9 Myths about Naturopathic Doctors

Some Naturopathic Doctors are licensed to prescribe pharmaceutical drugs and are trained in the science of interactions between drugs and botanical medicines (pharmacognosy). This expertise positions them to work collaboratively with Medical Doctors as a healthcare team, working towards what’s best for the patient.

Since Naturopathic Doctors work to promote the body’s innate healing ability, even surgery patients can benefit from naturopathic treatment before and after surgery to reduce recovery times, improve immunity, and reduce chance of infection. Naturopathic Doctors treat the underlying causes of symptoms, not just the symptoms themselves, to improve overall health and wellness, complementing mainstream medical treatment goals.

Licensed Naturopathic Doctors are recognized medical professionals with similar training, licensing and regulation as Medical Doctors. The practice of Naturopathic Medicine has been a recognized medical profession in Canada for over 80 years.

In the United States, 12 States, 2 Territories and the District of Columbia have some form of licensing or regulation for Naturopathic Physicians. Click the link for American Legislative Updates.

In Canada, various provinces are struggling to achieve legislation with varying scopes of practice.  Click the link to find more detailed Information about Canadian Regulation Progress in provinces and territories.

Naturopathic Doctors (NDs) in British Columbia are licensed by the College of Naturopathic Physicians of BC (CNPBC), which protects the public by ensuring safe, ethical and competent practice.  As such, only those licensed by the College are permitted to use the terms “Naturopathic Doctor”, “Naturopathic Physician” or “Naturopath”. Colleges are also vigilant in their efforts to protect the public from Unlicensed Practitioners.

American States and Canadian provinces and territories may differ in their naturopathic regulations and scope of practice. Please contact the following Naturopathic Associations to determine what applies in your region:

Regulatory Bodies
College of Naturopaths of OntarioCollege of Naturopathic Physicians of British Columbia
College of Naturopathic Doctors of Alberta

Provincial Naturopathic Associations
College of Naturopathic Doctors of Alberta
British Columbia Naturopathic Association
Manitoba Naturopathic Association
New Brunswick Association of Naturopathic Doctors
Nova Scotia Association of Naturopathic Doctors
Prince Edward Island Association of Naturopathic Doctors
Saskatchewan Association of Naturopathic PractitionersQuebec Association of Naturopathic Medicine
Ontario Association of Naturopathic Doctors

National Naturopathic Associations
Canadian Association of Naturopathic Doctors (CAND)
American Association of Naturopathic Physicians (AANP)

Naturopathic Medical Education
Bastyr University
Boucher Institute of Naturopathic Medicine
Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine
National College of Naturopathic MedicineNational University of Health Sciences
Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine

A Medical Doctor  (MD) cannot be a Naturopathic Doctor (ND) at the same time or vice versa, as each profession is regulated by its own College. In Canada, Medical Doctors primarily bill the Government for mainstream medical care. Unfortunately, Alternative or Complementary healthcare falls outside of government coverage, therefore Visit Fees apply when seeing a Naturopathic Doctor.  Many patients find Extended Health Coverage subsidizes for Naturopathic Medical Costs.

If you have Extended Health Care, ask your provider if a Licensed Naturopathic Doctor’s Services are covered. You may consider asking the following questions:

1. Are Licensed Naturopathic Doctors covered?
2. Are Visit Fees covered, and if so, what is the percentage covered?
3. What additional services are covered, such as Acupuncture, Intravenous Therapies, Lab Tests?
4. What is the dollar amount coverage per year, per family member?

Naturopathic Physicians are as rigorously trained as Medical Doctors.
A minimum of 3 years pre-medical university education and 4 years post-graduate training is required in order to become a Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine.

During this time, students complete a minimum of:

• 1500 hours Basic Clinical Sciences
• 1900 hours Biomedical Therapeutics (Anatomy, Physiology, Biochemistry, Pathology, Microbiology, Immunology, Pharmacology, Laboratory Diagnosis, Clinical & Physical Diagnosis, Radiology, Minor Surgery, Obstetrics, Gynaecology, Women’s Health, Paediatrics, Other Clinical Sciences)
• 1500 hours Clinical Experience (Teaching Clinics, Hospitals, Research)

Training in Naturopathic Therapeutics includes:

• Nutritional Medicine
• Botanical (Herbal) Medicine
• Preventative Medicine
• Manipulative & Physical Medicine
• Traditional Chinese Medicine & Acupuncture
• Homeopathic Medicine
• Intravenous (IV) Therapies (Injecting Vitamins, Minerals or Chelation)

At the conclusion of a Naturopathic Doctor’s training, graduation requires passing Licensing Board Exams. College regulatory requirements include ongoing Continuing Education and Professional Development.

