About Naturopathic Medicine

Education:

Candidates for Naturopathic medicine require a minimum of 3 years of undergraduate university education including prerequisite science courses. The naturopathic medicine professional program is a 4 year full-time program including courses in the basic medical sciences (anatomy, physiology, pathology, histology, biochemistry....) and clinical subjects in addition to the naturopathic therapies (nutrition, homeopathy, traditional chinese medicine, herbal medicine, physical medicine...). All candidates also complete a 12 month clinical internship and following this must pass rigorous standardized board examinations in order to qualify for licensure.

Professional Regulation:

naturopathic Doctors are the only health care professionals regulated in the field of natural medicine in Ontario. They are regulated under the 1925 Drugless Therapy Act and licensed under the Board of Drugless Therapy--Naturopathy. The profession is currently undergoing review for inclusion under the Regulated Health Profession's Act. (RHPA).

Overview:

Naturopathic medicine is a unique primary healthcare service that addresses the root cause of illness and supporting the healing process by using a variety of natural therapies. Naturopathic doctors acknowledge the interaction of the mind and body as well as the impact our environment has on our well being. This medicine is focused on treating the person rather than the disease.

Naturopathic Treatment Methods:

Clinical Nutrition:

The food you eat; the nutrients you digest and absorb have an influence on your heatlh. Special food programs may be recommended. Treatment plans may involve supplementation of nutraceuticals where necessary.

Herbal Medicine:

The powerful medicinal actions of herbs and herbal extracts have been well established in both traditional medicine and modern science.

Herbs may be prescribed in the form of a tea, tincture, tablet/capsule, or topical preparation.

Homeopathic Medicine:

This medicine is based on the principle "Like Cures Like". This means, a substance that can cause symptoms in a healthy person, in minute doses, can also treat these same symptoms in a person who is experiencing them. Homeopathic remedies are diluted and potentized preparations derived mostly from plant, animal or mineral substances which act by supporting a person's natural healing response. For more information, click here.

Traditional Chinese Medicine & Acupuncture:

This medical model is based on the principle of achieving harmony between opposing forces in nature, ie. Yin & Yang. This is achieved by balancing the flow of Qi (vital force energy) along the energy meridians throughout the body. Treatments may involve herbs in a tea or tablet form and/or acupuncture treatments.

Bodywork: Craniosacral and Bowen Technique

Bodywork or "hands-on" techniques may be used to support healing, reduce pain and inflammation and to realign stuctural imbalances in the body. The following techniques are both very relaxing and extremely gentle.

Craniosacral technique: Is a subtle hands-on technique that was developed about 80 years ago by an osteopathic physician in the United States. It is based on the theory of the cranial rhythm which is the result of subtle fluid pressure changes in the body originating from the flow of cerebrospinal fluid around the central nervous system. The practitioner uses the hands as highly sensitive tools to detect disturbances in the cranial rhythm which may be experienced as soft tissue restriction, structural limitation or tension. Treatment aims to return the areas of restricted motion back to full motion. This technique is not limited to the cranium and spine and is often applied to the trunk and limbs when needed.

Bowen technique: Involves a series of deliberate "plucking" motions on specific areas of muscles and tendons followed by moments of rest. The plucking has an effect similar to plucking a string on a guitar; it sets off a vibration through the muscle and tendon attachments which enable the muscle to become free of its holding pattern--the tightness that prevents it from moving as freely as it should. This release can help the muscle to reposition itself correctly in the body and act dynamically within the whole structure.

Lifestyle Counselling:

Our eating and sleeping habits, daily schedules and ability to cope with daily stresses have a profound influence on our health. Developing an awareness about how these factors affect health is the first step to making better lifestyle choices on a daily basis. Practical exercises, techniques or recommendations may be given to support healthy lifestyle changes.

Physical Medicine:

Naturopathic doctors are also trained in physical assessment and orthopedic testing. Physical examination and hands-on testing may be required to identify the nature of a physical injury/trauma or structural imbalances in the body.