Naturopathic Medicine

What is Naturopathic Medicine?

Naturopathic medicine is a holistic and comprehensive approach to improving health and treating illness. Focusing on prevention, and using natural substances and treatments, Naturopathic doctors strive to support and stimulate the body's innate healing response. This innovative field of medicine represents an evolution in health care because it encourages the patient to participate in their own healing process.

Naturopathic doctors have seven to eight years of training: three years of university pre-medical sciences, then four years (5,000 hours) at an approved naturopathic medical college. Here they cover similar western medical diagnostic studies as do MDs, however this is followed by training in a variety of natural treatment methods, including 1,200 hours of supervised clinical experience.

Naturopathic doctors can therefore use natural healing practices, while taking into account any standard medical treatments the patient may be using, for a truly integrated treatment protocol that is individualised to each patient's specific needs at that time.

What to Expect During a Naturopathic Visit

A Naturopathic visit is a very unique and refreshing experience. Enough time is devoted to each appointment in order to extract all information essential to determining the underlying cause of disease. The first visit is 1hr in length and includes a thorough examination of the chief complaint along with a complete assessment of relevant lifestyle factors. This information is used along with relevant physical exam information and standard diagnostic and laboratory tests to formulate an accurate diagnosis.

The second visit is normally 30min in length, during which time a comprehensive and individualized treatment plan is reviewed. An integrative approach which utilizes one or a combination of all naturopathic modalities and therapies is used.

The Naturopathic Principles

The practice of Naturopathic Medicine emerges from six underlying principles of healing. It is these principles that distinguish the profession from other medical approaches:

The healing power of nature. vis medicatrix naturae
The body has the inherent ability to establish, maintain, and restore health. The healing process is ordered and intelligent; nature heals through the response of the life force. The physician's role is to facilitate and augment this process, to act to identify and remove obstacles to health and recovery, and to support the creation of a healthy internal and external environment.

Identify and treat the cause. tolle causam
Illness does not occur without cause. Underlying causes of disease must be discovered and removed or treated before a person can recover completely from illness. Symptoms are expressions of the body's attempt to heal, but are not the cause of disease. Symptoms, therefore, should not be suppressed by treatment. Causes may occur on many levels including physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual. The physician must evaluate fundamental underlying causes on all levels, directing treatment at root causes rather than at symptomatic expression.

First do no harm. primum no nocere
Illness is a purposeful process of the organism. The process of healing includes the generation of symptoms which are, in fact, an expression of the life force attempting to heal itself. Therapeutic actions should be complimentary to and synergistic with this healing process. The physician's actions can support or antagonize the actions of the vis medicatrix naturae. Therefore, methods designed to suppress symptoms without removing underlying causes are considered harmful and are avoided or minimized.

Treat the whole person. The multifactorial nature of health and disease
Health and disease are conditions of the whole organism, a whole involving a complex interaction of physical, spiritual, mental, emotional, genetic, environmental, social, and other factors. The physician must treat the whole person by taking all of these factors into account. The harmonious functioning of all aspects of the individual is essential to recovery from and prevention of disease, and requires a personalized and comprehensive approach to diagnosis and treatment.

The physician as teacher. docere
Beyond an accurate diagnosis and appropriate prescription, the physician must work to create a healthy, sensitive interpersonal relationship with the patient. A cooperative doctor-patient relationship has inherent therapeutic value. The physician's major role is to educate and encourage the patient to take responsibility for health. The physician is a catalyst for healthful change, empowering and motivating the patient to assume responsibility. It is the patient, not the doctor, who ultimately creates/accomplishes healing. The physician must strive to inspire hope as well as understanding. The physician must also make a commitment to his/her personal and spiritual development in order to be a good teacher.

Prevention. Prevention is the best "cure"
The ultimate goal of any health care system should be prevention. This is accomplished through education and promotion of life-habits that create good health. The physician assesses risk factors and hereditary susceptibility to disease and makes appropriate interventions to avoid further harm and risk to the patient. The emphasis is on building health rather than on fighting disease.

