Naturopathic Medicine and Family Health Care Naturopathic Medicine is an innovative way of looking at health and wellness that takes its roots in may ancient healing traditions. One of the main principles of the Naturopathic philosophy is treating the whole person: mind, body and spirit. In this way, we see health as the normal state in the body which is easily influenced by our environment, our every day experiences and our emotions. The Naturopathic practitioner seeks to discover the underlying causes of illness, and rather than merely suppressing the symptoms of the disease, support the body to promote healing with various remedies and lifestyle changes. The fundamental philosophy is trusting that within each person, when obstacles are removed, there is an innate ability to heal ourselves. It follows then that there is much emphasis on self responsibility for health, prevention and patient education. Naturopathic Doctors do their very best to listen carefully to what their patient has to say about their bodies and their state of mind and then, as treatment continues, help the patient to understand how and why certain diseases may have manifested within their bodies and how changing lifestyle, diet and using various remedies will help them to make positive changes in their health. Naturopathic health care is for those who want to take control of their lives and their health. It is for those who want to understand which actions and attitudes contribute to better health. Old ideas of pregnancy as a pathological or even dangerous state that must be carefully and medically managed are being exposed as myths. Women are trusting their bodies and their instincts and realizing that pregnancy is a normal state in the female body. Many women planning a pregnancy now see a Naturopath, especially to consult on issues such as diet, supplementation, and general lifestyle and wellness concerns. Women who have had repeated miscarriages or who have difficulty conceiving often consult a Naturopath who will supervise a cleansing and tonification program to prepare the body for healthy pregnancies. Pregnant women may also consult a Naturopath as part of their general prenatal plan, or to consult if any concerns such as morning sickness, pre-term labour, varicose veins, hemorrhoids, headaches, heartburn, pre-eclampsia or Pregnancy Induced Hypertension arise. Naturopaths use many time proven remedies to help to prepare a woman’s body for the work of labouring and birth and these remedies are discussed and prescribed to women during prenatal visits. Many of these remedies help to shorten labour, prevent hemorrhage and help to heal tissue and therefore promote a speedy recovery after the birth. Naturopathic Doctors must study at least 7 years to become eligible to practice in Ontario, and follow the same university pre-medical education as is received by all doctors. The Naturopathic portion of the program comprises 4 years (over 4,500 hours) of dedicated training leading to a Doctorate of naturopathic Medicine from an approved institution, with over 12,300 hours of supervised clinical experience at the colleges' out-patient clinic. There are four institutions in the United States and one in Canada that offer approved naturopathic education. All Naturopathic Doctors practicing in Ontario must write and pass international competence examinations before obtaining their license. It is important to ask your natural health practitioner how they were trained and how they are licensed and regulated.
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