FAQ’s
Don’t see the answer to your question here? Please contact us, and we’ll be happy to help! You can also check out the naturopathy section on altMD for more information on naturopathic medicine.
Questions About Naturopathic Medicine
What is Naturopathic Medicine?
How are Naturoapthic Doctors (ND’s) trained?
What treaments do ND’s use?
What types of health problems can be treated?
Is Naturopathic Medicine scientific?
Is Naturopathic Medicine safe?
What’s the difference between naturopathy and homeopathy?
What’s the difference between a Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine and a Doctor of Natural Medicine?
How do I know if I’m seeing a licensed naturopath?
Are there other Collingwood Naturopaths?
Questions About our StoneTree Naturopathic
What are your hours?
What can I expect / how does it work?
Are your services covered by OHIP?
Why don’t you sell supplements right in your clinic?
Are you accepting new patients? How can I refer friends and family?
Questions About Naturopathic Medicine
What is Naturopathic Medicine?
Naturopathic Medicine is a comprehensive approach to health care. Naturopathic Doctors (ND’s) are trained to diagnose and treat various acute and chronic conditions, just like your regular general practitioner. Our main objective is to find and treat the underlying cause of your health concerns, as opposed to treating only the symptoms.
ND’s follow a series of principles that guide their approach to helping you improve your health:
- Primum non nocere - do not harm, effective health care with the least risk for all patients
- Vis medicatrix naturae - healing power of nature, respect and promote self-healing
- Tolle causum - treat the cause, identify and remove causes, avoid suppression of symptoms
- Docere - doctor as teacher, educate the patients, inspire rational hope, encourage self-sponsibility
- Treat the whole person - each person is unique with their own factors effecting their health
- Health promotion is best prevention - well-being includes health individually, in the community and globally
How are Naturoapthic Doctors (ND’s) trained?
Naturopathic doctors take a minimum of seven years of post-secondary education: three years pre-medical studies at university, followed by four years at one of four recognized colleges of naturopathic medicine. This post-graduate work includes medical science course work such as:
- anatomy
- physiology
- biochemistry
- pathology
- microbiology
- immunology
- pharmacology
- laboratory diagnosis
- clinical and physical diagnosis
- radiology
- minor surgery
- obstetrics
- gynecology/ women’s health
- pediatrics
- other clinical sciences
The education includes 1,500 hours of supervised clinical experience. All told, ND’s receive some 4,500 hours of academic and clinical training.
Graduates receive the title “N.D.” or Doctor of Naturopathic, and must pass rigorous international licensing and board examinations to be eligible to practice as a Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine. Naturopathic doctors are regulated in the province of Ontario. To find out if your naturopath is properly licensed, visit The Board of Directors of Drugless Therapy which maintains an up-to-date list of registered naturopaths in the province of Ontario.
What treaments do ND’s use?
Naturopaths use a broad range of therapies, including botanical medicine, clinical nutrition, hydrotherapy, homeopathy, naturopathic manipulation, traditional Chinese medicine / acupuncture, and lifestyle counselling. You can learn more about the services offered at StoneTree here.
What types of health problems can be treated?
Naturopaths help with a wide array of health concerns, including:
Chronic Illnesses
- Allergies & Environmental Sensitivities
- Arthritis
- Hypertension (High Blood Pressure), High Cholesterol, Atherosclerosis
- Heart Problems
- Digestive Disorders, Constipation, IBS
- Eczema, Psoriasis, Acne
- Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
- Cystitis, Prostatitis, Impotence
Acute Conditions
- Colds and Flu
- Ear and Throat Infections
- Headaches
- Intestinal Upset
Women’s Health Issues
- Menopausal Problems
- PMS, Menstrual Disorders
- Fibrocystic Breast Disease
- Enhancing Health in Pregnancy
- Infertility
- Endometrioses, Uterine Fibroids
Other
- Weigh management
- Mental or Emotional Stress
- Anxiety, Depression
- Cancer
- Insomnia
- Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
Is Naturopathy scientific?
There is an enormous body of evidence supporting naturopathic medicine, and it’s quickly becoming a common, mainstream health care choice. You’ll be surprised to discover just how practical and scientific our work at the clinic is. We rely a great deal on lab testing and logical, scientific analysis. The main difference is our desire to get to the root of what’s causing your health concerns.
