FAQ

Before your first visit you will be asked to fill out an intake form and bring in a list of all current medications, supplements, and previous lab work. Your first visit with a naturopathic doctor typically lasts an hour. In this first visit we obtain your full health history, provide a short physical examination and discuss your health goals. At the end of your first visit, any outstanding lab work will be ordered as well basic treatment protocols prescribed to get you started on your journey back to health. Once all lab work results have been received and your case has been assessed, you will meet for your second visit during which your full treatment plan will be prescribed and discussed with you. This is when you have time to go over the treatment plan and ask any questions you may have for the doctor before starting any recommended treatment. A follow up schedule will be recommended to assess progress and determine if any changes in your treatment protocol need to be made. If at anytime you need more information or need to visit the doctor, you can simply book a follow up visit with your naturopathic doctor.

Naturopathic Medicine is covered by most extended health care plans. Check with your provider to see if you have coverage. Naturopathic Medicine is not covered by MSP unless you qualify for premium assistance.

As primary care health providers we have access to standard medical testing as well as specialized functional medical testing. Each lab test ordered is specific to your health needs and ordered in order to provide a thorough and effective treatment plan for you. An example of our functional medicine test includes:

• Food Sensitivity Testing
• Adrenal Stress Index
• Female Hormone Panel
• Male Hormone Panel
• Comprehensive Thyroid Function Tests
• Urinary Hormone Metabolites
• Urinary Toxic and Essential Mineral Test
• Complete Digestive Stool Analysis
• Hydrogen Breath Tests (H. Pylori & SIBO)
• Genetic Testing

As a primary care health provider we can treat a wide variety of conditions including and not limited to:

• General Health (Fatigue, detoxification, genetics & methylation (MTHFR) concerns, stress management, anti-aging, etc.)
• Endocrinology (Weight Loss, thyroid disorders, adrenal fatigue, diabetes, etc.)
• Women’s Health (PMS, infertility, pregnancy, menopause, hormone replacement, etc.)
• Mental Health (Depression, anxiety, insomnia, etc.)
• Digestive Health (Constipation, diarrhea, heartburn, etc.)
• Immune Health (Common cold & flu, acute & chronic infections, allergies, etc.)
• Skin Health (Acne, eczema, psoriasis, etc.)

People of all ages and states of health can benefit from naturopathic medicine. Naturopathic medicine focuses on restoring health as well as preventative care to support people to lead healthy and full lives.

Preconception and pregnancy care is optimized with naturopathic medicine to ensure a healthy conception and pregnancy, which leads to a healthy mom and baby.

Naturopathic medical care is great for children to ensure proper growth and development by establishing healthy habits from a young age.

Naturopathic medicine is often used as a last resort for those patients who have tried many treatments from their conventional medical doctors with no success. With a whole body approach to medicine and thorough investigation, we can often find the root cause of the problem and prescribe an effective treatment plan to provide relief and restore health.

As a patient seeking naturopathic medical care, it is in your best interest to ensure that your practitioner has graduated from an accredited school and is registered with the appropriate regulatory body.

To become a licensed Naturopathic Doctor (ND) one must attend one of the seven accredited colleges in North America. Each one of these schools is accredited by the Council on Naturopathic Medical Education (CNME – cnme.org). Therefore students completing the ND program at one of these institutions are eligible to sit the Naturopathic Physicians Licensing Examinations (NPLEX – www.nabne.org).

To be eligible to apply to one of these colleges, you must have completed a bachelor’s degree and a variety of pre-requisites (eg., organic chemistry, biochemistry, psychology, etc). Each school has its own set of pre-requisites for entry, as well as its own unique application package. A list of accredited schools can be found at www.cnme.org.

Once a student has completed their naturopathic medical degree and has passed NPLEX, they must apply and register with the appropriate regulatory board. Each licensed province or state has their own regulatory board to serve and protect the public and regulate the scope of practice for naturopathic doctors in that jurisdiction. For example, to practice naturopathic medicine in British Columbia, you must be licensed with the College of Naturopathic Physicians of British Columbia (CNPBC – www.cnpbc.bc.ca). The CNPBC is a regulatory board that serves the public to ensure the safety and competency of all naturopathic doctors in BC.

In order to become a licensed naturopathic doctor in BC, the CNPBC ensures each doctor has completed all the above requirements including that they have graduated from a CNME approved school and have written and successfully completed the appropriate licensing exams (NPLEX).

To see if your Naturopathic Doctor is licensed in BC you can see a list of Naturopathic Doctors in good standing at www.cnpbc.gc.ca