FAQs About Naturopathic Medicine

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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 medical doctor. 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 – First do no 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-responsibility
Treat the whole person – each person is unique with their own factors affecting their health
Health promotion is best prevention – staying well is just as important as getting well!

How are Naturopathic 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
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 Naturopathic Doctor, and must pass rigorous 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 College of Naturopaths of Ontario which maintains an up-to-date list of registered naturopaths in the province of Ontario.

What treatments do Naturopathic Doctors use?

Naturopaths use a broad range of therapies, including botanical medicine, clinical nutrition and supplementation, hydrotherapy, IV vitamins and minerals, 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 by Naturopaths?

Naturopaths help with a wide array of health concerns, but our “superpowers” lie with functional problems–this means you have gone with your MD with a complaint and they can find nothing wrong with you.  The problem is that although they can find no disease or pathology, you know there is something wrong. Naturopathic doctors see that as your biochemistry and/or physiology being out of balance and not functioning optimally.

Naturopathic medicine excels at:

1. Tummy troubles – things like IBS, GERD (reflux) and most things digestion-related.
2. Fatigue
3. Hormones – peri-menopause, period problems, women’s health
4. Complimentary approaches to cancer care

But we certainly see more than our fair share of the following:

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
Weight management
Mental or Emotional Stress
Anxiety, Depression
Cancer
Insomnia
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

Is Naturopathic Medicine 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–to find that functional imbalance in your individual biochemistry.

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 Naturopathic doctors have access to controlled acts, and homeopaths do not.

Our authorized acts are:

1. Putting an instrument, hand or finger beyond the labia majora but not beyond the cervix.

2. Putting an instrument, hand or finger beyond the anal verge but not beyond the rectal-sigmoidal junction.

3. Administering, by injection or inhalation, a prescribed substance.

4. Performing prescribed procedures involving moving the joints of the spine beyond the individual’s usual physiological range of motion using a fast, low amplitude thrust.

5. Communicating a naturopathic diagnosis identifying, as the cause of an individual’s symptoms, a disease, disorder or dysfunction that may be identified through an assessment that uses naturopathic techniques.

6. Taking blood samples from veins or by skin pricking for the purpose of prescribed naturopathic examinations on the samples.

7. Prescribing, dispensing, compounding or selling a drug designated in the regulations. 2007, c. 10, Sched. P, s. 4 (1); 2009, c. 26, s. 17 (1).

What’s the difference between a Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine 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 College of Naturopaths of Ontario. The College’s job is to act in the public interest, to ensure safe, competent and ethical naturopathic care.

How do I know if I’m seeing a licensed naturopath?

The College of Naturopaths of Ontario maintains an up-to-date list of registered naturopaths in the province of Ontario here.
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 Collingwood Naturopaths?

Collingwood has several practicing naturopathic doctors. You can find them, as well as other local naturopaths on our Collingwood Naturopaths page.

Can I see a naturopath and my family doctor at the same time?

Of course! In fact, many people like to have a health team composed of multiple professionals. Naturopathic treatment  rarely conflicts with conventional medical treatments and prescriptions, and naturopaths are well-trained in understanding interactions between natural treatments and conventional prescriptions.
Even in cases that clearly call for conventional medical intervention, such as surgery, your naturopath can help before and after your procedure to help accelerate your recovery.

What are your hours?

You can reach us at 705-444-5331 during the following hours:

Monday 9AM – 5PM
Tuesday-Thursday 9AM – 5PM
Fridays 9AM – 3PM

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. StoneTree Clinic does direct billing to your insurance company which can make it easier for you to access care and manage your cash flow.   

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, or book online here.
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!