How Is Naturopathic Medicine Helpful?

Naturopathic medicine is a medical movement and profession that has recently moved to the forefront of health-care innovation in North America and elsewhere in the world. Focusing on prevention and using natural substances and treatments, naturopathic doctors support and stimulate the body's ability to heal itself. The naturopathic approach is comprehensive, integrating scientific knowledge with several well-established alternative therapeutic systems (modalities), including:

• Lifestyle counseling;
• Nutrition;
• Herbal medicine;
• TimeWaver technology;
• Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP);
• Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT);
• Chinese medicine and acupuncture;
• Manual therapies (i.e. massage, physiotherapy, chiropractic, etc.).

These naturopathic modalities can be divided into two categories:

1. Modalities that address the causes of disease: our interaction with the physical environment (what we eat, drink, and breathe), as well as the physical structure of our body. These are best addressed through holistic nutrition, herbal medicine, and Chinese medicine.

2. Underlying mental, emotional, spiritual, and constitutional causes of physical or psychological symptoms: these reflect the internal imbalance that persists even in an optimal environment and ideal lifestyle. These are best addressed through energy medicine, Chinese medicine, and psychotherapy.

By applying these two perspectives together, our clinic is able to offer a comprehensive array of solutions for preventing and treating virtually any health condition, including and especially those considered medically incurable.

Naturopathic Assessment and Treatment

Through an in-depth assessment your naturopathic doctor will strive to understand your complaints and symptoms at the deepest level and to offer you a treatment plan that will bring revolutionary results and promote personal growth. This assessment involves an understanding of the following factors:

• Lifestyle and physical activity
• Food intake
• Psychological temperament (behavioural tendencies, strengths, weaknesses)
• Childhood history and family relationships
• Social environment
• Past physical or psychological trauma and stressful life transitions
• Past medical interventions
• Body chemistry (laboratory tests)
• Exposure to environmental toxins
• Heredity

Virtually all chronic and most acute conditions can benefit from naturopathic treatment, offering safe options for all ages from infants to the elderly, and for pregnant women as well. Some of these include:

• Chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, and other stress-related (psychosomatic) conditions;
• Asthma, allergies, chronic sinusitis, recurrent infections;
• Autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, and interstitial cystitis;
• Endocrine (hormonal) and metabolic diseases such as diabetes, thyroidconditions, infertility, menstrual complaints, and menopause;
• Gastrointestinal disease, from baby colic to irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) to Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis;
• Heart disease, high cholesterol, and hypertension;
• Mental health conditions such as addictions, anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and autism;
• Skin conditions such as eczema, psoriasis, and rosacea;
• Personalized medicine for body, mind, and spirit;
• Skin conditions such as eczema, psoriasis, and rosacea.

The primary goal of naturopathic treatment is to address the underlying causes of all illness rather than simply to treat individual symptoms. Naturopathic doctors take into account the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual dimensions of an individual when diagnosing and devising a treatment plan, working from a mindset that emphasizes sustainable, long-term resolution of complaints as well as improvement in overall well-being. Although most patients first choose naturopathic treatment because of chronic concerns, naturopathic methods can also be used to bring relief in acute situations.

Naturopathic doctors complete a minimum of seven years post-secondary education. This training includes the study of medical sciences comparable to that of medical doctors, in addition to exposure to many alternative treatment modalities. Some naturopathic doctors work as general practitioners, utilizing a variety of modalities, whereas other specialize in a primary modality, using other modalities in a supportive role or by referring out to other specialized practitioners.