Naturopathic Medicine

What is naturopathic medicine?

Naturopathic medicine is a comprehensive, holistic, and individualized primary health care system. Drawing on knowledge substantiated by thousands of years of experience and incorporating modern scientific research, naturopathic doctors use natural substances to stimulate the body's innate capacity to heal itself. When disease is present, the focus of naturopathic treatment is to address the underlying cause of illness rather than simply suppressing symptoms or managing disease. A naturopathic doctor views the individual as an integral whole, encompassing the physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, and environmental aspects of the self. Within this framework, no two people with the same condition are treated exactly alike.

Naturopathic doctors can also complement and enhance health care services provided by other health care professionals. They cooperate with other branches of medical science referring patients to other practitioners for diagnosis or treatment when appropriate. Naturopathic doctors provide patients with a truly integrative form of health care.

Naturopathic Therapies

Cyndi Gilbert, Naturopathic Doctor, draws from the following naturopathic therapies to develop an individualized plan of care

Clinical Nutrition

Nutrition and the therapeutic use of foods is a cornerstone of naturopathic medicine. Food intolerances, deficiencies, dietary imbalances or nutritional excesses have been associated with many medical conditions. Indeed, development of illnesses such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, cancer, and gastrointestinal problems are known to be related to poor dietary and lifestyle choices. By changing our diet and adopting a healthier lifestyle, we can often alter or reverse the course of an illness and restore health. Naturopathic doctors are trained in assessing nutritional status, and in recommending dietary changes and vitamin and mineral supplementation where appropriate.

Botanical Medicine

The medicinal use of plants dates back to the earliest civilizations, is observed in the animal world, and is the foundation of modern pharmacology. Herbs are used to normalize body functions, enhance our immune system, improve digestion, heal and prevent illness, calm nerves, relax muscles, cleanse, repair, and tonify. Botanicals can soothe and nourish, while also specifically targeting bacteria, viruses, and fungi. Plants can be used singly or in combination, as: teas, tinctures, salves, poultices, capsules, oils, infusions, and more. Naturopathic doctors are trained in the art and science of botanical medicine, including herb-nutrient and herb-drug interactions - important factors in the selection and safe use of botanical medicines.

Homeopathy

This powerful system of medicine harnesses the body's ability to heal itself. Based on the principle of like cures like, homeopathic remedies are carefully chosen to match the totality of a person's symptoms, and prescribed according to strict homeopathic guidelines. Homeopathic remedies are made from minute amounts of plant, animal, and mineral substances in specific dilutions. When carefully matched to the patient they are able to stimulate the body's innate healing forces on both the physical and emotional levels, with few side effects. Because homeopathic medicines are energetic rather than molecular in their action, they do not interact with prescription medications, and are safe to use with children, and with people who have fragile health.

Hydrotherapy

Hydrotherapy, the therapeutic use of water at varying temperatures, is a non-invasive, economical and effective means to stimulate the immune system, facilitate detoxification, manage inflammation, and influence lymph drainage and circulation.

Lifestyle Counseling & Stress Management

A central tenet of naturopathic medicine is the interdependence of emotional and physical health. Our emotional understanding of ourselves and how we function in our environment is an important dimension of health, as well as a contributing factor in disease states. Addressing all aspects of a person's life, identifying and addressing the impact that stress and life events have on a patient's health is an important facet of naturopathic treatment. As well, naturopathic physicians understand the impact that our physical environment has on our health. Naturopathic doctors are trained to counsel on diet, lifestyle, specific stressors, exercise, and occupational or environmental hazards as an integral part of the naturopathic treatment program.

Traditional Chinese Medicine & Acupuncture

The key principle that defines and connects all of Chinese medicine is that of Qi (pronounced "chee"), or vital energy. The Qi of the body's organs must be in balance, neither too active nor too dormant, for a person to be healthy. This Qi travels in meridians or channels that lie just under the skin. A naturopathic doctor will use eastern herbs and acupuncture to assist the body in regulating Qi and achieving balance. Acupuncture is the use of very thin needles which are inserted into specific meridian points. The practice of acupuncture has been around for over two thousand years and for health concerns ranging from chemotherapy-induced nausea to musculoskeletal pain, to turning breech babies.

Physical Medicine

Physical medicine offers treatment for many different health concerns. Treatments can include hydrotherapy (the therapeutic use of hot and cold water), sauna therapy, exercise prescriptions, and soft tissue work (including therapeutic massage).

Guiding Principles

Naturopathic doctors are guided by six principles which are the foundation of naturopathic medicine and outline the naturopathic approach to health.

The Healing Power of Nature (Vis Medicatrix Naturae)

Our bodies have the inherent ability to establish, maintain, and restore health. Naturopathic doctors choose treatments which work to restore and support the powerful and innate capacity of your body, mind, and spirit and to prevent further disease from occurring. Naturopathic doctors identify and remove obstacles to recovery, facilitating and augmenting this ordered and intelligent healing process.

First, Do No Harm (Primum Non Nocere)

Naturopathic medicine emphasizes nontoxic, natural forms of therapy and gentle, noninvasive treatments. Naturopathic doctors acknowledge, respect, and work with the individual's self-healing process, and minimize the harmful suppression of symptoms.

Identify and Treat the Cause (Tolle Causum)

In addition to alleviating the acute and chronic symptoms of disease, naturopathic doctors seek to identify and remove the underlying causes. By applying treatments to address the root cause of illness, we help move individuals toward achieving and maintaining an optimal state of health.

Treat the Whole Person (Tolle Totum)

Rather than simply addressing a set of symptoms, naturopathic medicine emphasizes treating each person as the unique individual that they are, acknowledging that disease affects the whole person, not just a specific organ or system. As well, we recognize that disease affects each person differently. Naturopathic doctors take into account not only physical symptoms but also mental, emotional, genetic, environmental, social, spiritual, and other factors.

Doctor as Teacher (Docere)

"Doctor" comes from the Latin, docere, to teach. Education is power. Naturopathic doctors share information and knowledge with their patients and the general public in order to encourage self-responsibility for health, and enhance the health of society in general.

Prevention and Health Promotion (Preventare)

Part of the naturopathic doctor's oath is a pledge to teach the principles of healthy living, thereby promoting health and preventing illness. Naturopathic doctors emphasize prevention by assessing risk factors, heredity, and susceptibility to disease and making appropriate interventions in partnership with their patients to prevent illness and promote wellness.

Training & Regulation

Naturopathic doctors obtain comprehensive and rigorous training, requiring three years of pre-medical postsecondary education, plus four years of fulltime study at an approved college of naturopathic medicine. In order to qualify for licensing in Ontario, naturopathic doctors must successfully complete the Naturopathic Physicians Licensing Examinations (NPLEx), the standard examination used by all regulated provinces and states across North America.

Naturopathic doctors are also required to earn continuing education credits on an ongoing basis to maintain their registration and good standing with the provincial regulatory body, the Board of Directors of Drugless Therapy - Naturopathy (BDDT‑N).