Why Should I See A Naturopathic Doctor?

I hear this question a lot.

This is both an opportunity to educate and a bit of a difficult question to answer.

Naturopathic Doctors (NDs) have a large scope of training in a variety of natural modalities, that it is hard to give a short answer to this question.

First of all, what is a Naturopathic Doctor?

The easiest place to start is to describe what it takes to become a Naturopathic Doctor or ND. All licensed NDs have completed a Bachelor’s degree, with pre-requisites in basic science courses, and then complete 4 years of Naturopathic Medical School, including 1 year of residency and 2 sets of board exams. Passing these board exams allows NDs to use the following modalities in practice: nutrition, acupuncture, herbal medicine, physical medicine, hydrotherapy and homeopathy. NDs also learn diagnostic skills, how to interpret lab results, and when to refer out for a more emergent, or serious conditions. In some provinces like Ontario and British Columbia, an additional set of exams allows us to prescribe certain pharmaceuticals.

Naturopathic Doctors have a unique philosophy regarding healthcare. An ND focuses on treating the root cause of disease when possible. Although sometimes it is important to treat the symptoms, such as pain, NDs do so while at the same time try to understand the reason the pain exists in the first place.

Now don’t get me wrong, your medical doctor may also try to treat the root cause (after all, the hippocratic oath a medical doctor swears upon in medical school includes this). However, the way our healthcare system is set up, your medical doctor only has 10 minutes with you to figure it out. Naturopathic Doctors have private practices, meaning they are not covered by government health care in Canada and so they spend a lot more time with you to figure out what is wrong with you.

Here I provide a good example: women with painful periods often take painkillers to help manage their cramps. An ND might explore why the cramps are there in the first place? What are the hormone levels? Maybe the diet is contributing to the pain? How could stress or lifestyle be a factor in the cramps? As part of this exploration, NDs address the whole person – both mental and physical aspects of health.

Top reasons to see a licensed Naturopathic Doctor (ND):

1. You aren’t feeling your best, and nobody can tell you why.

Maybe you are feeling run down, and more tired than usual. You’ve been gaining weight and can’t seem to lose it. Or maybe you keep getting sick and it’s taking you a long time to recover. Or you get bloated seemingly randomly throughout the day or month. These are symptoms that people tend to live with and eventually start thinking that they are normal. Symptomatic treatments may have helped initially, but now you just don’t know where to go. This is where a Naturopathic doctor will work with you by taking a thorough history, performing physical exams and ordering lab tests, to help tie your symptoms together and find a root cause.

2. You have a chronic condition and have been told there is no treatment available

As NDs, we often see patients after they have been struggling with a health issue for a long time, and been told there is no treatment or cure available. Common examples include irritable bowel syndrome, allergies, eczema, psoriasis, acne, depression, anxiety, chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, and autoimmune diseases. Although there may be no cure available for some of these conditions, NDs can help to manage chronic conditions by balancing the immune system, decreasing inflammation, using specific herbal treatments and prescribing therapeutic diets.

3. You are experiencing side effects from medications

Pharmaceutical medications can be very effective for managing certain conditions, but often come with side effects. Your ND can tell you which nutrients or vitamins are depleted by your medication, and give you safe options for managing side effects. In some cases, your ND can help you replace medication with effective natural alternatives, with fewer side effects. 

4. You are in pain

A common reason for chronic medication use is pain. However, prolonged use of pain medication is associated with liver and digestive problems. Chronic pain, especially joint pain, can be associated with specific foods you are eating in your diet, being overweight, or generalized inflammation in the body. Naturopathic Doctors can help identify the cause of your pain and help to minimize it through the use of acupuncture, diet, herbs and other treatment options.

5. You would like a more integrative health care plan

Naturopathic Doctors like to work as one part of your health care team, and that is why you will often see NDs working in multi-disciplinary clinics. We aim to communicate our evidence-based approach with your other health care providers and doctors to ensure you are receiving a comprehensive treatment plan. Although generally safe, supplements can still interact with medications and an ND is an expert in prescribing the right supplements in the right form and at the right dose for you. 

6. You would like a “health coach” or “health consultant” and want to learn more about preventative medicine for you and your family

Naturopathic Doctors are trained in health. Symptoms are your body’s way of communicating that certain systems within your body need some attention, and a Naturopathic Doctor can help get you back to optimal health and symptom-free living.  By managing symptoms when they first occur, and optimizing your diet, body weight and lifestyle, you can prevent a variety of health conditions and your ND can show you where to start!

To find a licensed ND in your area, look up the naturopathic association or regulatory college and look up their directory. If you would like to work with me, I practice in Ottawa, Ontario or am available virtually to anyone in Ontario. Please book an appointment by clicking the button below.

Dr. Diana Semjonov ND

Diana Semjonov is a board certified Naturopathic Doctor practicing in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. If you would like to schedule an appointment or set up a free 15 minute consultation, please book online at www.DrDianaND.com.
  1. Charlotte Fleet left a comment on June 29, 2021 at 9:21 pm

    I like how you said that it is a good idea to see a naturopathic doctor if you have gained weight that you don’t know how to lose. My older brother has put on some weight this year and he can’t seem to lose it. I’ll recommend that he find a reliable naturopathic doctor that can help him figure out the best way to take off that weight.

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