Why Should One Consult with a Naturopathic Doctor?

  • You want to achieve optimal health, starting NOW!
  • You are using supplements and/or herbs with medications or would like to use these together, safely, with professional advice and with limited adverse effect.
  • You want to explore and add natural medical care as a complementary therapy for you and your family's healthcare plan.
  • You have an interest in preventative, long-term health and would like to improve your diet and lifestyle.
  • You are not achieving the desired results with conventional treatment and/or experiencing side effects from medications.
  • You have a condition and have been told "live with it" and/or "nothing else can be done".

What is the Difference Between Conventional Medical Doctors and Naturopathic Doctors?

Naturopathic medicine emphasizes obtaining and maintaining optimum health while conventional medicine emphasizes and manages disease and its symptoms. 

Naturopathic doctors work with the body's own resources to balance and regulate normal physiological processes. Therefore, the aim of naturopathic doctors is to assist and enhance the body's own ability to heal itself.

What Therapies do Naturopathic Doctors use?

Most Naturopathic Doctors are trained to use the following natural therapies to support and stimulate the body to heal itself:

Can a Naturopathic Doctor Order Diagnostic Imaging Tests or Refer Patients to Medical Specialists?

Unfortunately, at this time, naturopathic doctors cannot request diagnostic imaging studies such as x-rays, MRIs and CT Scans. Also, naturopathic doctors cannot refer to medical specialists such as cardiologists, gynecologists, gastro-enterologists, etc.

 It is recommended and beneficial to bring any copies of recent bloodwork or imaging results to your appointment with your naturopath.

Is Naturopathic Medicine Covered by OHIP?

Unfortunately, naturopathic care is not covered by OHIP, however, most extended health care plans do cover some or all of your consultation fees and some may cover lab test costs. 

Please refer to the details of your extended benefits package.

What Type of Education and Training Does a Degree in Naturopathic Medicine Require?

Naturopathic doctors are one of the only licensed primary care providers in the field of complementary medicine. Licensed naturopathic doctors in Ontario have met the following requirements:
    • A Bachelor Degree, including prerequisite university courses in biology, biochemistry, chemistry, physics, and psychology 4,000+ hours of academic and clinical training and a diploma from a 4-year full-time accredited naturopathic medical college including one year clinical internship
    • Successful completion of North American Licensing Exams (NPLEX) including basic sciences, (anatomy, biochemistry, microbiology, immunology, physiology and pathology), as well as clinical sciences (physical and clinical diagnosis, laboratory diagnosis and diagnostic imaging, pharmacology, emergency medicine, clinical nutrition, physical medicine, botanical medicine, psychology, traditional Chinese medicine and acupuncture and homeopathy)
    • Successful completion of Ontario Licensing Exams including practical exams, (physical and clinical diagnosis, acupuncture and manipulation), as well as an Ontario jurisprudence exam. 
    • Annual continuing education credits after obtaining a license from the Board of Directors of Drugless Therapies – Naturopathy is also required.