What is Naturopathic Medicine?
Naturopathic medicine uses natural substances and treatments to support and stimulate the body's ability to heal itself. Symptoms of disease are seen as warning signals of improper functioning of the body, and unfavourable lifestyle habits. Naturopathic Medicine emphasizes disease as a process rather than as an entity.
Naturopathic Doctors (NDs) take the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual dimensions of the patient into account when diagnosing and developing individualized treatment plans. The primary goal of naturopathic treatment is to address and treat the cause of illness with a focus on education and prevention.
Naturopathic doctors are primary care providers. They diagnose and treat most health concerns including acute and chronic illness. Currently, naturopathic doctors are regulated in British Columbia, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Ontario. Regulation is pending in Alberta, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and the Yukon.