All About Naturopathic Medicine

Have you considered naturopathic medicine before?

If so, you might have a lot of questions.

I’m Dr. JJ, a naturopathic doctor, researcher, and public speaker.

In this article, I’m going to dive into all of your frequently asked questions about naturopathic medicine.

I also made the video below on everything to do with naturopathy, if you prefer to watch than read.

Learn more about this particular field of medicine, and how it can help you.

What Is Naturopathic Medicine?

Naturopathic medicine, like conventional medicine, is based on science.

The main difference lies in the treatment: naturopathic medicine treats health concerns naturally instead of through the use of pharmaceutical drugs.

Some natural treatments used in naturopathic medicine include:

• Vitamins
• Minerals
• Amino acids
• Nutritional counselling
• Acupuncture
• Botanical medicine
• Exercise
• Homeopathy
• And others

Naturopathic medicine may involve your doctor examining your stress levels, health history, and lifestyle habits to come up with a health plan for you.

This will include education and prevention mechanisms.

Diet, exercise, stress management, and lifestyle may be very important factors in this process.

Typically, the goal of naturopathy is to engage in patient-centered treatment and to treat the whole person, including their mind, body, and spirit.

Naturopathic doctors work to help you live as healthy as possible.

Another goal is to address the root cause of ailments, and not just the symptoms.

Who Can Practice Naturopathic Medicine?

This is one of the most frequently asked questions about naturopathic doctors.

Similar to medical doctors, only those who are truly dedicated to their field of medicine go through the training and tests necessary to legally practice.

Every naturopathic doctor must be licensed, and licenses are issued by each province or state.

Therefore, an ND may be licensed to practice in some provinces and not others.

To get this license, you must first have a bachelor’s degree in a science field.

Then, you’ve to go through 4 years of naturopathic college and pass the rigorous board exams, which are standardized across North America.

Once licensed, you can find naturopathic doctors in clinics, community centres, or private practices.

How Does Naturopathic Training Compare With Medical Training?

The training required to become a naturopathic doctor takes around the same amount of time to complete as medical training.

The hours spent in school, in training, and doing clinical work are comparable.

One difference between naturopathic training and medical training is that the former’s exams are actually quite a bit longer, lasting around a week.

The board exams required to obtain your naturopathic medicine license are extremely rigorous and time intensive.

Another difference is that medical doctors have to complete two years of residency in a hospital.

This is not the case for naturopathic doctors, because there are no naturopathic hospitals.

Why Would Somebody See A Naturopathic Doctor?

There are numerous reasons why you should consider visiting a naturopathic doctor.

Let’s go through a few common reasons I encounter with my patients.

Often, patients visit me because they aren’t finding solutions or answers in traditional medicine.

It’s all about working outside the conventional box to investigate health issues.

It can be difficult to figure out the root cause of such problems, and your naturopathic doctor can help you get to the bottom of it.

They can also investigate anything that may be exacerbating your symptoms.

They can help provide treatment for various ailments that may be disrupting your daily life.

This can include fatigue, digestive issues, aging, infertility, and mental health concerns such as stress, anxiety, and depression.

In the case of major health issues, such as cancer, naturopathic medicine can be used alongside your medical cancer treatment.

For example, naturopathy can act as a chemotherapy support and help ease the side effects of chemotherapy.

What Are The Strengths Of Naturopathic Doctors Vs. Medical Doctors?

I think it’s important to avoid fundamentalism on both sides.

In other words, I think it’s wrong to disavow all of natural medicine or all of traditional medicine.

Often, the best thing for your health and your body is to use both naturopathic and traditional medicine in conjunction with each other, when necessary.

Typically, conventional medicine is most effective for acute conditions.

If you’ve an infection or a broken bone, you may need antibiotics, or pharmaceuticals, or some other form of treatment from a medical doctor.

However, if, for example, you’re taking antibiotics, you should then use probiotics to replenish your gut flora and support your digestive and immune systems.

Naturopathic medicine can often help you treat chronic issues.

It’s a great idea to have a team of professionals supporting your health, including a medical doctor and a naturopathic doctor, because the two can and should coexist.

What Should You Expect During Your First Appointment?

The first appointment with your naturopathic doctor will most likely be the longest, typically ranging from an hour to an hour and a half.

This is due to the background information we’ve to cover, including family history, medical history, risk factors, and previous surgeries.

Risk factors can include:

• Smoking
• High stress levels
• Poor sleep habits

The goal of your initial appointment is to build a foundation of knowledge to work from, and to look for patterns in your history.

Often, your ND will send you off with some treatment options or lifestyle changes.

This may include acupuncture, diet changes, or supplements.

Then, we’ll look into scheduling a follow-up appointment to check in on how you’re feeling, and work from there.

What Is Homeopathy?

Homeopathy is under the umbrella of naturopathic medicine and is included under the ND license, but it’s separate from naturopathy.

The philosophy behind the alternative medicine homeopathy is based on the theory of “like with like.”

Homeopathy stimulates healing by giving you a treatment that mimics the symptoms of these conditions in healthy people.

For example, if you’re suffering from a cold, your treatment may involve taking a supplement that mirrors your cold symptoms.

Clinically, homeopathy doesn’t really make sense, but the number of people who have found relief from homeopathic treatments is staggering.

Considering the sheer number of people who credit their successful health stories to homeopathy, it should not be discounted as a viable treatment option.

What Are The Most Common Conditions People Come To A Naturopathic Doctor For?

Some of the more common conditions I see are related to fatigue, digestion, energy levels, hormones, and overall musculoskeletal pain.

Naturopathic services can help with a variety of different conditions.

Some of the conditions include:

• Sleep problems
• Menstrual issues
• Thyroid issues
• Fertility issues
• Digestive problems
• Allergies
• Skin and hair conditions
• Stress and anxiety
• Headaches
• Obesity
• Chronic pain

Patients also inquire about natural anti-aging treatment options.

How Often Should You See A Naturopathic Doctor?

Your first visit to the naturopathic doctor is usually the longest, and you leave with the beginnings of a treatment plan.

Then, depending on results, follow-up appointments are usually scheduled every 3-6 months, but sometimes as infrequently as once a year.

It all depends on your reason for visiting and if your treatment is doing its job.

For example, if you’re visiting to treat an acute problem, such as headaches, your appointment frequency may vary.

This would differ from someone who is visiting to treat a long-term chronic issue, such as a family history of heart disease.

The appointments will be scheduled and tailored to each patient’s individual needs and wants.

How Much Does It Cost To See A Naturopathic Doctor?

The cost depends on the length of the appointment.

The initial visit is $250 for 75 minutes, and follow-up appointments range from $70 upwards.

Thankfully, naturopathic medicine is covered by most private health plans, so check out your work insurance and see if naturopathy is included.

Questions? Ask Dr. JJ

Naturopathic medicine can be a beneficial addition to your lifestyle, both on its own or as a complement to medical treatment.

Hopefully, I’ve answered some of your burning questions about how naturopathic medicine can work for you.

If you have any questions or want to book your first appointment, contact me, Dr. JJ, at my naturopathic clinic in Toronto.

I’d be happy to introduce you to the world of naturopathy and recommend a treatment plan that works for your health and lifestyle.

Book your appointment with me, Dr. JJ, today.