Naturopathic Treatments
• Traditional Chinese Medicine
• Contemporary Medical Acupuncture and IMS technique
• Regenerative Injection Therapy
• Cosmetic Mesotherapy
• Parenteral (IV) Therapy
• Clinical Nutrition
• Botanical Medicine
• Homeopathy
• Lifestyle counseling

What is Chiropractic?

Chiropractic: One of the largest primary-contact health care professions in Ontario, chiropractic is a non-invasive, hands-on health care discipline that focuses on the neuromusculoskeletal system.

Chiropractors practice a manual approach, providing diagnosis, treatment and preventative care for disorders related to the spine, pelvis, nervous system and joints.

Chiropractors use a combination of treatments, all of which are predicated on the specific needs of the individual patient. After taking a complete history and diagnosing a patient, a chiropractor can develop and carry out a comprehensive treatment/management plan, recommend therapeutic exercise and other non-invasive therapies, and provide nutritional, dietary and lifestyle counselling.

For many conditions, such as lower back pain, chiropractic care is frequently the primary method of treatment. Where other conditions exist, chiropractic care may complement or support medical treatment by relieving the neuromusculoskeletal aspects associated with the condition.

Chiropractic care may also be used to provide symptomatic relief for patients with chronic conditions. According to patient surveys, by treating the neuromusculoskeletal elements of such disorders, chiropractic treatment has been shown to improve the general well-being of the patient.

There are many reasons to seek chiropractic care:
• Back pain
• Neck pain
• Headache
• Whiplash
• Strains and sprains
• Repetitive strain injury (RSI)
• Work and sports injuries
• Arthritis
• Limited range of motion in the back, shoulder, neck or limbs
• General health and well-being

Chiropractic is a regulated health profession, recognized by statute in all Canadian provinces and American states. More than 1.2 million patients in Ontario rely on chiropractic care every year to help them live healthy, active lives.

Chiropractic Treatments:

Manipulation:
• Precise procedure, generally applied by hand to the joints
• Force and technique modified to patient age, stature and condition
• Improves joint mobility by restoring the range of motion, reducing muscle hypertonicity thereby relieving pressure and tension

Mobilization:
More gentle than manipulation; utilizes less force and speed so that an audible ÒpopÓ is usually not heard.

Soft Tissue Therapy:
For muscle aches, tendon injuries, nerve entrapments, repetitive strain injuries, etc. Techniques include trigger point technique, myofascial release, active release and deep tissue massage.

Stretching:
• Static stretches: attempts to alleviate excessively tight muscles
• PNF(proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation)- to decrease tone in tight muscle; to treat DOMS (delayed onset muscle soreness)
• Muscle Energy Technique Ð utilizes very light muscular contractions in very specific directions to alter joint restriction and range of motion through altering the length of local musculature

Laser Therapy:
Treatment for acute and chronic pain conditions, arthritis, wound healing, addictions, and cosmetic revitalization. Lasers work by supplying energy to the body in the form of billions of photons of light. The body absorbs this laser light on a cellular level and transforms it into chemical energy, which the body then uses to commence its own tissue repairs. The bio-stimulating effect of laser therapy causes a decrease in inflammation and pain and an increase in tissue regeneration and healing.

Prescription Orthotics & Orthopaedic Shoes:
Biomechanical medical appliances that are custom made to correct your specific foot imbalance. They reduce stress and strain on your body by bringing your feet back into proper alignment. Symptoms of poor foot mechanics can include:
• Localized foot pain
• Bunions, hammer toes
• Arch/heel pain
• Leg/knee pain
• Hip/back and even neck pain

Therapeutic Gradient Compression Hosiery:
Improves venous and lymphatic blood flow. The stockings are designed to deliver a controlled amount of pressure which is greatest at the ankle. This gradient pressure promotes better venous blood flow which in turn helps to control swelling, varicosities, leg fatigue and other problematic leg conditions. Those who experience any of the following conditions can benefit:
• Tired, aching, fatigued legs
• Swollen feet, ankles, and legs
• People who stand or sit for long periods
• Chronic venous insufficiency
• Moderate to severe varicose veins
• Expectant mothers
• Schlerotherapy
• Lymphadema
• Overweight
• Family history of venous leg disorders
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Exercise Prescription:
Dysfunctional soft tissues are either too short and tight or too long and weak. Most patients are required to undertake a series of exercises to stretch, strengthen, or simply to Òswitch-onÓ particular muscles. Exercises can also be used to prevent conditions such as low back pain.

