annemarie@drlacroixnd.com

Those seeking disease prevention and health promotion Individuals with symptoms they could not manage themselves or with other healthcare practitioners Health concerns with no clear diagnosis Patients looking for treatment options for both acute and chronic conditions Individuals seeking to combine natural and conventional medicine to minimize side effects and improve quality of life

An ND cannot prescribe the same pharmaceuticals an MD has access to in Ontario. The Naturopathy Act, 2007 brings Naturopathic Doctors under the Regulated Health Professions Act, 1991. This allows Naturopathic Doctors the ability to prescribe, dispense compounds and/or sell drugs designated by regulation under the Act. These drugs include vitamins, minerals, amino acids and botanicals. Estrogen and progesterone in bioidentical form can only be prescribed topically or as a suppository. In order to prescribe designated drugs under the Act, Naturopathic Doctors must take the Ontario Prescribing and Therapeutics course and exam.

Naturopathic Doctors undertake a 4 year accredited medical degree during which time, they have over 4,100 hours of classroom training in medical science courses, naturopathic principles and therapeutics and 1,200 hours of supervised clinical practicum.

Naturopathic services are not covered by OHIP. However, several extended health care plans do cover the costs of seeing a Naturopathic Doctor. Check with your insurance provider.

Philosophy Both Medical Doctors and Naturopathic Doctors provide primary care. The difference lies in their philosophical approach. Medical Doctors use pharmaceuticals and surgery to treat patients, often focusing on the symptoms of the disease. Naturopathic Doctors take an individualized and holistic approach to health, using natural therapies to treat the person as a whole. NDs focus on the root cause of disease and they take a proactive approach with an emphasis on prevention, the interconnectedness of body systems and the body’s innate ability to heal itself. Training Naturopathic Doctors get similar training to that of Medical Doctors. Both complete a 3 to 4 year bachelor’s degree followed by 4 years of medical school, where they learn the same basic and diagnostic sciences. One major difference in training is residency. Naturopathic Doctors can complete a two-year residency but this is not required by law. Another major difference in training is therapy. In addition to learning about conventional treatments, Naturopathic Doctors get extensive training in natural therapies. Licensure Before getting licensed, NDs and MDs need to pass licensing and board exams. NDs in Ontario are licensed and regulated by the College of Naturopaths of Ontario. MDs in Ontario obtain registration to practice in Ontario from either the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada or the College of Family Physicians of Canada. Clinic Visits and Coverage Another difference between NDs and MDs is the time spent with patients and coverage. NDs can spend longer with patients, with initial visits often being the longest at 1-1.5hours and subsequent visits anywhere from 30-60 minutes. Currently, Naturopathic care is paid for out of pocket but treatments are often covered by extended health care plans. An integrative model of care is optimal for the patient with MDs and NDs both playing equally important roles to optimize your health. I welcome the opportunity to work with any and all of your healthcare practitioners.

Naturopathic Doctors all share common principles and philosophies but they can vary widely on how they practice these, including which natural therapies they use more heavily and the conditions they may focus on if their practice isn’t general. Here are five things to look for when choosing a Naturopathic Doctor: 1. They have a naturopathic medical degree from an accredited four year naturopathic medical college: The Boucher Institute of Naturopathic Medicine (New Westminster, British Columbia) The Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine (Toronto, Ontario) The National College of Natural Medicine (Portland, Oregon) Bastyr University (Seattle, Washington) The University of Bridgeport College of Naturopathic Medicine (Bridgeport, Connecticut) Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine and Health Sciences (Scottsdale, Arizona) The National University of Health Sciences Naturopathic Program (Lombard, Illinois) 2. They passed rigorous board exams to obtain their license 3. Do they have a focus on a particular condition or specific natural therapies? This can often be determined through their website or blog posts. 4. You should feel comfortable. Oftentimes NDs will offer 15 minute consults which allows you to gage whether it will be a good fit for you. Just like treatment plans, a doctor that may be right for one person may not be right for the next. The following website will help you search for an ND near you in Ontario: https://oand.org

I will gather a thorough medical history both current and past along with getting to know your chief concerns. This appointment is 1 hour followed by 30-60 minute follow ups. Depending on the case, recommendations will be made in the first visit or if more research is needed, in the second appointment. The process will be collaborative and with your input, an individualized and feasible treatment plan can be made so that you can achieve your health goals.