Naturopathic Medicine
Naturopathic Medicine is a system of primary health care using natural therapies, such as nutrition, botanical medicine, acupuncture, homeopathy, physical medicine and lifestyle counseling to prevent and treat illness.
- Primum non nocere – first to do no harm
- Vis medicatrix naturae – to co-operate with the healing powers of nature
- Tolle causum – to address and treat the fundamental cause of disease, not to just palliate the symptoms
- Docere – doctor as teacher, to encourage, provide guidance and encourage patient responsibility for their own health
- Tolle totum – to treat the whole person, as a unique individual
- To teach the principles of healthy living and preventative medicine, at the individual, community and global levels
Conditions we treat
Naturopathic doctors are primary care practitioners, meaning they treat a wide variety of health concerns, similar to family physicians. Commonly treated conditions include: colds, flus, allergies, arthritis, PMS, dysmenorrhea, menopause, thyroid conditions, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes, cancer, ADD/ADHD, autism, depression & anxiety, insomnia, skin conditions, back pain and many more.
What to expect on your 1st visit
Your first visit at the WIHC is the time for your N.D. to gather information about you and your health concerns. During this time you will be asked many questions about your current and past health history. Your N.D. will perform a comprehensive physical examination, and will ask you for a urine sample. Gynecological and breast exams are not routinely done on the first visit, but can be performed upon request. This visit typically takes 1 ½ hours.
Your Second Visit
During your second visit, you will receive your report from your N.D. This includes a diagnosis and treatment plan, detailed and printed out for you to take home. It will include suggestions using any or all of the therapies employed by N.D.’s, including nutrition, botanical medicine, homeopathy, acupuncture, physical therapies and lifestyle counseling. There will be plenty of time for you to ask questions during this visit, and if acupuncture is recommended, you can receive your first session during this time. This is generally a 1 hour visit.
Any subsequent visits are usually a ½ hour, whether they are for an acupuncture treatment, a progress follow-up, an acute illness, or any other reason.
Lab services
Food allergy testing, salivary hormone testing, hair-mineral analysis, blood testing including: complete blood count (CBC), thyroid testing, cholesterol and triglyceride levels, blood glucose and more, urinalysis, gynaecological testing including Pap tests, and cultures.
