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What is a Naturopathic Physician?
A Naturopathic Physician is a licensed primary care doctor who is clinically trained to diagnose and treat many of the same conditions that a medical doctor would. After receiving a 4 year bachelor degree they enter a 4-6 year graduate-level medical school training and are educated in the conventional medical sciences including anatomy, physiology, immunology, laboratory diagnosis, pharmacology, gastroenterology, gynecology, and pediatrics. In addition to the standard medical curriculum, they are required to complete training in clinical nutrition, botanical medicine, homeopathy, hydrotherapy, physical medicine and counselling. Upon completion, graduates must pass 16 licensing examinations adminstered by the North American Board of Naturopathic Examiners (NABNE) and then licensing in BC. Naturopathic physicians must carry malpractice insurance, maintain continuing education and practice ethically and professionally according to board standards.
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What is the difference between a M.D. and a N.D.?
Both medical doctors and naturopathic doctors are trained to prevent, diagnose and treat disease. The difference is that a medical doctor will diagnose and treat the symptoms using primarily surgery or pharmaceutical drugs. A naturopathic doctor will diagnose and treat the whole person, looking for the underlying cause of the symptoms, and then treat using a variety of natural therapies.
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Are you covered by my health insurance?
Patients need to determine if their extended health insurance covers naturopathic medical care. Please contact your provider directly to discuss coverage for visits, laboratory testing and supplements. We will provide you with an invoice that is ready for remittance to your insurance provider but ask that you pay us directly for our services. If your provider does not cover our services, ask them why.
MSP also provides 12 visits a year to those on MSP premium assistance. These visits can be used with chiropractors, massage therapists and naturopathic physicians. At your first appointment we will check your MSP number to see if you are eligible and to determine how many visits you have left if you've seen other practitioners. |
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Is a Naturopathic Physician different than a homeopath or a "natural path" or "naturopath"?
Homeopathy is one of the modalities that a N.D. is trained to use. Homeopaths use only homeopathic medicines and are not necessarily primary care physicians. For many years the name "naturopath" and Naturopathic Physician have been used interchangeably. It is common to hear patients still refer to N.D.s as naturopaths. Those with the title "natural paths" are people who have taken training in natural therapies such as herbal or homeopathic medicine. These courses are usually by correspondence or distant learning and are usually a few months to one year long. Although trained in some natural medicines, they are not physicians and do not have the clinical experience or years of training that naturopathic physicians have. |
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Do you treat (name the disease)?
As naturopathic physicians, we treat the individual, not the disease. Patients often have a variety of symptoms that need to be addressed but each person will be given a different treatment plan that is tailored to their needs. Everyone has their own individual response to their environment and illness. Treating ten people for depression with one treatment plan ignores what makes them an individual. What works for one person may not work for the next. |
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How many times will I have to see my Naturopathic Doctor?
It depends on the nature of your condition. Some individuals heal more quickly and are seen less often. In general after your initial visit you will return to the clinic for a follow-up appointment the following week to check your progress. Some patients are seen weekly for a period of time while others are seen monthly in the beginning. The goal is to bring you to a greater level of health, so typically visits become less necessary and frequent over time. |
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