Natural botanicals provide excellent therapeutic treatment and tend to have far less side-effects than pharmaceuticals. They often help support many systems at once where many pharmaceuticals primary focus on one system. Herbs are a powerful medicine and there are many interactions with common medications, which is why it is best not to take any herbal preparations without the guidance of a naturopathic doctor who is familiar with all of the potential drug-herb interactions.
Naturopathic medicine is a primary health care system combining modern scientific knowledge with traditional and natural forms of medicine. The naturopathic philosophy is to stimulate the healing power of the body and treat the underlying cause of disease.
With extensive education, including a pre-med degree and four years of training at an accredited naturopathic college, NDs integrate standard medical diagnostics with a broad range of natural therapies. The ND medical program covers education in biomedical and clinical sciences as well as naturopathic therapies such as nutritional and lifestyle counseling, traditional Chinese medicine and acupuncture, homeopathy, botanical medicine, hydrotherapy, massage therapy, and physical manipulation. They are also trained in conventional medical procedures such as history taking, physical exams, lab interpretation and diagnostics. NDs are eclectic, each with a slightly different approach, but they all believe that balancing the mind and body is the path to optimal health because it supports the body’s natural ability to heal itself. Naturopathic doctors are also experts at early detection, prevention, and treatment of chronic disease. Their personalized treatment plans work with each individual patient’s lifestyle and body chemistry.
Naturopathic doctors are guided by six fundamental healing principles:
Yes, Naturopathic Medicine is regulated under the RHPA (Regulated Health Profession's Act, 1991) in Ontario. It has been regulated by the RHPA since 2015, when the Naturopathy Act, 2007, was proclaimed. Prior to that, it was regulated under the Drugless Practitioners Act - Naturopathy, 1925.
During the first visit, your ND wants to get to know you as a person, what your health goals are and how you have managed your health in the past. Expect to be there for an hour or more to give your ND adequate time to complete the picture. As well as performing a physical exam based on your health complaints, your ND will also ask you about your mental, emotional and spiritual health, your diet and lifestyle, and treatments you may be receiving from other health care providers. By the end of the visit, your ND will present an individualized treatment plan and may suggest further testing.