What you need to know about naturopathic medicine
Naturopathic Medicine is a holistic, integrative and coordinated approach to health care.
The art and science of diagnosis, prevention and treatment using natural therapies and
healing strategies are integral to the naturopathic framework.
These Strategies Include:
Doctors of Naturopathic Medicine are the general practitioners of natural medicine.
The Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine (www.ccnm.edu) is an accredited
and recognized degree-granting school by the government. The school offers
a world-known four-year full-time program, teaching and training Doctors of Naturopathic
Medicine. To apply for this program, one must have at least 3 years of university and
must have completed pre-requisite health sciences courses. Of the many hundreds of
applicants, only about 120 are accepted yearly. Before practice, naturopathic doctors
must complete and pass provincial licensing and board exams. In addition, to maintain
their license, naturopathic doctors must fulfill their regulatory board's requirements of
continuing education.
At CCNM, students receive over 3,000 hours of core competency training and 1,200 hours
of clinical training. The College houses the Robert Schad Naturopathic Clinic (rsnc.ca),
which is a highly respected teaching clinic where senior students treat patients under
the direction of licensed Naturopathic Doctors. Students also gain valuable experience at
satellite community health clinics, in hospitals and at an integrative cancer care in Ottawa.
In recent years, the College's clinics has been handling over 45,000 patient visits yearly.
The CCNM Library is regarded as Canada’s finest Natural Medicine Resource Centre. There
are hundreds of natural health books and journals, and access to over 3,000 medical journals
via electronic databases. These include “Medline” and “The Complementary Medical Index”,
provided by the British Library Medicine Information Centre.
CCNM is active in North American research on the benefits, risks and cautions of natural medicine.
In conjunction with other naturopathic colleges in the USA and local teaching hospitals,
e.g. Sunnybrook Hospital and Brampton Civic Hospital, much attention is being paid to
evidence-based outcomes of using natural therapies. CCNM receives no government subsidies,
and operates on tuition fees and private donations.
The art and science of diagnosis, prevention and treatment using natural therapies and
healing strategies are integral to the naturopathic framework.
These Strategies Include:
- Acupuncture & Traditional Chinese Medicine
- Traditional Herbal and Botanical Medicine
- Clinical Nutrition
- Supplement (vitamins and minerals) Support
- Hydrotherapy
- Homeopathic Medicine
- Naturopathic Manipulation and Body Work
- Lifestyle Counselling
Doctors of Naturopathic Medicine are the general practitioners of natural medicine.
The Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine (www.ccnm.edu) is an accredited
and recognized degree-granting school by the government. The school offers
a world-known four-year full-time program, teaching and training Doctors of Naturopathic
Medicine. To apply for this program, one must have at least 3 years of university and
must have completed pre-requisite health sciences courses. Of the many hundreds of
applicants, only about 120 are accepted yearly. Before practice, naturopathic doctors
must complete and pass provincial licensing and board exams. In addition, to maintain
their license, naturopathic doctors must fulfill their regulatory board's requirements of
continuing education.
At CCNM, students receive over 3,000 hours of core competency training and 1,200 hours
of clinical training. The College houses the Robert Schad Naturopathic Clinic (rsnc.ca),
which is a highly respected teaching clinic where senior students treat patients under
the direction of licensed Naturopathic Doctors. Students also gain valuable experience at
satellite community health clinics, in hospitals and at an integrative cancer care in Ottawa.
In recent years, the College's clinics has been handling over 45,000 patient visits yearly.
The CCNM Library is regarded as Canada’s finest Natural Medicine Resource Centre. There
are hundreds of natural health books and journals, and access to over 3,000 medical journals
via electronic databases. These include “Medline” and “The Complementary Medical Index”,
provided by the British Library Medicine Information Centre.
CCNM is active in North American research on the benefits, risks and cautions of natural medicine.
In conjunction with other naturopathic colleges in the USA and local teaching hospitals,
e.g. Sunnybrook Hospital and Brampton Civic Hospital, much attention is being paid to
evidence-based outcomes of using natural therapies. CCNM receives no government subsidies,
and operates on tuition fees and private donations.
What can I expect during the first visit
The first visit will be about one-hour long and will entail a thorough examination of your chief
concern(s) and a discussion of the key long-term treatment goals. A complaint-oriented physical
exam may be performed. Depending on your condition, laboratory tests may be required or
previous blood work and/or medical reports from other health care practitioners may be requested.
