What is Naturopathic Medicine?

Naturopathic medicine has been a huge part of my life for almost a decade now. Throughout those years, I’ve realized that few people know exactly what naturopathic medicine is, or exactly what I do in my practice. Here’s a little bit about naturopathic medicine, my education, as well as what my practice looks like.

Naturopathic medicine is based on six principles:

First Do No Harm
As with most medical professions, our first goal is to cause no harm to our patients- no matter the treatment.

The Healing Power of Nature
Naturopathic doctors recognize that nature has innate healing power. This can be applied to many different things- understanding the benefits of nature on mental health, harnessing the power of plants via herbal medicine, and more. Of course, this doesn’t mean we are against other forms of treatment (many naturopathic doctors also carry prescription rights)- it’s just the ability to decide when/if natural treatments are indicated. This also encompasses recognizing the body’s ability to heal itself, and our role is to help guide that process, rather than override it.

Identify and Treat the Root Causes
This is one of the principles I rely on most. We are looking to find and treat the root cause, rather than only treating symptoms. By treating the root cause, we are creating a long-term solution. Of course, there are situations in which we need to treat acute symptoms in order to be able to work towards the root cause- we always have the ultimate goal of finding the root cause in mind.

Doctor as Teacher
My role as a doctor is more than just treatment. I also strive to educate my patients about their health, and empower them to take control of their health. I want my patients to understand what is happening in their bodies, and why I choose each treatment for them. My goal is for patients to understand their health, and empower them to be aware of their own health.

Treat the Whole Person
I treat each person like a puzzle. There are so many pieces to a puzzle- I am looking at your primary health concern but also your medical history, lifestyle, exercise, hydration, family medical history, lab tests, etc. Having as much information as possible allows me to make appropriate and effective treatment decisions.

Prevention
Naturopathic medicine recognizes the importance of prevention. Creating a healthy lifestyle can support a healthy future. Of course, this is not true for all health conditions, but many can be prevented entirely by early intervention and/or lifestyle and health changes.

Education

Naturopathic doctors have at least eight years of post-secondary education: an undergraduate degree as well as a four year naturopathic medical degree with a residency. I have an undergraduate degree in Human Kinetics from UBCO, and did my naturopathic medical schooling at Boucher Institute of Naturopathic Medicine. The naturopathic degree included over 4770 in-class hours as well as over 1200 hours of clinical training. Licensing requirements included professional licensing exams (after both second year and fourth year), as well as BC practical board exams and juris prudence. Naturopathic doctors are regulated by the College of Naturopathic Physicians of BC.

My Practice

My treatment options include (but aren’t limited to) dietary counselling, lifestyle counselling, lab testing, botanical medicine (herbs), supplements, acupuncture, vitamin IV therapy, muscle & joint injections, physical adjustments, and more. I also hold prescription rights- meaning I can prescribe most medications if necessary. I practice evidence based medicine, and all of my treatments and recommendations are research-informed. For information about my treatments, check out the “Services” tab on my home page.

As you can see above, the scope of practice for naturopathic doctors in BC is extensive. That’s one of my favorite things about naturopathic medicine- I have so many different tools to be able to help my patients.

For new patients, or those just starting their health journeys, I recommend a naturopathic intake before any other visits. This an hour long visit where I ask about a million questions- everything about your current health status, to family history, to lifestyle, etc. At the end of the visit, I make a treatment plan for you based on all the information we gathered during the hour. Treatment plans are made specifically for each patient- as no two patients are the same, neither are my treatment plans.

I typically recommend a follow up between 1-3 weeks after the first appointment to touch base on how things are going and if we need to make changes to the treatment plan. That being said, follow up time and frequency depends on the treatment and the patient.

I’m passionate about naturopathic medicine and love sharing that passion with my patients. If you have questions about naturopathic medicine in general or my specific treatments, you can book in for a complimentary 15 minute meet & greet.