What conditions can be treated with naturopathic medicine?
Naturopathic medicine can be used to prevent, manage or treat a variety of health conditions. Naturopathic Doctors (NDs) are particularly well versed in the management of chronic conditions such as diabetes, elevated blood pressure and cholesterol levels, arthritis, and thyroid conditions, skin conditions such as eczema, acne and psoriasis, among others.
NDs also value illness prevention and the optimization of health and wellness. Treatment may be used to support immune function and prevent cold and flu and other infections. Also, patients with a family history of certain health conditions (e.g. Type II Diabetes) can benefit from guidance on how to avoid developing the condition themselves through various preventative measures. NDs also have in their arsenal of natural therapies various options for managing acute illness such as infections, injuries, and joint and muscle pain.
In some circumstances, your ND may recommend a visit to a different healthcare provider if specialized care is needed or if your health concerns would benefit from a different approach or form of treatment.
What can I expect from a visit with a Naturopathic Doctor?
An initial visit with an ND often surprises new patients as it differs so much from their past healthcare experiences. NDs strongly value the therapeutic experience and aim to explore all aspects of a patient’s health and wellness. Because of this attention to detail, an initial visit with an ND is usually 60 to 90 minutes long and includes clinical interview, physical examination and the start of treatment. This allows sufficient time for patients to discuss all of their concerns, to ask questions and to be heard by their ND. Follow-up visits may take 30 to 60 minutes depending on the therapies being administered. The frequency of visits is determined based on the condition being treated and the type of treatment being used; this can be discussed with your ND at the time of your initial visit.
