What is naturopathic medicine?

Naturopathic Medicine is a primary health care model that blends modern science with traditional and natural forms of healing.  We believe in treating the whole person, not just the disease, and identifying and treating the root cause of ailments, rather than simply suppressing symptoms.

Naturopathic doctors believe that nature has inherent healing powers and that we must work alongside the healing power of nature in order to obtain optimal health. We believe in treating imbalances to health, not just waiting for the body to enter a diseased state. No two patients are equals and therefore treatment involves a thorough work-up, and lots of detective work to get to the root of symptoms.

We work in collaboration with our patients and believe in educating and empowering our patients to lead the healthiest and happiest lives possible.

How do naturopathic doctors treat their patients?

Naturopathic doctors have a variety of natural healing modalities in our treatment toolboxes.  These modalities include, but are not limited to, homeopathy, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), acupuncture, botanical medicine, clinical nutrition, lifestyle counselling, psychological counselling, hydrotherapy and physical medicine.

What education do naturopathic doctors have?

Most naturopathic doctors have completed 8 years of post-secondary studies; NDs must have completed a 4-year undergraduate degree in the sciences in addition to the naturopathic doctor program, an intensive 4-year program from an accredited college that includes more than 1200 hours of clinical experience and involves more than 3000 hours of classroom training. The program covers three major areas of study: biomedical sciences, clinical sciences and naturopathic therapeutics. We have training in conventional medicine – diagnostics, labs, history taking and physical exams – as well as traditional medicine and natural therapies.

Completion of the ND program requires a 12 month internship in 4th year and completion of two regulatory licencing exams (NPLEX 1 and 2) after 2nd and 4th year as well as a board exam.

The Associations of Accredited Naturopathic Medical Colleges (AANMC) has published an informative article comparing the training of naturopathic and medical doctors: Comparing ND & MD Curricula.

Are naturopathic doctors regulated?

On July 1st, naturopathic medicine became a regulated profession under the Regulated Health Professionals Act. Ontario naturopathic doctors are regulated with the College of Naturopaths of Ontario along with physicians, surgeons, nurses and other regulated health professionals in Ontario.

Does naturopathic medicine work?

Naturopathic doctors combine Evidenced Based Medicine (EBM), using scientific research, with traditional healing methods to guide our clinical-decision-making. The number of studies in major scientific journals that demonstrate the efficacy of naturopathic therapies is steadily increasing as naturopathic medicine gains traction in the medical world. The Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine is a powerful research institution, conducting a number of studies on the efficacy of natural therapies. In addition, the growing popularity of natural medicine and its integration into mainstream medicine provide indication of its benefit for providing patients with results. For more information, read this blog post about naturopathic medicine myth-busting: Destroying Myths About Naturopathic Medicine.