Naturopathic medicine has evolved since the early 19th century and its origins in Europe as a curative system - "nature cure" - reliant upon water (hydrotherapy), diet, herbs, fresh air and sunshine. In early 20th century North America, naturopathy included homeopathy, spinal manipulation, and other natural therapies to its "nature cure" foundation. Today, naturopathic medicine has continued to evolve, incorporating natural therapies with scientific knowledge and training. The main therapies used by our naturopathic doctors are acupuncture, botanical medicine, homeopathy, hydrotherapy, nutrition, and lifestyle counseling.
How does Naturopathic medicine work?
Naturopathic medicine works to enhance the body's own healing power. One of our basic tenets is vis medicatrix naturae (the healing power of nature), which honours not only the curative effects of natural therapies, but also our body's attempts to move to a balanced state of health. Each of us is capable of self-healing; unfortunately, our own capabilities are obscured by poor diet, little-to-no exercise, poor air and water quality, daily work, and life stressors. This results in cellular toxicity - a kind of "white noise" that confuses our perceptions of what our bodies are trying to tell us. The role of the naturopath in millenium medicine is the same as it was in the 1800's: it is that of a teacher, educating you to clear your body of toxins, improve your diet, strengthen your immune system, and ultimately to listen to your body's messages.
What does Naturopathic medicine treat?
Naturopathy treats illness, while focusing on prevention and cure. To accomplish this, naturopathic doctors treat the whole person, rather than isolating a symptom or cluster of problems. In this way, the underlying succeptibility to illness are addressed - whether in the physical body and/or the mental-emotional spheres. When your mind and body are strong, you are better able to fight infections and remain free of dis-ease.
A naturopathic doctor is like an alternative GP. With four years of rigorous education in the medical sciences of pathology and diagnosis and thorough training in each naturopathic modality, your ND is trained to treat your whole family in prevention strategies and serious illness. With this in mind, there is very little that naturopathy cannot treat. Some of the more common health conditions that we see at our clinic include:
- Allergies and environmental illnesses, Chronic Fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia
- Eczema, acne/acne rosacea, psoriasis
- Acid reflux, Candidiasis, IBS, Crohn's, ulcerative colitis
- Infertility
- PMS/menstrual disorders, uterine fibroids, endometriosis, cervical dysplasia
- Insomnia; depression; anxiety; attention deficit disorder
- Osteoarthritis; rheumatoid arthritis
- Menopausal problems
- Impotence, prostatitis, BPH
- Cancer; MS;
- Headaches/migraines, ear infections; colds and flu
The art and practice of naturopathic medicine is a holistic approach to health that relies upon the clinical experience of the practitioner as well as an intuitive sense of what will work best for each patient. At 360 Health Care we believe strongly in tailoring individual treatment programs to exactly suit each patients needs. There is no right answer for everyone; still we seek to find the right answers to your health, with you.
Naturopathic Medicine in Ontario
Naturopathic medicine is a primary health care profession, which focuses on prevention and uses natural methods to promote healing.
In Canada, naturopathic practice is regulated under provincial law in four provinces: British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario and Saskatchewan. At present, naturopathic doctors (ND) are the only health professionals in Ontario still regulated under the Drugless Practitioners Act of 1925. The process is underway to have them regulated under the Regulated Health Professions Act.
Registered naturopathic doctors are required to complete three years of pre-medical studies at a recognized university followed by four years of full-time naturopathic training at an approved college. After graduation, they must pass rigorous regulatory board examinations that are standardized across North America. The Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine in Toronto is Canada's only recognized training institution.
Naturopathic doctors examine, diagnose and treat patients with programs tailored to each individual and their health conditions. They use a combination of clinical nutrition, homeopathy, botanical (herbal) medicine, acupuncture, physical medicine, and lifestyle counseling, to stimulate the body's self-healing abilities. The treatment focuses on the underlying causes of illness rather than the symptoms, often eliminating or reducing the need for long-term medical care and prescription drugs.
Naturopathic medicine's focus on disease prevention, patient education, health maintenance and the natural treatment of disease results in cost-effective health care in the immediate and long term.