Naturopathic Medicine is becoming more popular these days, as over 40% of Canadians seek supplemental or alternative treatments from Naturopathic Doctors, and over 70% of Canadians would like to.  Similarly educated, licensed and regulated as Medical Doctors, Licensed Naturopathic Physicians lead the natural healthcare charge with the expertise they have earned.

Much research evidence including controlled and double-blind clinical trials exemplifies the scientific validity and efficacy of naturopathic treatments. Naturopathic Doctors consider laboratory testing, physical exam, clinical observation, traditional medical knowledge and logical analysis to evaluate and determine a patient’s diagnosis and treatment options.

Naturopathic Physicians have been a regulated medical profession for over 80 years. Regulated Naturopathic Doctors (NDs) are licensed by a College which protects the public by ensuring safe, ethical and competent practice. As such, only those licensed are permitted to use the terms “Naturopathic Doctor”, “Naturopathic Physician” or “Naturopath”. For example, Naturopathic Doctors (NDs) in British Columbia are licensed by the College of Naturopathic Physicians of BC (CNPBC).

American States and Canadian provinces and territories may differ in their naturopathic regulations and scope of practice. Please contact the Canadian Association of Naturopathic Doctors (CAND) or the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians (AANP) to determine what applies in your region.

Safety concerns may exist when taking treatment from Unlicensed Practitioners. These individuals practice naturopathic medicine fraudulently, posing as a licensed naturopathic doctor without government regulation to monitor their practice.

“Licensed” Naturopathic Physicians have an excellent safety record which emphasizes effective treatments using natural, non-toxic medicines and gentle, non-invasive therapies.  They are licensed to prescribe pharmaceutical drugs with an authoritative knowledge of contraindications and interactions between naturopathic and conventional medicines. Additionally, Naturopathic Doctors are trained to recognize when patients’ needs are outside their scope of practice and to refer to other healthcare professionals when appropriate.

RateMyNaturopath.com has done the research for you, so when you click on a doctor’s name, it will link to all the relevant information about them, including their license validity, practice status and additional certifications.

The efficacy of Naturopathic Treatment depends on four critical factors:

1.  Naturopathic Doctors vary greatly in their practice approaches:

It’s important to research the type of practice a doctor focuses on. For example, if you have a rash, you may want a certain type of treatment over another, whether Acupuncture, Herbal Medicine, Intravenous Therapy or Clinical Nutrition. Even Diagnostic Testing Methods that determine treatment can dramatically differ.  This is exemplified in Food Allergy Testing Types that vary from the lab-based ELISA blood test to an office-based VEGA test.

2.  You Must Work with a Licensed Naturopathic Doctor:

Patients seeing an unlicensed practitioner will not be seeing a regulated Naturopathic Physician, whose education, clinical experience, and practice is monitored under stringent government and regulatory College requirements.  More commonly, patients have no assurance that health food store personnel have any medical knowledge to prescribe natural remedies and prevent drug interactions.

RateMyNaturopath.com has done the research for you, so when you click on a doctor’s name, it will link to all the relevant information about them, including their license validity, practice status and additional certifications. Alternatively, you can go directly to the Canadian Association of Naturopathic Doctors or the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians to determine if a Naturopathic Doctor is licensed.

3.  Must Understand the Naturopathic Approach:

Often Medical Doctors treat to suppress the symptoms which may be a detriment of your overall health. An example is the elimination of headache pain, when the pain may be due to hormonal imbalance, dehydration, toxicity or food allergies. Naturopathic Doctors use therapies that work gradually by treating the cause of the symptoms, to resolve health issues permanently. Although the naturopathic approach generally works to support the body’s ability to heal itself, some Naturopathic Doctors practice similar to Medical Doctors by using natural treatments or drugs (in licensed provinces or states) for symptom relief.  This highlights that Not All Naturopathic Doctors are Equal. It is critical to find the type of Naturopathic Physician and practice that resonates with you.

Naturopathic Doctors are trained to match the intensity of the treatment with the intensity of the disease, controlling the symptoms while addressing the cause. However, Naturopathic Doctors are trained in a variety of treatment approaches from Intravenous (IV) Injectable therapies, Clinical Nutrition including scientifically supported dietary modifications diagnosed by Allergy Blood Tests (ELISA) to Peat Moss Baths and CranioSacral Therapy (bodywork manipulating joints of the skull).

