“The doctor of the future will give no medication, but will interest his patients in the care of the human frame, diet and in the cause and prevention of disease.” - Thomas Edison
What is Naturopathic Medicine?
Naturopathic medicine is a system of primary health care that promotes wellness and prevention of illness or disease. It blends modern scientific knowledge with traditional and natural forms of medicine; involving a more comprehensive, holistic, and individualized approach to improving health. There is a transformation occurring in health care and Naturopathic medicine reflects this change; focusing on disease prevention, the promotion of healthy lifestyle habits, the promotion of natural healing abilities and the treatment of disease with natural, and minimally invasive therapies.
Naturopathic doctors are trained to investigate, diagnose diseases, look at things more holistically and look for an underlying cause – whether it be physical, mental, emotional or a combination of the above. Health and disease are not singular conditions, but instead are conditions of the whole person. Naturopathic doctors take the complex interactions of physical, mental, genetic, environmental and social factors into account in order to treat the whole person.
The focus of Naturopathic treatments are to address the underlying root cause of illness rather than managing symptoms. For this reason, Naturopathic medicine and conventional medicines can, and should be, used in a complementary fashion in the treatment of a wide range of health concerns.
Naturopathic medicine accomplishes all this by supporting the body’s own ability to heal itself using a wide array of individualized treatments and prevention techniques. Depending on the needs of the individual patient treatments include acupuncture, clinical nutrition, botanical medicine, physical medicine, lifestyle counseling or a combination of these.
Naturopathic medicine is for people of all ages and health histories who would like take their health into their own hands. It is for those who would like to understand the reason behind their symptom and the cause of their illness. The Naturopathic doctor’s main role is to educate, empower, and motivate patients to take responsibility for his or her own health.
If you would like to know more about Naturopathic services please click here
Conditions Addressed
Naturopathic Medicine is able to address a vast array of medical conditions either on its own or in conjunction with other medical practices. The following are examples of common health concerns addressed:
Allergies & Asthma
Anxiety & Depression
Arthritis
Gastrointestinal Disorders
Weight Management
Skin Disorders
High Cholesterol
Pediatrics
Lifestyle Management
High Cholesterol
Family Health
Sleep Disorders
Chronic Fatigue
Headaches & Migraines
Athletic Injuries
Stress & Stress Management
Autoimmune concerns
Pain Management
Musculoskeletal concerns
Sports Medicine
Men's Health
Detoxification
Hormone Imbalance
And many more
To find out how Naturopathic Medicine can help you, please book a complimentary 15 minute consult today!
Modalities
The following therapies can be used individually or in conjunction to develop an overall comprehensive and individualized treatment plan.
Botanical Medicine
Physical Medicine
Clinical Nutrition
Utilizing pharmacognosy knowledge, toxicology and therapeutic properties of plants, individualized formulas are created in the treatment and prevention of disease.
Treatment can be in the form of a prescribed tincture, medical teas or encapsulated herbs.
Involves the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of disorders generally related to the nerves, muscles, bones and brain.
The use of "hands-on" techniques such as massage therapy, manipulation or other therapies such as exercise prescription and therapeutic exercise can help to address physical complaints such as structural imbalances within the body.
It was once stated that "food is medicine". By examining how the body digests, absorbs, metabolizes and excretes food substances we can begin to build a plan to treat deficiencies, intolerances imbalances.
Optimal nutrition, biochemical and metabolic processes are essential to health. Managing ingestion and utilization of nutrients helps to create a healthy nutritional and energy balance.
Acupuncture
Hydrotherapy
Lifestyle Counseling
Hydrotherapy involves the use of water to improve and maintain health. This includes a variety of in-office and at home treatments which have been shown to help revitalize the mind and body, in addition to improved detoxification, circulation and immune function.
Essential to health promotion and disease prevention is the establishment of a strong foundation of health.
Patients are supported and empowered to make healthy choices in order to build and maintain health on all levels: mental, physical, social and spiritually.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some frequently asked questions we've come across while working with out patients
Do naturopathic doctors cross refer to other practitioners
Yes. It is becoming more common that naturopathic doctors, medical doctors, chiropractors, massage therapists, and other healthcare professionals cross refer for a coordinated and complete health care plan. Naturopathic doctors are trained to recognize conditions that are outside their scope of practice and to refer to other health care providers when it is appropriate.
Are Naturopathic Doctors Regulated in Ontario?
Yes. In Ontario, naturopathic doctors are regulated under the Regulated Health Professions Act and are licensed through the College of Naturopaths. For more information on how naturopathic doctors are regulated click here
Is Naturopathic Medicine covered by OHIP?
No. However, many extended healthcare plans cover naturopathic treatment. Check with your health insurance company to see if you are covered. When you come for a visit, simply pay for the visit, and then submit the receipt to your insurance company for reimbursement.
What type of training to Naturopathic Doctors receive?
Naturopathic doctors go through extensive medical training and examination before they are legally allowed to practice. They require a Bachelor of Science degree or a minimum of three years of university education in pre-medical sciences to gain admittance into a naturopathic medical school. The Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine is Canada’s leading accredited school for the naturopathic medical program in North America. The program is four years duration, involving 4200 hours of classroom training, over 1200 hours of supervised clinical training and studies in biomedical and clinical science. Upon graduation from any of the accredited colleges, two sets of NPLEx licensing examinations (coordinated by the North American Board of Naturopathic Examiners (NABNE)) as well as Provincial Ontario Board examinations must be successfully completed before naturopathic doctors are able to obtain a naturopathic license required to practice.