The holder of the Swiss Federal Diploma of naturopath in Ayurveda medicine carries out a medical evaluation and ensures that the therapeutic tools of alternative medicine can be implemented effectively without endangering health. He/she treats patients for both acute and chronic illnesses, follows and accompanies them through the different phases of illness and health. He/she also assesses the case submitted from the point of view of his/her competence and duties and refers patients to doctors and other specialists for further investigations, therapies or measures.

Fundamental knowledge of natural sciences

• Important basic chemical processes: understanding life processes (physiological and biological)
• Study of the most important organic and inorganic compounds for the human organism functions (Fe, O2, acids/bases, redox, etc.).

Fundamental medical knowledge: biology, anatomy, physiology

• Fundamental medical knowledge: biology, anatomy, physiology
• Human anatomy and physiology: The integrated structure and functions of the body as a whole and of all body systems
• Psychology and phases of human development: mental, emotional and physical development in the different phases and stages of life; links and interactions between the psyche and the body; growth and crisis control; learning and memory.
• Terminology: use of common medical terminology

Fundamental medical knowledge: pathology
General pathological processes of the organism

• Pathology, pathophysiology, functional disorders
• Study of human diseases with their differential diagnoses and therapeutic concepts of modern medicine
• Trauma, after-effects of accidents
  
  

Psychopathologies

• Psychopathologies and significant developmental disorders

Medical and clinical examinations

• Modern medicine examination measures and their conclusions
• Imaging methods (knowing the basic information provided by X-rays, CT-scans, MRIs and ultrasounds, without performing, analyzing or interpreting them)
• Blood tests (haematology, blood chemistry, immunology, know the importance and consequences of the main anomalies)
• Know the clinical examination measures, their relevance and conclusions for a medical assessment in one's own consultation

Emergency medical measures

• First Aid and Emergency Preparedness (acc. to Level 1 and 2 of the CRS First Aid Course, including DAE employment)
• Vital first steps (taken on site before a patient can be transferred or seen by an emergency physician) in case of respiratory arrest, cardiovascular failure, burning, hemorrhage, epilepsy, diabetic decompensation, thermal emergency, shock, intoxication, drug side effects, drug abuse
• Know (but not practice) conventional medical strategies and emergency treatment concepts
  
  

Pharmacologie

• To know (without practicing them oneself) the fundamental concepts of pharmacological medicine (general pharmacology)
• Mechanisms of action and side effects of important drugs in conventional drug therapy
  
  

Placebo and nocebo effects

Epidemiology

• Epidemiological concepts, objectives and legislation
• The therapist's activity in the epidemiological context
• Vaccine strategies
  
  

Hygiene and anti-infectious protection

• Principles of hygiene and protection against infections
• Disinfection and sterilization measures

Referral to other specialists

• Indications and framework conditions: general possibilities, conditions and circumstances in which it is necessary to refer the patient to other specialists or organisations
  
  

Therapeutic Concepts

• Basic concepts of modern medicine treatments: fundamental mode of action and possible effects on overall health (pharmacotherapy, surgery, physiotherapy, psychotherapy, etc.)
• Basic concepts of the therapeutic systems of alternative medicine: basic concepts and their modes of action (ayurveda, homeopathy, TCM and acupuncture, NTE, bioenergetics)
• Basic Concepts of Complementary Therapy (yoga, craniotherapy, Feldenkrais method, Alexander method, shiatsu, etc.)

Diagnosis

• Actively acquires, through relevant questions in the medical history (and subsequent consultations), medical information for the purpose of arriving at a medical assessment and working diagnosis.
• Carries out the necessary clinical examinations by means of targeted questions designed to verify his or her medical assessment.

Medical Assessment

• Analyzes test results and all available information, including patient-reported results based on fundamental medical knowledge.
• Judges the degree of complexity of the case and develops a modern medical assessment with a corresponding differential diagnosis; derives a working diagnosis and a prognosis of the case's evolution.
• Analyzes the risks and chances of self-treatment. In different phases of care, determines and justifies the decision as to which patient can be given alternative treatment or when the patient should be examined by conventional medicine or referred to another specialist.

Emergency medical measures

• Independently carries out first aid and emergency medical measures adapted to each case, if necessary with the help of the emergency doctor/ambulance (according to level 1 and 2 of the CRS first aid course).

Referral to other specialists

• Organises the referral of patients to other medical professionals or medical organisations, with whom he/she communicates in the appropriate terminology

Therapeutic Concepts

• Applies knowledge of non-discipline-specific therapeutic concepts (and their influence on health) to practical work; explains existing relationships and their possible consequences and suggests useful additions or changes to the patients.
• Organises, arranges or coordinates complementary treatments or therapeutic follow-up in accordance with decisions taken in agreement with the patient.

• Respects the legal framework in force for his/her therapeutic activity.
• Ensures that his/her decisions and recommendations are consistent with the patient's wishes, values, rights and interests.
• Obtains, to the extent possible, the informed consent of the patient for all actions taken.
• Is aware of the personal and professional limits of his or her own therapeutic skills and responsibilities and ensures not to exceed them.