It is important for patients to realize that the current disease process is often a function of improper diet and lifestyle concerns that has taken years to manifest.  A good rule of thumb for healing time is to expect at least one month of treatment time for every year that you’ve been suffering with the condition or symptom.  For example, a patient that has suffered with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) for five years should expect it to take minimum five months to resolve with Naturopathic treatment.

4.  You Must Follow the Treatments Recommended:

The most critical point of treatment is compliance.  Naturopathic Doctors are your health coach, advising, guiding and instructing you towards better health.  Patients that follow the recommended therapies, whether diet modifications, lifestyle changes, or supplement protocols, are those that truly benefit from the marvel of the body’s ability to heal.  You will benefit to the extent that you invest your time and energy into your healthcare.

If you were hemorrhaging from a car accident, you should be heading to the emergency room immediately.  Aside from critical trauma, a Naturopathic Doctor can treat many serious and chronic health conditions that can severely impact your quality of life.

Various serious health concerns that Naturopathic Physicians may successfully treat include:

• Diabetes
• Cancer
• Chronic Pain
• Surgery Preparation & Recovery
• Faster Healing from Injuries or Broken Bones
• Cardiovascular Disease, Heart Failure, Heart Attack & Stroke Recovery, High Blood Pressure, High Cholesterol
• Kidney Stones, Dialysis, Kidney Transplant Recovery
• Addiction Recovery (Smoking, Drugs, Alcohol etc.)
• Neurodegenerative Diseases (Parkinson’s, Dementia, Alzheimers)
• Mental Health Issues (OCD, Depression, Anxiety, Bipolar Disease, ADHD, Sleep Disorders, Anorexia, Bulimia, Body Dysmorphia)
• Digestive Disorders (Celiac, Crohn’s, Ulcerative Colitis, Pancreatitis, Gastritis, Diverticulitis, Gallstones, Gallbladder Removal Recovery)

Not all Naturopathic Health Products are of the same quality.  This is a concern since according to a 2010 Ipsos-Reid Survey, seventy-three percent (73%) of Canadians routinely take Natural Health Products (NHP) including Vitamins, Minerals, Botanical (Herbal) Products, Probiotics, Nutraceuticals (Amino Acids, Essential Fatty Acids etc) and Traditional Chinese, Ayurvedic & Homeopathic Medicines.

Even though some Naturopathic Doctors have been involved in advancing government regulation of natural supplements for over a decade, not all supplements are created equal. See the Canadian Natural & Non-Prescription Health Product Directorate (NNHPD). In spite of the fact that all legal Canadian Health Products must have a Natural Product Number (NPN), issued by the NNHPD after proving Evidence of Efficacy, Quality and Safety, many supplements sold in Health Food Stores and prescribed by Naturopathic Doctors still do not have an NPN.  This legislation has been implemented for over a decade, although it has yet to be fully enforced.

In the United States, the FDA regulates Dietary Supplements under the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994 (DSHEA) monitoring for adulterated or misbranded supplements.

There are still many issues that are outstanding which is why purchasing Professional Brand Naturopathic Health Products is more important than ever.

Existing Concerns of some Natural Health Products:

• Contain contaminants like heavy metals, PCBs, residues & solvents
• Contain high levels of solvents that can cause liver &/ kidney damage
• Contain allergens (gluten, dairy, soy or corn) that are not labeled
• Contain binders, fillers, excipients that may be allergenic, or impede absorption
• Contain too high of a dose of the medicinal ingredient
• Contain ingredients with inadequate scientific evidence supporting their use
• Do not contain the active ingredients as labeled
• Do not contain the effective dose of the natural ingredient
• Do not contain the most healthy form for optimal absorption & use

Natural Health Product Testing that Should be Done on Every Batch:

• Authenticity (Tests to verify Ingredients)
• Strength, potency, dose
• Microbiology (Tests to rule out contamination of Bacteria, Yeast &/ Mould)
• Pesticide & herbicide residues
• Chemical solvent residues
• PCBs (Peroxides, Anisidines & other contaminants)
• Heavy metals (Tests to rule out contamination of Lead, Mercury, Cadmium, Arsenic & Aluminum)
• Good Manufacturing Practices GMP (GMP protocols followed)
• Stability testing (confirms potency of ingredients years after production)
• Third party independent lab used for all the above tests (companies that do in-house testing are biased, presenting a conflict of interest)