Active Rehabilitation:
After an injury, illness or surgery, you may need rehabilitation to regain your strength, mobility, fitness and balance.

What is Massage?

Deep tissue massage is a type of massage therapy that focuses on realigning deeper layers of muscles and connective tissue. It is especially helpful for chronically tense and contracted areas. Some of the same strokes are used as classic massage therapy, but the movement is slower and the pressure is deeper and concentrated on areas of tension and pain. It works by physically breaking down adhesions (bands of painful, rigid tissue) in muscles, tendons, and ligaments to relieve pain and restore normal movement.

Scapular Stretch & Rotator cuff release (SSRR) is a non-invasive soft tissue technique used to release the muscles, tendons, and ligaments of the neck and shoulder. It is very effective at treating conditions such as frozen shoulder, tendonitis, whiplash, and chronic neck and shoulder pain. Using gentle mobilization techniques to the shoulder, the treatmentÕs aim is to increase mobility of the joint while passively stretching the surrounding musculature.

Intraoral massage is an effective treatment for clients who suffer from TMJ dysfunction, trigger point-related headaches or excess jaw tension. Latex-free gloves are worn while working inside the mouth to release the muscles and fascia surrounding the jaw. This modality is used in conjunction with massage techniques for the face, scalp and neck muscles that affect jaw alignment, tension and clenching.

Myofascial & Trigger Point Therapy:
Fascia is the connective tissue that covers all muscles and organs, thereby forming an 'internal sweater' of the body. When fascia becomes tight or twisted, it can cement posture into a distorted position and contribute to widespread aching as well as fatigue, localized discomfort, trigger point pain referral patterns and dysfunction of nerves and organs. Myofascial bodywork is used to restore structural integrity, relieve pain, release emotional trauma trapped in muscle memory, restore function and improve range of motion.

Sports Massage isn't just for athletes. The main purpose of sports massage therapy is to help alleviate the stress and tension which builds up in the bodyÕs soft tissues during physical activity. Where minor injuries and lesions occur, due to overexertion and/or overuse, massage can break them down quickly and effectively. Sports Massage can also include pre-event, post-event and maintenance techniques that promote greater athletic endurance and performance lessen chances of injury and reduce recovery time for athletes and for those with an active lifestyle.

Prenatal Massage:
Massage during pregnancy focuses on the special needs of the mother-to-be as her body goes through the dramatic changes of the childbirth experience. Massage during pregnancy differs from a regular massage in a couple of ways. The biggest way it differs is that the person receiving the massage is pregnant, and therefore knowledge of pregnancy and the anatomy of a pregnant woman are very important. This means that positioning during a massage is critical to the safety and well-being of both the mother and the baby. It addresses many common discomforts associated with the skeletal and circulatory changes brought on by hormone shifts during pregnancy> Massage therapy has been proven effective in hormone regulation, reducing swelling, helping to improve pain and general discomfort related to pregnancy.

Infant Massage:
The Goal of Infant massage is to educate parents and other caregivers on infant massage techniques. It is important that parents - not therapists - massage their own infants, so they can share in the benefits. These moments centered on baby are especially important for working parents and those with multiple children. Fathers, in particular, can build confidence in creating an emotional bond with their child through mastering the techniques of baby massage. The psychological benefits are the most appealing aspect of infant massage. The soothing quality of infant massage promotes overall health and helps an infant learn one of the most valuable skills they will ever be taught in this fast-paced world - how to relax.

