Finding A Naturopathic Doctor In Toronto
There are multiple approaches to health and wellness. One such approach is naturopathy. Naturopathy relies on non-invasive natural therapies to enable the body’s healing mechanisms to function effectively and restore our health.
Do you know the phrase “everything suits, everybody, differently”? Natural doctors put that in practice. They are trained to look deep and find out the underlying causes of your health problems so that a treatment plan can be curated that is right for your physiology, genetics, and lifestyle. If you are interested in bridging the knowledge gap you have with your own body, learning what works for it and what doesn’t —finding and choosing a naturopathic doctor near you in Toronto can set you on the right path.
What Is A Naturopathic Doctor?
A naturopathic doctor has attended an accredited 4-year school of natural medicine and passed all licensing examinations required by their provinces’ licensing authority. Also known as NDs, naturopathic doctors are primary care doctors that approach treatments differently than other physicians and use natural medicine through a combination of modalities such as acupuncture, hydrotherapy, osteopathy, bioidentical hormone replacement, nutritional counselling & vitamin therapy to treat health conditions.
While they are trained in medical sciences and can perform functional diagnostic tests, they do not use surgical treatments or medications to treat issues and their symptoms. Rather than treating the symptoms of a health condition, they work to strengthen the body’s natural healing potential so that it can heal itself.
What Does A Naturopathic Doctor Help With?
Because naturopathy focuses on overall health and not just symptomatic treatments, virtually everyone can benefit from naturopathic consultation to improve their health.
Naturopathic doctors have a 360-degree approach to health and wellness, and can help you manage a wide variety of minor and major health conditions:
- Cardiovascular diseases
- Fatigue and stress
- Digestive health issues
- Fertility issues
- Women’s health issues
- Men’s health issues
- Hormonal problems
- Poor diet and lifestyle
- Autoimmune diseases such as asthma
- Overall poor immune system health
- Skin conditions such as eczema, acne, and more
- Sleep disorders
- Vaginal health issues
- Children’s health issues
- Allergies
If you’ve tried conventional medicine but failed to see results, our multi-disciplinary team of naturopathic doctors at Annex Naturopathic Clinic in Toronto can provide treatments for all aforementioned health issues.
Naturopathic Doctors Use DIfferent Treatment Methods
Due to the holistic nature of naturopathic medicine, a naturopathic doctor can be trained in using different methods to treat you. For instance, a naturopathic doctor can help you understand how to manage your autoimmune disease through nutritional counselling and can provide you with the education you need to understand what types of natural therapies are effective and safe for your case. Naturopathic doctors can also help you reduce the side effects of the medications that you are prescribed, and can even recommend alternatives to your medications to ease your symptoms, if safe to do so.
Similarly, the use of osteopathic manual therapy and acupuncture is also common among naturopathic doctors to relieve their patients of chronic pain and stress. Some NDs even provide emotional counseling to help patients with anxiety and other psychological issues.
That’s why the choice of your naturopathic doctor is crucial — make sure they primarily work with issues that concern you & that their clinic is equipped to provide different modalities you may require in your treatment.
How To Find A Naturopathic Doctor in Toronto?
Before you start working with a naturopathic doctor in Toronto, you have to make sure they are the right fit for you. Here are the things to look out for:
Proven Medical Experience
Regardless of the reason behind going to a naturopathic doctor, you should be looking at the medical experience of the doctor. Here, you have to consider two things as well.
The first aspect is the general experience as a doctor. You will have to look at how many years the doctor has been practicing to get a general idea about their experience.
Secondly, you will then have to look at their experience in the treatment that you want to take. Since there are several types of naturopathic doctors, you will want to work with someone right for your condition.
Proven Track Record
Apart from the medical experience, it’s essential that a naturopathic doctor also has a proven track record. As a starting step, you can look in the directory on the regulatory college’s website. The College of Ontario Naturopaths requires all naturopathic doctors in Toronto to be licensed, so you can verify their credentials on their website to make sure you’re working with an accredited professional.
Once you have verified the license, you can start looking at other factors. For instance, you can look at online platforms for their reviews. If you know someone personally that has worked with them, the best option is to ask for the opinion of someone you trust.
Costs Of Treatment With A Naturopathic Doctor In Toronto
The cost of treatment with a naturopathic doctor in Toronto will depend on the scope of your treatment. The average cost for the initial consultation in Toronto is around $200-$250.
After your initial consultation, you can expect to pay anywhere between $50 to $150 for follow-up visits, based on the duration of each consultation. You can opt for anywhere between 15 minutes to 45 minutes for a follow-up and your cost will vary accordingly.
Top Considerations For Choosing A Naturopathic Doctor In Toronto
One of the key differences between conventional medicine and naturopathy is that it not only aims to heal but also empowers patients with information about their own bodies that they can use to facilitate decisions about food and lifestyle on a day-to-day basis.
Many people turn to it for the personalized attention that they don’t get with an MD. Here are some other considerations for choosing a naturopathic doctor for your treatments in Toronto:
Non-invasive Treatments
Unlike mainstream medicine, naturopathy is known for its minimally invasive or non-invasive treatments. This is also a huge reason why many people prefer to opt for naturopathy. Treatment procedures like vitamin therapy, nutrition counseling, acupuncture, etc. are some of the common non-invasive treatments.
Make sure the clinic you choose offers all of these under one roof so you don’t have to go to different clinics to receive treatment for one health condition