Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between an Ontario Naturopathic Doctor and a Quebec naturopath?
In Ontario, licensed Naturopathic Doctors (ND) undergo rigorous training and North American Board exams to become licensed. ND's in Ontario also have a licensing board called the Board of Directors of Drugless Therapy – Naturopathy through which they must maintain an active license to practice, while carrying professional liability insurance. In Quebec there are no regulations concerning the training and licensing of naturopaths, leading to great variation in knowledge and competence.


What Kind of Health Problems Can Be Treated with Naturopathic Medicine?
Naturopathic doctors are primary healthcare providers and, as such, treat patients with all health concerns. People with virtually all chronic and most acute conditions may benefit from treatment by a Naturopathic Doctor. All ages can be helped. Some of the most common health conditions brought to ND's include:

What Can I Expect When I Visit A Naturopathic Doctor?
The role of a naturopathic doctor is to understand the patient and all the factors which have an impact on his or her health. The ND will take an extensive patient history, and additional information may be gathered from a physical examination and various test procedures. All the information gathered will aid in making an assessment and in forming a diagnosis. A personalized treatment plan will then be presented in order to facilitate your healing process

What is the difference between naturopathic medicine and homeopathy?
Homeopathic medicine is just one of the modalities in which naturopathic doctors are trained. While naturopathic medicine is a regulated profession in the province of Ontario, anyone can call himself/herself a homeopath since there is no regulation for homeopathic practitioners. Naturopathic doctors are trained in the use of homeopathic medicines as part of their school curriculum and must pass both school exams and provincial board exams before they can be registered to practice in the province of Ontario.

The difference between a Naturopathic Doctor and a homeopath is as follows: a homeopathic practitioner uses only a homeopathic approach. Naturopathic Doctors, on the other hand, use homeopathic medicine as one of the therapies integrated into a total treatment plan. ND's are the only health care professionals trained in homeopathy as part of their standard educational program and are examined in homeopathy for licensing purposes.

Do naturopathic doctors work in conjunction with medical doctors and other healthcare professionals?
As primary care providers, naturopathic doctors work with their patients and educate them to take responsibility for their own health. Naturopathic treatments are often given in conjunction with conventional medical treatments. Naturopathic doctors frequently work closely with other health care professionals for the benefit of their patients. ND's are also trained to refer patients to other health-care providers when a condition warrants it, or when the treatment required is outside of the scope of naturopathic medicine. These other practitioners can include medical doctors, dentists, chiropractors, registered massage therapists, psychotherapists and midwives.

Can herbs/supplements/homeopathic remedies have adverse reactions when used in combination with drugs?
Yes, any substance taken into the body can interact with another substance. Always advise your naturopathic doctor and your medical doctor of all medications you are taking. Your Naturopath is well versed in the interactions between pharmaceuticals and natural herbs and supplements.

Is naturopathic medicine covered by OHIP?
Naturopathic medicine is not covered by OHIP, but many private health insurance plans cover naturopathic medical services.
Check your policy to make sure it covers naturopathic medicine and find out the details of that coverage. Many insurance packages cover naturopathic medicine but not all. If yours does not, you may consider asking your carrier or your employer to extend coverage to include naturopathic medical care. If your package covers naturopathic medicine, make sure your naturopathic doctor is registered with the BDDT-N. Insurance companies will not cover naturopathic care if the health care practitioner is not registered with the BDDT-N.

Is Naturopathic Medicine Safe?
The safety record for provincial/state licensed Naturopathic practitioners is excellent. This makes sense, given the emphasis on natural-source, non-toxic remedies and gentle, non-invasive treatments. Side effects are rare, and ND's are extremely knowledgeable about contraindications and interactions between naturopathic remedies and conventional medicines.

Is Naturopathic Medicine Scientific?
Thousands of modern clinical studies have validated a variety of natural medicines used by ND's: Echinacea for the modulation of the immune system and St. John’s Wort for the treatment of mild-to-moderate depression are merely two examples. Schools of Naturopathic Medicine encourage and facilitate research.
It is important to note that, since many natural remedies are non-patentable, manufacturers find little financial incentive in the costly process of conducting scientific studies. Therefore, independent funding sources are essential for the scientific validation of Naturopathic treatments.

For more information contact us at: info@dragonflynaturopathy.com