PHILLIPSBURG ? The Kansas State Board of Healing Arts fined a practitioner of naturopathic medicine for promoting his practice before the state approved his registration.

Michael Jacobs, of Phillipsburg, was fined $750 for using the initials “N.D.” after his name in an advertisement in the local telephone book.

Jacobs submitted his application to the state board in June, but it had not been approved by the time the phone book was printed this fall.

According to papers filed earlier this month, he agreed to pay the fine.

Once that is paid, his application will be approved and his name will be added to the list of registered naturopathic doctors.

Naturopathy is an area of medicine that relies on natural products for medication, such as herbs and minerals, and natural remedies for treatment, such as exercise and acupuncture.

Under the naturopathic doctor registration act that Kansas lawmakers approved in 2002, criminal charges can be filed against practicing naturopathic doctors who are not on the list. The board chose to fine Jacobs instead.

The 2002 law was created at the request of naturopathic doctors including Jacobs, a Phillipsburg native who practiced for 10 years in Oregon — which licenses naturopathic physicians — before returning to his home state with his family.

Before the Kansas law was passed, naturopathic physicians had to work in partnerships with other medical doctors in order to treat patients.