The world of naturopathic medicine is different than the traditional western medicine many of my patients are more familiar with.

But even those similarities can have differences. For example, a medical doctor may also be an acupuncturist, but the way they practice acupuncture will likely differ from how a naturopathic doctor practices it. A similar logic also applies to nutritionists, chiropractors and other holistic practitioners. Having been practicing naturopathic medicine since 2003, I’ve had people ask hundreds if not thousands of questions over the years. Additionally, my PhD in clinical pharmacology provides me with another perspective of the disease processes going on in a patients’ body and how drugs/supplements may impact the patient. Below you’ll find some of the more common ones. Please note that nothing you see in this article is intended as medical advice. This article is for informational purposes only. For more detailed answers, visit a naturopathic doctor, such as myself.

IS A NATUROPATHIC DOCTOR A REAL DOCTOR?

A naturopathic doctor is one of the professions in Ontario that hold the doctor title (Dr.) as per the Regulated Health Professions Act. Academics who hold a PhD, such as myself, also hold a doctor title.

HOW IS A NATUROPATHIC DOCTOR TRAINED?

In Ontario, individuals need to take a minimum of seven years of education before they earn their doctor of naturopathy degree. This includes at least three years of pre-medical undergraduate studies (usually four) with the completion of a Bachelors degree, and another four years at a recognized college of naturopathic medicine. There are currently seven recognized colleges – the Council on Naturopathic Medical Education maintains a list here. At a naturopathic college, naturopathic doctors study some of the same things medical doctors do, including anatomy (yes, cadavers!), physiology, biochemistry, pathology, pharmacology and more. We also have 1500 hours of supervised clinical experience.

WHAT SORTS OF TREATMENT DO NATUROPATHIC DOCTORS USE?

Naturopathic doctors use a wide range of different therapies. Depending on your naturopathic doctor, you may experience treatment with: • Botanical medicine • Homeopathy • Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) • Acupuncture • Hydrotherapy • Clinical Nutrition • Lifestyle Counselling Your naturopathic doctor may have extended qualifications in other areas as well. In addition to the modalities above, I, for example, am qualified in the following treatments: • Therapeutic Prescribing • Intravenous Infusion Therapy

WHAT CAN NATUROPATHIC MEDICINE TREAT?

Naturopathic doctors can treat many of the same illnesses that medical doctors can, including:

Chronic Health Conditions Treated With Naturopathy

• Environmental and dietary allergies and sensitivities • Heart conditions (high blood pressure, angina, artery calcifications, arrhythmia, tachycardia) • Digestive disorders (Crohn’s, colitis, IBS, SIBO, acid reflux (GERD), gastritis, H. pylori, bloating/gas) • Skin conditions (eczema, psoriasis, acne, melasma) • Fatigue (adrenal fatique, low iron, stress) • Sexual dysfunction (vaginal dryness, low libido, erection difficulties, low sperm count) • Autoimmune conditions (lupus, sjogren’s syndrome, autoimmune kidney disease) • Arthritis (osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, AS)

Acute Health Conditions Treated With Naturopathy

• Ear, nose, and throat infections • Headaches • Colds • Flu • Intestinal issues (parasites, travelers diarrhea) • Bronchitis, sinusitis and pneumonia

Gynecological Health Conditions Treated With Naturopathy

• Menopause • Menstrual issues, including PMS and cramps • HPV and irregular PAP tests (cervical dysplasia) • Infertility • Endometriosis • Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) • Uterine fibroids • Ovarian cysts

Other Health Conditions Treated With Naturopathy

• Weight loss/weight management • Stress management • Anxiety and depression management • Insomnia • Cancer support Please note that the above is not an exhaustive list. If you have a health condition not listed above, contact me to find out what your options are.

IS NATUROPATHIC MEDICINE SAFE?

One of the key tenets of naturopathic medicine is “first, do no harm.” As a result, naturopathic doctors use the safest, least invasive methods of healing to treat your health concerns. This is why naturopathic doctors have such a focus on natural methods over things like pharmaceuticals and surgery, though there are times where one or both may be necessary.

DO NATUROPATHIC DOCTORS WORK WITH OTHER DOCTORS?

I collaborate whenever and wherever possible with all my patients’ family doctors and other healthcare specialists. I believe in health integration. By working together, we generate the best patient outcomes. At times, your health concerns may be outside my scope of expertise as a naturopathic doctor or a technique may be needed to further complement your recovery. In those situations, I will refer you to a healthcare practitioner who is more qualified to handle your unique health concerns. For example, I may refer you to a psychotherapist to provide CBT as an additional layer of treatment for anxiety.

IS NATUROPATHIC MEDICINE BASED ON SCIENCE?

Yes, absolutely. The body of evidence supporting naturopathic medicine is growing every day. In most of the articles you read on this site, you’ll find references to many different scholarly journals. Most of the diet information you read in the scientific literature, for example, is based in naturopathic medicine. In recent years, you have read about the many benefits of vitamin D, fish oils, probiotics and other supplements; all of these are naturopathic medicine. If someone states that there are no data to support naturopathic medicine, they are ill informed and not up-to-date on the scientific literature.

IS A HOMEOPATH AND A NATUROPATH THE SAME THING?

Healthcare practitioners who specialize in homeopathy are called homeopaths. They are different from naturopathic doctors in that while naturopathic doctors may use homeopathy in their treatments, they will also use a number of other modalities. Homeopaths, on the other hand, generally use only homeopathy.

IS A NATUROPATHIC DOCTOR AND A DOCTOR OF NATURAL MEDICINE THE SAME THING?

The short answer is no. A doctor of natural medicine degree is not regulated and licensed in Ontario, so anyone may call themselves a doctor of natural medicine.

HOW DO I KNOW IF MY NATUROPATHIC DOCTOR IS LICENSED?

The College of Naturopaths of Ontario maintains a public list of registered naturopathic doctors in the province of Ontario. You can find the registry here. If you look up my name, Jean-Jacques Dugoua, you’ll find this page. That gives you more information about my history with the college and what I’m qualified to practice. The college also maintains a list of people known to have been promoting themselves as naturopathic doctors without licensing to do so. You can find that list here.

CONTACT DR. JJ

These are just a few of the most common questions I get asked as a naturopathic doctor, but by no means the only ones. If you have questions about naturopathic medicine, or you’d like to take your first step into the world of naturopathy, contact me, Dr. JJ, and let’s book an appointment. This article originally appeared on the website of Dr. Jean-Jacques "JJ" Dugoua. It has been republished here on Steemit with the full permission of the original source.