Who are naturopathic doctors?
Naturopathic doctors undergo training in clinical nutrition, lifestyle counseling, botanical medicine, and homeopathy. They employ natural therapies to comprehensively diagnose, prevent, and treat both acute and chronic illnesses.

Typical conditions addressed by naturopathic doctors include digestive issues, fatigue, and stress management.

 

What to anticipate during your initial appointment with a naturopathic doctor?
During your first visit, the doctor will delve into your medical history, family background, lifestyle, and may recommend pertinent laboratory tests to facilitate a comprehensive assessment and diagnosis.

 

How do naturopathic doctors identify illnesses?
While naturopathic doctors focus on alleviating symptoms through natural methods, their ultimate objective is to identify and address the underlying causes of illness.

This involves thorough inquiries about symptoms, your environment, and health history, as well as collaboration with medical doctors and other healthcare professionals.

 

Are naturopathic doctors licensed?
Naturopathic doctors are subject to regulation by individual provinces. In our case, practitioners are overseen by the College of Naturopaths Of Québec (CNO) and the College of Naturopathic Physicians of British Columbia (CNPBC).

To attain licensure in these provinces, each naturopathic practitioner must complete an undergraduate degree at a university and undergo training in an accredited naturopathic medicine program.

This program covers basic, medical, and clinical sciences, diagnostics, naturopathic principles, and therapeutics. It also includes substantial clinical experience under the guidance of qualified naturopathic doctors.

Following successful completion of the accredited program, candidates must pass the Naturopathic Physicians Licensing Examinations (NPLEX).

 

What conditions can naturopathic doctors address?
Naturopathic doctors frequently attend to allergies, food intolerances, chronic pain, gastrointestinal and digestive concerns, hormonal imbalances, respiratory conditions, fertility challenges, menopause, weight-related issues, chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, and a broad spectrum of other health issues.

 

Is it within the scope of a naturopathic doctor to prescribe medication?
In certain provinces, in addition to herbal and natural remedies, naturopathic doctors may have the authority to prescribe a limited selection of Table 3 medications, provided they meet the Standard of Practice for Prescribing. These medications can include substances like vitamin D, calcium, estrogen, progesterone, folic acid, and others.

Upon reviewing lab test results, they may employ a range of treatments, including herbal medicine, natural remedies, hydrotherapy, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and acupuncture, as well as offering diet and lifestyle counseling to address your specific condition.

 

Can naturopathic doctors assist in cancer treatment?
Currently, there is insufficient evidence to support the efficacy of naturopathic medicine in directly treating cancer. Naturopathic medicine typically involves the integration of various therapies, and the available research on these therapies is not extensive enough to determine the overall effectiveness of naturopathic medicine as a complementary approach to cancer treatment.