Frequently Asked Questions

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A medical doctor may approach an illness by evaluating symptoms and prescribing pharmaceuticals and/or surgery.  In naturopathic medicine, the goal of treatment is to address the underlying cause of illness, and to treat that cause.  Every person is accepted as a unique being with their own individual experience of illness, and this is identified as important for guiding treatment .  Treatment is aimed at returning the individual to a state of balance and to support the innate ability of the body to heal itself using gentle, non-invasive, natural therapies.  These therapies include nutritional assessment and counselling, botanical medicine, acupuncture, homeopathy, hydrotherapy, stress management skills, and mind-body counselling.  Effective treatment is restorative and promotes whole body health.

No.  Naturopathic doctors are educated to be able to co-manage with medical treatment.  Natural treatments are carefully chosen so that there is no interference with your medication’s effectiveness.  Drug interactions with supplements and nutrients are carefully studied.  Natural treatments and supplements can be very supportive for overall health and make the medications more effective.  A naturopathic doctor will never take a patient off of a medication prescribed by any other physician. This decision must be made between the patient and the prescribing doctor.

Some people come to see a naturopathic doctor with a clear diagnosis and are looking for alternative and/or complementary ways to treat their condition.  We may request laboratory test results from your family doctor and re-evaluate your diagnosis. In some cases, we may be able to offer drugless treatment alternatives.  We are able to provide a second opinion about your condition and offer information to make choices regarding your particular condition.

In Ontario, ND candidates need a minimum of seven years of education before they earn their doctor of naturopathy degree.  This includes at least three years of pre-medical undergraduate studies (usually four) with the completion of a Bachelors degree, and another four years at a recognized college of naturopathic medicine.

At a naturopathic college, naturopathic doctors study many of the same things medical doctors do, including anatomy,  physiology, biochemistry, pathology, pharmacology, and more.  We also have 1500 hours of supervised clinical experience.

After passing written and practical medical board exams, NDs receive their license and  can practice in Ontario., 

Naturopathic doctors can provide treatment for many of the same illnesses that medical doctors can, including:

Naturopathy For Chronic Health Conditions

• Environmental and dietary allergies and sensitivities
• Heart conditions (high blood pressure, angina, artery calcifications, arrhythmia, tachycardia)
• Digestive disorders (Crohn’s, ulcerative colitis, IBS, SIBO, acid reflux (GERD), celiac disease, gastritis, H. pylori, bloating/gas)
• Skin conditions (eczema, psoriasis, acne)
• Chronic fatigue (adrenal fatigue, low iron, stress)
• Autoimmune conditions (lupus, sjogren's disease, Hashimoto's)
• Arthritis (osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis)

Naturopathy For Acute Health Conditions

• Ear, nose, and throat infections
• Headaches
• Colds
• Flu
• Intestinal issues (parasites, travelers diarrhea)
• Bronchitis, sinusitis and pneumonia

Naturopathy For Gynecological Health Conditions

• Menopause
• Menstrual issues, including PMS and cramps
• HPV and irregular PAP tests (cervical dysplasia)
• Infertility
• Endometriosis
• Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
• Uterine fibroids
• Ovarian cysts

Naturopathy For Other Health Conditions

• Weight loss/weight management
• Stress management
• Anxiety and depression management
• Insomnia

Yes, one of the key tenets of naturopathic medicine is “first, do no harm.”  As a result, naturopathic doctors use the safest, least invasive methods of healing to treat your health concerns.  This is why naturopathic doctors have such a focus on natural methods over things like pharmaceuticals and surgery, though there are times where one or both may be necessary.

I collaborate whenever and wherever possible with all my patients’ family doctors and other healthcare specialists.  I believe in health integration.  By working together, we generate the best patient outcomes.

At times, your health concerns may be outside my scope of expertise as a naturopathic doctor or a technique may be needed to further complement your recovery.  In those situations, I will refer you to a healthcare practitioner who is more qualified to handle your unique health concerns.  For example, I may refer you to a psychotherapist to provide CBT as an additional layer of treatment for anxiety, or a physiotherapist for pelvic floor therapy.

Your first visit will be about one hour long. We will thoroughly explore your health concerns, take an extensive medical history to gather important information regarding your physical, mental, and emotional health. A complaint-oriented physical exam may be performed. Depending on your condition, lab tests may be required or previous lab tests from other practitioners/doctors may be requested. Initial recommendations will be given to begin treatment.

The number of visits depends on the concern.  Typically a 2nd visit (45 minutes) is scheduled with 2-4 weeks of the first.  Follow up appointments (30 minutes) are every 1-2 months depending on the case.  Usually with hormonal supports we like to go 2 cycles or months to see how patients are feeling.  If acupuncture treatments are part of the treatment plan, they could be as often as weekly.

Visits to a naturopathic doctor are currently NOT covered by OHIP.  Payment is made in full at the time of the visit and the clinic accepts most credit cards, debit, and cash. Many private insurance plans extended health benefits cover some or all of the cost of a visit to a naturopathic doctor. If you have insurance coverage, you can submit the receipt issued at the time of payment showing the naturopathic doctor’s license number.

Yes.  Naturopathic doctors are the only regulated health professionals in the field of natural medicine in Ontario.  Naturopathic doctors are regulated under the Regulated Health Professionals Act (RHPA) and are able to perform seven (7) controlled acts. Naturopathic Doctors are licensed and governed by the College of Naturopaths of Ontario (CONO).

In Ontario, the public can visit www.collegeofnaturopaths.on.ca. Or, you may call the

College of Naturopaths of Ontario at (416)-583-6017.  Additionally, to find a licensed naturopathic doctor near you, visit www.oand.org