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Naturopathic medicine is a unique and comprehensive approach to improving health and treating illness. Focusing on prevention, and using natural substances and treatments, naturopathic doctors (NDs) support and stimulate the body's ability to heal itself.

The primary goal of naturopathic treatment is to enhance health and prevent disease. When illness does occur, naturopathic doctors see that as an indication that the individual is out of balance internally and with their suroundings. It is an opportunity to address and remove the causes of illness, rather than simply treat or suppress symptoms. The patient is seen as a whole person and the ND takes the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual dimensions into account when diagnosing and developing a treatment plan.

The primary therapies used by naturopathic doctors are: clinical nutrition, botanical medicine, homeopathic medicine, acupuncture and oriental medicine, physical therapies and counselling. In some provinces NDs are authorized to prescribe certain pharmaceutical medications (e.g. bio-identical hormones) and to perform minor surgery.

Naturopathic Therapies

Clinical Nutrition - Clinical nutrition examines the relationship between diet and health. Special diets may be recommended, and treatment may include nutritional supplements such as vitamins, minerals, enzymes, and other nutraceuticals.

Botanical (herbal) Medicine - The use of plants for healing dates back to the beginnings of civilization and is the foundation of modem pharmacology. Plant substances from around the world are used for their healing effects and nutritional value.

Homeopathic Medicine - Based on the principle of "like cures like", homeopathic medicine was developed in the 1700s. Minute amounts of natural substances are used to stimulate the body's self-healing abilities.

Physical Medicine - A variety of hands-on techniques for the spine, joints and soft tissues. Physical treatments used by NDs also include hydrotherapy and the therapeutic use of heat and cold, light, massage, and electrotherapy.

Acupressure and Oriental Medicine - Based on balancing the flow of Chi (energy) through meridian pathways, Oriental medicine includes the use of acupressure and Oriental herbs.

Lifestyle Counselling - Physical, emotional, nutritional and environ- mental factors affect health. NDs help patients to make effective lifestyle choices.

Virtually all chronic and most acute conditions may benefit from treatment by naturopathic doctors. People of all ages can be helped. The most common health conditions brought to NDs include:

Chronic Illnesses

• Allergies & Environmental Illnesses
• Arthritis, Fibromyalgia
• Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
• Hypertension, Atherosclerosis, Heart Problems
• Digestion, Constipation, IBS,
• Eczema, Psoriasis, Acne
• Cystitis, Prostatitis, Impotence

Acute Conditions

• Colds and Flu
• Ear and Throat Infections
• Headaches
• Intestinal Upsets

Women's Conditions

• Hormonal Imbalance
• PMS, Menstrual Disorders
• Menopausal Problems
• Fibrocystic Breast Disease
• Enhancing Health in Pregnancy
• Infertility
• Endometriosis, Uterine Fibroids

Other

• Mental or Emotional Stress
• Anxiety, Depression
• Insomnia
• Attention Deficit Disorder
• Hyperactivity

For examples of how Naturopathic Medicine can be used to strengthen the body's ability to heal and address these conditons, read on.

Digestive disorders (Crohn's, colitis, IBS, ulcers, GERD, bloating and gas)

• Identifying food sensitivities (which are a big factor in contributing to digestive problems)
• Botanical support to increase intestinal wall health
• Dietary recommendations
• Acupressure
• Testing for adequate stomach acid and enzymes

• Lifestyle counseling—where does your stress come from and what can be done to cope more effectively
• Botanicals/herbs that strengthen the stress coping mechanisms and the stress responding organs
• Improving sleep
• Dietary changes (removing sugar, food sensitivities)
• Evaluating blood sugar regulation, thyroid and adrenal function.

• Preventative vitamin/mineral supplementation
• Massage and wet warming socks to stimulate lymph circulation
• Botanical/herbal formulas to boost immune function, adrenal glands and lungs
• Lifestyle recommendations focused on a balance of adequate rest, exercise and eating properly

• Looking at basal body temperature for subclinical thyroid disorders
• Botanical/herbal supplementation
• Hair analysis to check for adequate mineral levels as thyroid function is affected by iodine, selenium, zinc, copper and manganese levels
• Assessing the balance between thyroid, adrenal gland and ovary function.

• Evaluation of hormonal balance especially with respect to thyroid and adrenal function and insulin/glucose regulation
• Eliminating food sensitivities
• Exercise routine
• Ensuring proper mineral levels through hair analysis to ensure that the metabolic processes for energy production are optimal
• Supportive care for lifestyle changes
• Detoxification and cleansing programs are often very helpful

• Screening for food sensitivities by muscle response testing and food rotation diet
• Evaluation of environmental exposure to allergens
• Evaluating the diet and using nutritional supplementation to decrease the allergic response
• Supporting a balanced immune system
• Often caused by candida-related complex.

Pain is produced by inflammatory prostaglandins which are increased when diets are high in trans fatty acids and excess saturated fats
• Supplementation of essential fatty acids (EFA) which are natural anti-inflammatories
• Botanical/herbal anti-inflammatories
• Acupuncture

• Dietary evaluation and recommendations for glucose regulation
• Management of stress response
• Implementation of exercise program
• Botanical support
• Essential fatty acid balance for anti-inflammatory effect
• Assessment of kidney and adrenal gland function

• Herbal & homeopahtic immune system support, dietary recommendations, and strategies to cope with the side effects of chemotherapy and radiation treatments

• Natural ways to improve your overall health
• Provides increased energy through dietary, botanical and homeopathic programs
• Designed to encourage adequate elimination of normal body waste and environmental toxins
• Often used as a starting point for many treatment plans including weight loss programs

• Dietary recommendations for optimal energy production and performance
• Botanicals, homeopathics, and nutritional supplementation to counteract the extra oxidative stresses that training produces

• Who says you have to be sick to “see the doctor”? Enlist the help of your naturopathic doctor to improve your health and well-being, prevent illness and take charge of your life.