What is Naturopathic medicine?
Naturopathic Medicine is a unique approach to improving health and treating illness. The primary goal of naturopathic treatment is to find and eliminate the causes of illness, rather than to simply treat or suppress symptoms. We can then use naturopathic treatments to support and stimulate the body’s innate ability to heal itself. Naturopathic doctors treat people, not diseases, therefore treatment plans will be unique and tailored to each individual. We know that health is determined by physical, mental and emotional factors, and naturopathic treatment addresses all these factors.
Is Naturopathic medicine scientific?
The Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine (CCNM) has collaborated with many major research institutions, including McMaster University, University of Oxford, The Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, Ottawa Regional Cancer Centre, Ottawa General Hospital, Mayo Clinic, and Johns Hopkins University. Their research departments at CCNM and other accredited Naturopathic institutions continuously produce many clinical studies that are published in peer-reviewed scientific journals. The effectiveness of naturopathic therapies used for decades, such as probiotics for gastrointestinal health, is now being validated by modern scientific studies.
What’s the difference between Naturopathic doctors (NDs) and Medical doctors (MDs)?
Both types of physician undergo similarly structured educational programs, however, each differs in their philosophy and approach to treatment. Naturopathic Doctors provide individualized treatments, meaning they treat the patient, not the disease. NDs address the physical, mental, emotional, environmental and lifestyle aspects of health. NDs aim to find and treat the cause of disease using natural, non-invasive therapies, while allopathic doctors (MDs) generally address and treat the symptoms of disease using pharmaceutical therapies or surgery.
What kinds of health problems can Naturopathic medicine treat?
Naturopathic Doctors are primary health care practitioners, meaning that they can treat the same conditions as a family doctor, including both acute concerns and chronic health conditions. In the event that naturopathic medicine cannot treat your condition, you will be referred appropriately.
Many people visit Naturopathic Doctors for digestive concerns, allergies, eczema, acne, infertility, hypertension, weight loss, nutrition advice, premenstrual syndrome, hormonal imbalances, hypothyroidism, adrenal fatigue, infections, athletic injuries, arthritis, anxiety, depression, etc.
Naturopathic Doctors can help even when there is no specific ‘condition’ to treat, or when a group of symptoms has not been properly diagnosed or addressed. Many individuals visit Naturopathic Doctors because they notice they are not feeling their best and would like help to improve their energy, sleep, body composition, mood, or health habits, to slow the aging process, or to prevent disease onset. Others would like to reduce the side effects of certain conventional treatments, such as chemotherapy.
What kinds of therapies can Naturopathic Doctors perform?
Naturopathic doctors use a variety of non-toxic, non-pharmaceutical treatments. All naturopathic doctors in Canada are trained and licensed in the following natural therapies:
Read about the services I offer in the naturopathic services page.
What’s the difference between a Naturopathic and a Homeopathic Doctor?
Naturopathic doctors are well trained to use homeopathy, conventional medical sciences, and other alternative treatments as described above in an individual treatment plan, while a homeopath uses only homeopathy. Additionally, Naturopathic medicine is a regulated and licensed profession in Ontario, while homeopathic medicine is not.
What education and qualifications do Naturopathic Doctors have?
Naturopathic Doctors must complete at least 3 years of undergraduate pre-medical studies at a recognized University before beginning Naturopathic College. The 4-year program at accredited Naturopathic Colleges (in Toronto, Vancouver or the U.S.) includes basic medical sciences, conventional medical therapies, naturopathic therapies and, throughout years 2, 3 and 4 of the program, hands on clinical experience as well as mentoring from other healthcare practitioners. After graduation, candidates must write a series of board examinations after years 2 and 4 (NPLEX, written by all North American candidates), as well as specific licensing examinations for the province or state that they wish to practice in. To maintain licensure, Naturopathic Doctors in Ontario must complete minimum Continuing Education requirements in specific disciplines every two years.
Are Naturopathic Doctors regulated?
Currently in Ontario, Naturopathic Doctors are regulated under the Drugless Practitioners Act (DPA), which establishes the guidelines for the licensing body, the Board of Directors of Drugless Therapy – Naturopathy (BDDT-N). The BDDT-N issues licenses for all Naturopathic Doctors in Ontario, and monitors their practices.
In 2008, the Ontario government passed a bill to regulate Naturopathic Doctors under the Regulated Health Professions Act (RHPA), to occur over the next few years. The RHPA provides a framework for regulating the scope of practice of 23 health professions in Ontario (such as Medical Doctors, Dentists, Optometrists, Nurses, etc) under their respective regulatory Colleges. The move from the DPA to the RHPA will increase awareness of NDs’ scope of practice, improve ease of collaboration with other health care practitioners under the Act, and ensure that Ontarians continue to have access to quality naturopathic health care.
How can I find a licensed Naturopathic Doctor?
Visit the Ontario Association of Naturopathic Doctors (OAND) website at www.oand.org or the Canadian Association of Naturopathic Doctors (CAND) website at www.cand.ca, and click on ‘Find an ND’, and search by ND name or region.
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