Manual Lymph Drainage:
Manual lymphatic drainage (MLD) is a type of gentle massage which encourages the natural circulation of the lymph through the body. The lymphatic system is a complex network of vessels and ducts that move fluid throughout the body and is responsible for moving toxins away from healthy cells and carrying germ-fighting materials to cells when they are under attack by viruses. A lymphatic drainage massage primarily focuses on specific lymph nodes and points of the body, as well as the natural flow of the lymphatic system. It is beneficial treating chronic lymph edema, lymph edema caused by surgery, breast health and congestion, swelling, sinusitis, detoxification and overall supports the immune system.

What is Holistic Nutrition?

A Holistic Nutritional Practitioner graduates with a Diploma in Applied Holistic Nutrition and has earned the designation of Certified Nutritional Practitioner (CNP) with full qualification to receive the Registered Nutritional Consultant/Practitioner (RNCP) and Registered Orthomolecular Holistic Practitioner (ROHP) designation through the International Organization of Nutritional Consultants (IONC).

What standards does a ROHP/RNCP meet to qualify?
The educational requirements can be met by a diploma in holistic nutrition from an IONC approved school. Proficiency must be demonstrated in the following post-secondary subjects:
• Allergies
• Alternative Comparitive Diets
• Anatomy & Physiology
• Biochemistry
• Biology
• Chemistry
• Clinical Nutrition & Research Applications
• Digestion & Elimination
• Environmental Pollution
• Fundamentals of Nutrition
• Jurisprudence
• Life Cycle (Geriatrics, Pediatrics & Sports Nutrition)
• Nutritional Pathology
• Nutritional Symptomatology
• Preventitive Nutrition
• Psycho-Nutrition

The Main Focus of Nutritional Counseling is Wellness and Building Health:
• Ultimately, the cells in our bodies are built from the raw materials we eat. The more suitable our food choices are to our specific requirements, the better cell structures we can build.
• Since every person is bio-chemically unique, individual nutritional imbalances and weaknesses must be assessed.
• An ROHP or RNCP will introduce new dietary habits, incorporating the latest nutritional breakthroughs, but it may be difficult to achieve optimal health through food alone. In such cases, ROHPs and RNCP's are trained to design personalized dietary supplement programs.
• Environmental pollution, metal toxicity, micro-organism imbalances and food sensitivities are among other factors that must be considered in constructing a nutritional program.
• Nutritional Consulting is not a regulated profession. However, IONC was established in 1983 to assure the public that practitioners are meeting high educational standards.
• The designation “Registered Orthomolecular Health Practitioner” and “Registered Nutritional Consulting Practitioner” signifies a nutritional practitioner who has met the standards of the IONC - a voluntary, independent, non-profit association.

Why seek the services of a Registered Orthomolecular Health Practitioner (ROHP) or Registered Nutritional Consulting Health Practitioner(RNCP)?
Clients may wish guidance in the following areas:
• Weight normalization
• Pregnancy or lactation
• Family nutrition, children, seniors
• Convalescence
• Understanding the use and abuse of food supplements
• Making sense out of conflicting theories of nutrition
• Understanding the consequences of specific food choices
• Learning how to make choices more appropriate to their needs
• Sports nutrition
• Learning how to balance the nutritional needs of the body

A visit to a ROHP or RNCP will be an educational experience where one will learn to make lifestyle changes that will have a long-lasting effect on the quality of life.

What to expect during a visit to a Holistic Nutritionist
A visit with a Holistic Nutritionist can be a very informative experience. Holistic Nutritionists are trained to assess and to properly address or correct specific nutritional imbalances and to devise a customized diet that matches each individual’s health and nutritional needs. The first visit is approximately 1-1.5 hours in length. During this time the Nutritionist will do a complete evaluation including a Nutri-Body® Analysis. The second visit is normally 1- 1.5 hours in length. An individual assessment is reviewed and a personalized program implemented. Subsequent follow up visits are determined on an individual basis.