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News for August, 2009

Covered By Insurance?

Check Your Insurance Plan For Coverage of Naturopathic Medicine

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Frequently Asked Questions:

What is a Naturopathic Doctor?

Naturopathic Doctors are professionally trained primary health care providers focusing on natural medicine as treatment for disease and illness. In addition to requiring a Bachelors degree, a Naturopathic Doctor spend 4 years of full-time study in a recognized Naturopathic Medical program.

 

Are Naturopathic Doctors Regulated?

N.D's are regulated by the province of Manitoba as professionals and are licensed and governed by the Manitoba Naturopathic Association.

 

What is the difference between a Naturopathic Doctor and a Homeopathic Doctor?

Both Homeopathic and Naturopathic doctors share some common educational experiences including medical sciences and clinical sciences. However, a Homeopathic Doctor focuses treatment on the use of homeopathic preparations in conjunction with lifestyle or dietary considerations. A Naturopathic Doctor has additional training in many approaches to address individual concerns using a variety of natural medicines such as Chinese formulas and acupuncture, botanical medicines, nutritional supplements, plus others in addition to homeopathics.

 

What training does a Naturopathic Doctor have?

A Naturopathic Doctor must first complete a bachelor's degree including pre-requisite courses such as biochemistry and organic chemistry. The Naturopathic program is a four year full-time course of study with practical first hand experience in patient care. Each doctor receives training in basic medical sciences, laboratory sciences, clinical diagnostic skills, naturopathic modalities and clinical training. The medical sciences include core areas such as physiology, anatomy, pathology, microbiology plus numerous others, comparable to most medical schools. Laboratory sciences focus on diagnostic imaging, radiology, blood chemistry, urine chemistry, in addition to other specialized laboratory tests. The clinical sciences include diagnostic evaluation, physical examination assessment, patient care, and other primary care skills. The clinical experience begins in second year and persists into fourth year and is supervised by licensed Naturopathic Doctors.

 

What health concerns can be addressed with naturopathic medicine?

Most health concerns can be addressed with naturopathic care, whether acute conditions or chronic disease, treatment plans will be developed to address your concerns. Some examples of concerns are: skin disorders, neurological concerns, cardiovascular disease, intestinal health and illness, allergies and autoimmune concerns, immune disorders, as well as mental and emotional well-being. A general list of individual conditions is available in Services and Treatments

 

Is Naturopathic medicine covered by health plans?

Many health care plans are adopting coverage for naturopathic consultations and treatments. Additionally, the extent of coverage my vary from partial to complete. Each plan is different so it is best to consult your plan provider or read the details of your plan policy for your coverage details.

 

I feel fine, why should I bother with naturopathic medicine?

There are three good reasons to explore naturopathic medicine when you feel nothing is wrong. Firstly, prevention is key to a life of good health. In order to prevent diseases such as heart disease, cancer, and diabetes, as well as numerous others, it is best to address these as early as possible. Often times we have a familiar disposition towards some or many diseases. This disposition may make it more likely that you may experience this disease in you lifetime. In order to guard against this disposition, naturopathic medicine can offer a repetoire of preventative medicines and strategies addressing the prevention of disease. Secondly, with todays demands and restrictions it may be difficult to achieve optimum health without guidance from a qualified professional. Information is everywhere on what foods to eat, what activities to perform and avoid, what supplements to take, and comprehending what is applicable to you can be challenging especially when you are trying to make the best of your health. Naturopathic medicine offers you powerful tools combined with the knowledge of a health care professional to lead you on the path to optimum health. Thirdly, what you don't know can't hurt you, may be the biggest mistake of your life. Naturopathic consultations are very detailed, examining the complete person from the mental/emotional and physical aspects. An extensive screening exam, including urine and blood work will help to detect any underlying cause for concern. There are some very concerning conditions that can be detected early and treated with naturopathic health care.

 

Will treatments recommended by my Naturopathic Doctor interfere with treatments I am receiving from my medical doctor?

Naturopathic medicines offer a safer alternative to presciption medications, however, there are so many pharmaceuticals available that it is important to disclose all current medications and treatments to avoid any adverse reactions. Each recommendation will be thoroughly researched to avoid any complication or adverse reactions with current treatments recommended by your medical doctor. Additionally, it is important to follow the guidelines set out by your naturopathic doctor to ensure the most compatibility with current medications. Over time, once improvements are made, you may discuss the option of removing medications with your medical doctor.

 

Do Naturopathic Doctors interact with other health care providers?

Yes, naturopathic doctors interact with other health care providers in order to provide the neccessary care. This may include requesting laboratory, diagnostic testing and imaging reports. Additionally, referral to other health care providers may be necessary to provide optimum care.