Is Naturopathic Medicine safe?
The safety record for naturopathic medicine is excellent. This makes sense given the emphasis on natural, non-toxic medicines and gentle, non-invasive treatments. Naturopathic doctors (NDs) are knowledgeable about contraindications between naturopathic remedies and conventional medicines, and trained to recognize conditions which are outside their scope of practice and to refer to other health practitioners when it is appropriate to do so.
What’s the difference between naturopathy and homeopathy?
The difference is twofold: First of all homeopaths only use homeopathy as a treatment tool, whereas Naturopathic doctors use homeopathy as one of several treatment tools.
The second major difference is that homeopaths are not regulated and licensed in the province of Ontario . Therefore anyone can call themselves a homeopath regardless of training, whereas only those individuals following the steps outlined above can call themselves Naturopathic Doctors.
What’s the difference between a Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine (ND) and a Doctor of Natural Medicine?
Unlike an ND, a Doctor of Natural Medicine (DNM) is not regulated and licensed in Ontario.
Anyone, regardless of training and education, can call themselves a Doctor of Natural Medicine in this province. There is no independent regulatory body that ensures that these individuals have appropriate training, or that standards of practice are being maintained. If a patient/client has any concerns their only recourse is a court of law. Most insurance companies only cover practitioners that are licensed.
The regulatory board for Naturopathic Doctors in Ontario is the Board of Directors of Drugless Therapy - Naturopathy (BDDT-N). This board is a government-appointed board that is independent of any of the naturopathic associations and its job is to protect the rights of the public and to ensure a standard of patient care.
How do I know if I’m seeing a licensed naturopath?
The Board of Directors or Drugless Therapy maintains an up-to-date list of registered naturopaths in the province of Ontario at: http://www.boardofnaturopathicmedicine.on.ca/doctors_list.html
Our naturopaths all hold current licenses, and are insured. We’re also members of both the Ontario Association of Naturopathic Doctors (OAND) and the Canadian Association of Naturopathic Doctors (CAND).
Are there other Naturopaths in this area?
Collingwood has several practicing naturopathic doctors. You can find them, as well as other local naturopaths on our Collingwood Naturopaths page.
Questions About our StoneTree Naturopathic
What are your hours?
We currently see patients during the following hours:
- Tuesday 10AM-4PM
- Wednesday 10PM-5PM
- Thursday 10AM-5PM
- Fridays 10AM-3PM
The IV clinic is also open during the following hours:
- Tuesday 10AM-4PM
- Thursday 1PM-5PM
- Fridays 10AM-3PM
Our office manager is available from Monday through Friday to answer questions and book appointments.
What can I expect / how does it work?
The goal of the naturopathic doctor is to understand the patient and all the factors which impact on his/her health. Like your medical doctor, a naturopathic doctor will take an in-depth patient history, and seek information from a physical exam and laboratory tests.
In contrast to your medical doctor, a naturopathic doctor may spend far more time with you as a patient, use different tools, and will operate under differing philosophical principles based on the belief in the healing power of nature and including treating the whole person, finding the root cause, doctor as teacher and prevention as the best medicine.
In our office you can expect a high degree of personal attention, strict confidentiality, and a wide range of health care services designed to help you find your best level of health.
Are your services covered by OHIP?
Naturopathic doctors are not covered by OHIP in the province of Ontario . However, most extended health benefits packages cover visits to licensed naturopathic doctors up to a certain amount per family member per year. Consult your benefits package for details.
Why don’t you sell supplements right in your clinic?
We strive to separate the business of selling products from that of caring for patients in order to reduce any conflict of interest.
Nearly all of our supplements are available just down the street from the clinic, and are a professional line available by prescription only. The business of selling the products is solely that of the pharmacist. If you have any questions about your prescription, though, don’t hesitate to contact the office at any time!
Are you accepting new patients? How can I refer friends and family?
We gratefully accept new patients, and value your trust. The patient-doctor relationship is an important one, so we offer a free 15-minute ‘meet the doctor’ visit to allow any new patient to get to know us a little better before they make any commitment. Just contact us at 705-444-5331 to book an appointment.
You can learn more about referrals here.
Don’t see the answer to your question here? Please contact us, and we’ll be happy to help! You can also check out the naturopathy section on altMD for more information on naturopathic medicine.
