“But what IS a naturopathic doctor, really?”

The beautiful (and sometimes frustrating) thing about naturopathic medicine is that each naturopathic doctor (ND) practices differently, so it can be difficult to know what to expect. You can go to 10 different NDs, each with a different way of treating and approaching care, and they can all be effective. This because naturopathic medicine is based on individualized treatment, and while NDs are all trained in a variety of modalities (herbal medicine, homeopathy, Traditional Chinese medicine, etc), each ND has a different experience with each one.

Another confusing aspect is that naturopathic medicine is not regulated everywhere. In Canada, the term “naturopathic doctor” is protected by law only in Ontario and British Columbia. This means that if you find a registered ND in either of these two provinces, you can be sure they have the proper education, passed all their licensing exams, and are governed by a regulatory body that helps to protect the public.

So… when I get asked “what is naturopathic medicine?”, my response is always “Good question.”

Though there are many differences between all NDs, here’s what you can expect from all NDs practicing in Ontario:

1. They have completed a rigorous 4 year medical program (which requires at least an undergraduate degree with a competitive GPA in scientific prerequisites for entry). The last year comprises of a 12 month internship where interns provide care to patients under the supervision of a licensed naturopathic doctor.
2. They have passed the Naturopathic Physicians Licensing Examinations (NPLEX), a two step board exam process similar to those required from conventional medical schools. This tests the knowledge of biomedical sciences in addition to all our alternative modalities (homeopathy, botanical medicine, etc).
3. They are registered with the College of Naturopaths of Ontario (CONO), a regulatory body with the focus on the protection of the public.
4. They are trained on ordering and reviewing bloodwork and labs, including those outside of the OHIP system (in other words, access to labs medical doctors (MDs) cannot freely order e.g. IgE or food allergy testing). This is at an additional cost to the patient.
5. They have medical equipment, and know how to use it! You can find your neighbourhood ND with a stethoscope, blood pressure cuff, reflex hammer, etc. They are trained as primary healthcare practitioners.
6. They must attend conferences, view webinars, etc to receive continuing education credits every year to maintain their license to practice, similar to MDs and many other regulated professional bodies.

And last but not least, since naturopathic services operate outside of OHIP (although is covered under many extended health insurance plans), your ND has more time to make sure you leave your appointment feeling heard, sift through all the medical jargon with you, and discuss your options with you. After all, docere in Latin means to teach.

If you’d like to know more about what to expect in a visit with me, check out “What To Expect”.

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