“Life expectancy would grow by leaps and bounds if green vegetables smelled as good as bacon.” ~Doug Larson
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What Makes ND's Unique?1) Seek the root cause of disease
2) Treat the whole person - mind-body medicine 3) Trained in both conventional and natural medicine 4) Use safe and effective natural therapies 5) Licensed and regulated to perform to cutting edge treatments such as injection and IV therapy |
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Naturopathic Doctors (ND) are trained in the art and science of both conventional and alternative medicines. The primary difference between ND’s and Medical Doctors (MD’s) lies in the naturopathic philosophy to ‘treat the root cause of illness’ and focus on prevention rather than suppressing disease symptoms (see comparison chart below).
Naturopathic Doctors believe that the human body has an innate ability to heal itself if given the proper circumstances. To achieve these circumstances, ND’s integrate standard medical diagnostics and utilize a broad range of natural therapies (such as herbal medicines or nutrition) as opposed to pharmaceutical drugs. Additionally, naturopathic medicine believes that each individual is unique and, therefore, each treatment plan should be tailored to that patient and their unique health concerns. Every person has their individual physiological makeup and, so, it is recognized that although a certain treatment may work for most, it may not be the best for you. Every licensed and registered ND has at least 7 years of post-graduate education, has graduated from an accredited Naturopathic College, has completed a multi-step, licensing exam process and maintains good standing by continually performing continuing education credits. |
Treatment tools:
• Botanical Medicine – herbal plants with medicinal properties
• Nutrition and Lifestyle counselling – dietary analysis, nutrient therapy and lifestyle solutions • Homeopathy – energetic method of healing • Naturopathic Manipulation – spinal alignment and massage/bodywork • Hydrotherapy – utilizes various hot and cold applications (including saunas, ice packs, etc) • Traditional Chinese Medicine – includes acupuncture and the use of Chinese herbs • Intravenous (IV) and injection therapy* - highly effective absorption of vitamins and nutrients *Certain Naturopathic Doctor’s receive extra training and have an additional license in order to practice these therapies |
Principles
The following are principles that Naturopathic doctors use to guide their practice:
• First, do no harm – choose the least invasive, but still effective medicine, as possible • To treat the causes of disease – avoid masking symptoms while allowing the root problem to grow • To teach the principles of healthy living and preventive medicine – teach patient’s to care for themselves and become their own healers • To heal the whole person through individualized treatment – utilize individual treatments tailored to your comfort level and health state • To emphasize prevention – avoid, or decrease the likelihood of, unnecessary illness in your future • To support the healing power of the body – let the body do the work and become stronger in the process |
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Naturopathic Vs Conventional Medicine
A common question that many people have is how does Naturopathic Medicine compare with the conventional approach? There are a number of similarities and also various differences, some larger than other. To help answer this question we have created the following chart so you can compare and contrast Naturopathic and Conventional medical approaches.