Initial recommendations may be given at the end of the first visit. It is recommend that you bring
any medical reports, laboratory test results, and any of your questions - all may be helpful to build
your naturopathic treatment plan.
concern(s) and a discussion of the key long-term treatment goals. A complaint-oriented physical
exam may be performed. Depending on your condition, laboratory tests may be required or
previous blood work and/or medical reports from other health care practitioners may be requested.
Initial recommendations may be given at the end of the first visit. It is recommend that you bring
any medical reports, laboratory test results, and any of your questions - all may be helpful to build
your naturopathic treatment plan.
What is an intake form
An intake and consent form is the start of the information gathering that is required before your visit.
Filling out forms may be considered lengthy, but we want to ensure that the information we have about
you is accurate. Please take the time to complete the Intake Form, as it may take up to 30 minutes
from start to finish.
Privacy of your personal information is an important part of any naturopathic practice, overseen by
the College of Naturopaths of Ontario. The clinic will try to be as open and transparent as possible about
the way they handle your personal information. All staff members who come in contact with your
personal information are aware of the sensitive nature of the information that you have disclosed to us.
They are trained in the appropriate use and protection of your information.
Filling out forms may be considered lengthy, but we want to ensure that the information we have about
you is accurate. Please take the time to complete the Intake Form, as it may take up to 30 minutes
from start to finish.
Privacy of your personal information is an important part of any naturopathic practice, overseen by
the College of Naturopaths of Ontario. The clinic will try to be as open and transparent as possible about
the way they handle your personal information. All staff members who come in contact with your
personal information are aware of the sensitive nature of the information that you have disclosed to us.
They are trained in the appropriate use and protection of your information.
How many visits will I need
During your second visit, a detailed, individualized treatment plan will be outlined based on your
current health complaints and long-term health goals. Treatment is initiated and a follow-up visit is
scheduled to monitor progress or administer treatment protocols, such as acupuncture – if that happens
to be a part of your individual treatment program.
current health complaints and long-term health goals. Treatment is initiated and a follow-up visit is
scheduled to monitor progress or administer treatment protocols, such as acupuncture – if that happens
to be a part of your individual treatment program.
What you need to tell your naturopathic doctor
The form of medical care is based on naturopathic principles and practices. Even the gentlest of therapies
can potentially incur complications in certain physiological conditions, in very young children and/or those
on multiple medications. Hence your naturopathic doctor should be notified in cases when: 1) adverse
reactions are first noticed, 2) your medical condition changes (in either a positive or negative direction),
3) any changes to your diet, medication list (if applicable), supplements (including botanical medicine/herbal remedies),
and/or homeopathic remedies, and 4) any changes to your health status (e.g. pregnancy, newly
diagnosed disorder, etc).
can potentially incur complications in certain physiological conditions, in very young children and/or those
on multiple medications. Hence your naturopathic doctor should be notified in cases when: 1) adverse
reactions are first noticed, 2) your medical condition changes (in either a positive or negative direction),
3) any changes to your diet, medication list (if applicable), supplements (including botanical medicine/herbal remedies),
and/or homeopathic remedies, and 4) any changes to your health status (e.g. pregnancy, newly
diagnosed disorder, etc).
Will naturopathic medicine interfere with my
medications or my medical treatments?
No. Naturopathic doctors are educated to be able to co-manage with medical treatment.
Natural treatments are carefully chosen so that there is no interference with your medication’s effectiveness.
Drug interactions with supplements and nutrients are carefully studied. They can be very supportive for
overall health and make the medications more effective. A naturopathic doctor will never take a patient
off of a medication prescribed by another physician. This decision must be made between the patient
and the prescribing doctor.
Natural treatments are carefully chosen so that there is no interference with your medication’s effectiveness.
Drug interactions with supplements and nutrients are carefully studied. They can be very supportive for
overall health and make the medications more effective. A naturopathic doctor will never take a patient
off of a medication prescribed by another physician. This decision must be made between the patient
and the prescribing doctor.
Does OHIP cover naturopathic medicine?
No. However, most private insurance companies do cover licensed naturopathic doctors and/or
assessments. Consult your extended health benefits provider or your employer's human resources
department for more information.
assessments. Consult your extended health benefits provider or your employer's human resources
department for more information.
What are the costs associated with
naturopathic medicine?
The cost of services are listed here.
HST exempt
All naturopathic services are HST exempt.
