Educate. Empower. Transform.


The Institute for Natural Medicine was established in 1992 as a philanthropic foundation serving the profession of natural medicine. When the INM was founded, naturopathic physicians were licensed in only seven states. Now, over twenty states and territories license naturopathic doctors.

Today, our efforts are focused on public education and connecting patients to licensed NDs in their region. Since its founding, the INM has served the natural medicine world in many ways. We have:

  • Launched the Association of Accredited Naturopathic Medical Colleges

  • Supported ongoing public education efforts

  • Played a key role in obtaining licensure for naturopathic physicians in California

  • Funded graduating natural medicine students in studies that advance the profession (through the Dr. John Bastyr Sunshine Fund Clinical Investigator Research Fellowships)

Our long-term vision includes supporting extended clinical studies that compare natural medical care to mainstream medical treatments in specific populations with specific health conditions. We plan to widely broadcast the results of such studies to advance public education about the efficacy of natural medicine.

Recently, the INM and the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians (AANP) have joined forces to strengthen our efforts. Together, we hope to support a wider variety of activities related to public education, access to natural medical care, and research.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

The Institute for Natural Medicine (INM) recognizes that human health entails a complex set of factors that span physical, mental, emotional, cultural, and socioeconomic realities. Each person possesses intersecting identities based on, but not limited to, their age, racial, ethnic, religious, sexual, gender, socioeconomic and physical dis/abilities. Patient needs as connected to these factors and identities must be considered in the pursuit of fostering wellness. To provide comprehensive health care that addresses all these factors, practitioners strive to be cognizant of how these factors interact with one another. This means addressing intersecting identities with their patients and prescribing treatments that honor the traditions and life ways of their patients.

As advocates for holistic, naturopathic health care, we know that our work must contribute to an environment of equitable access for all. That means ensuring that all patients have the opportunity to see themselves reflected in the educational materials that we develop, that we consider varying needs for accessibility in disseminating our materials, and that we maintain a critical eye that unwaveringly considers how we can positively impact health equity through our work educating the public, increasing access to licensed NDs, and growing the body of research about naturopathic medicine.

 

Learn More About Us!

The Institute for Natural Medicine’s premier natural medicine public education website here, provides a wealth of information about us and our work.

Support the work of the Institute for Natural Medicine today and cultivate a happier, healthier future
through the growth and development of naturopathic medicine.

 
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The Institute for Natural Medicine is recognized as tax-exempt under IRS section 501(c)(3), which makes your gift to us tax deductible.

If you are considering a gift for furthering one of our sponsored projects, as required by federal tax law, we must inform you that once your donation has been processed, the gift is “complete” to the Institute for Natural Medicine.  In other words, it becomes the property of the Institute for Natural Medicine with exclusive legal control over the donated funds.  We make a good faith effort to honor a donor’s intent and utilize a gift for the purposes of the project named, however, the Institute for Natural Medicine reserves the right to re-grant gifts where, in our sole discretion, the recommended project is not furthering specified charitable purposes or when, for example, such project falls out of compliance with a federal or state regulatory authority.  If the Institute for Natural Medicine cannot re-grant a donation to or for the purposes of a project that you have recommended, the Institute for Natural Medicine may in its sole discretion select an alternate recipient, expend the funds in furtherance of the intended charitable purpose itself, or contact you for a different recommendation. Please reach out to info@naturemed.org for more information on donating to INM's sponsored projects.