disease. Knowledge about conventional treatments.  
•  Anxiety neurosis; depression; obsessive compulsive disorders, manic depressive psychosis; bipolar disorders; mood disorders; personality disorders; psychosis. 
•  Psychiatric rehabilitation  

Unit12 Oncology  

•  Approach to the patient with cancer. Knowledge about the conventional treatments.   Psychosocial factors in the etiology and pathogenesis of cancer  
•  Benign and malignant carcinomas, knowledge about congenital diagnostic procedures, radio therapy and chemotherapy  
•  Disorders Of the Nerves and Muscles diseases of the peripheral nervous system; myasthenia 
•  Principles and practice of integrative oncology i.e., use of congenital. and natural management strategies and psych social care in oncology.  
•  Psychosocial rehabilitation 

Unit13 Obstetrics and Gynecology  

 Approach to the patient with pregnancy. Knowledge about conventional care 

•  Antenatal care; maintenance of normal pregnancy, child birth, postnatal care Approach to the patient with gynecological complaints. Knowledge about conventional care.  
•  Menstrual disturbances, Infertility; Uterine diseases; Ovarian diseases; Pelvic tumors. Family planning procedures.  

1. Disorders of the eyes, ears, nose and throat 

•  Approach to the patient with ENT disorders. Knowledge treatments  
•  Disorders of the eye, disorders of nose, ears and throat.  

5. Nutraceuticals and Natural Herbs in Health and Disease 

Unit1 Nutraceuticals 

•  Critical evaluation of dietary requirements;  
•  Vegetarianism and its impact on health and disease,  
•  Rational use of Dietary supplements;  
•  Vitamin A 
•  Beta carotene  
•  Vitamin B complex 
•  Vitamin C 
•  Vitamin D 
•  Vitamin E 
•  Coenzyme Q 
•  Serotonin 
•  Melatonin  
•  Alpha Lipoic Acid 
•  Selenium  
•  Zinc  
•  Magnesium 
•  Calcium  
•  Biotin  
•  Chamomile tea 
•  Grapeseed extract  
•  Lycopene  
•  Glutathione  
•  Inulin 
•  Omega3 fatty Acid 
•  Spirulina,  
•  Ganoderma Lucifer 
•  Cordyceps,  
•  Panax ginseng,  
•  Marinda Centifolia
•  Curcumin  
•  Resveratrol  
•  Glucosamine  
•  Flax seeds  
•  Chia seeds  
•  Aloe vera 
•  Green Tea  
•  And others 

Unit2 Clinical implications of commonly used natural herbs from all cultures and traditions.  

•  Aloe vera 
•  India Gooseberry 
•  Zingiber officinale  
•  Curcuma longa 
•  Allium Sativum 
•  Ocium Tenuiflorom 
•  Wheat grass 
•  Lemon grass 
•  Withania somnifera 
•  Peppermint  
•  Fenugreek  
•  Licorice root  
•  Azadirachta Indica 
•  Asafoetida 
•  Clove  
•  Cinnamon 
•  Cardamon  
•  Cumin seeds  
•  Coriander 
•  Black pepper  
•  Fennel seeds  
•  Garlic  
•  Cinnamonumtamala (Bay leaf) 
•  And others  
• 6. Environmental and occupational health hazards 
•  Specific environmental and occupational hazards related to  
•  Food products,  
•  Cosmetics,  
•  Drugs, and  
•  Indoor and outdoor living environment, work environment and ergonomics 

7. Research methodology 

Unit1 Research methodology 

•  Introduction to research methodology – definition of research, types of research, need for Yoga research; The research process  
•  Literature review – Purpose, Process, digital source: PubMed, etc., presentation of literature review 
•  Ethics of research – Laboratory ethics, Publication ethics, Ethical bodies – IEC & IRB, Guidelines for good clinical practice 
•  Scales of measurement – nominal, ordinal, interval, ratio 
•  Data collection methods: Observation, Interview, psychological tests, questionnaire, physiological tests, and archive 

Unit2 Research Methodology Concepts –II 

 Sampling methods Population and Sample; Simple Random  

•  Sampling, Systematic Sampling, Stratified Sampling, Cluster Sampling
•  Methods of controlling biases –Randomization 
•  Types of variables – Independent, dependent, confounding variable 
•  Types of research design – Experimental designs, cross sectional design, Case study, Survey  
•  Reliability: Test-Retest Reliability, Internal Consistency, Inter rater Reliability
•  Validity: Construct Validity, Face Validity, Content Validity, Criterion Validity, Convergent and Discriminant Validity Issues of bias and confounding 
•  Selection bias, Recall bias, Observer or measurement bias, Publication bias 
•  Randomization, Matching, Crossover design, Restriction (or blocking), Stratification 

Unit3 Statistical Concepts I  

•  Descriptive statistics 
•  Inferential statistics 
•  Hypothesis, null hypothesis 
•  Statistics and Parameters 
•  Sample and Population 
•  Generalization 
•  One tailed, two tailed hypotheses 
•  Types of Errors and its control 
•  Central Limit Theorem 

Unit4 Statistical Concepts II 

•  Point estimate and interval estimate 
•  Power analysis: Effect size, sample size 
•  value 
•  Confidence interval 
•  Statistical tests and design 
•  Assumptions of tests 
•  Statistical tests for various designs: Correlation, proportions, 
•  paired sample and independent sample tests, Chi-square tests 
•  ANOVA, Repeated Measures ANOVA, parametric and nonparametric tests 

8 Recent advances in naturopathy 

•  Psycho neuro immunology [PNI] and psycho neuro endocrinology explaining the mindbody connection in disease and health  
•  Psychophysiology of biological rhythms, emotions, behavior and aging 
•  Stress and its impact on health and disease:  
•  Physiological mechanisms underlying ‘stress response’.  
• Psychometrics and psychometric medicine role of human thinking,
  •  behavior and life style in the etiology, pathogenesis, clinical  
  •  manifestations and management of noncommunicable lifestyle  
  •  related diseases.  
• Lifestyle and psychosocial behavior health education and natural
  •  medicine in prevention in high-risk groups, effective management of 
  •  chronic lifestyle related diseases and minimization of subsequent  
  •  medical complications. 
•  Inherent healing capacities and natural therapies;  
•  concept of spontaneous regression,  
•  role of positive thinking, health behavior and natural therapies in spontaneous regression 
• clinical implications of natural therapies in eliciting inherent healing capacities.   Natural and holistic medicine integrating the physical, psychological,
  •  mental, social and spiritual needs of an individual in promotion of  
  •  positive health, prevention of diseases and disabilities, management 
  •  of diseases and overall improvement in ‘quality of life’.  
•  Advances in therapies used in Naturopathy  
•  Advances in medical & psychiatric rehabilitation. 
•  Integrative medicine.