What is Naturopathic Medicine?Natural Medicine is steeped in philosophy derived from 2000 year old Hippocratic teaching — the Vis mediatrix naturae — nature is the healer of all diseases. Naturopathic Medicine draws upon this historic, therapeutic knowledge and combines it with modern, science-based medical research. It is a primary health care profession with a goal which emphasizes the prevention and treatment of disease, maintenance of optimal health, and promotion of the individual’s inherent self-healing process. Naturopathic medical practice focuses on each patient as an individual, treating underlying causes of disease in order to recover and maintain lasting wellness. Naturopathic Medicine addresses the whole person--mind, body, and spirit - to find the safest, least invasive, effective treatments necessary to correct health problems. Naturopathic Medicine has been shown to be effective for treating most health problems, both acute and chronic. Some of the therapies most commonly utilized by NDs include clinical nutrition, homeopathy, botanical medicine, physical medicine, Traditional Chinese Medicine and counseling and stress management. In the past 30 years there has been an extraordinary increase in consumer demand for safe, effective and cost-efficient natural healthcare. Naturopathic Medicine has emerged as the health care profession best suited to meet this demand. What is a Naturopathic Doctor?At a time when modern medicine is suffering from an epidemic of technological over-load, over-specialization and over-use of drug therapy, NDs are being increasingly called upon to provide natural health care. A Naturopathic Doctor has completed a postgraduate medical education specializing in primary care natural medicine. Naturopathic Doctors are distinct from acupuncturists, chiropractors, osteopaths, and medical doctors. They are uniquely trained to provide a comprehensive and integrated approach to assist your body's innate healing processes. In addition to providing recommendations on lifestyle, diet, and exercise, NDs may use a variety of natural therapeutics including clinical nutrition, herbal medicine, traditional Chinese medicine & acupuncture, hydrotherapy, therapeutic manipulation, and counseling. The goal of the Naturopathic Doctor is to eliminate the obstacles to healing and to provide the tools for patients to take responsibility for their health. To achieve this goal, the ND strives to understand you, the patient, by taking a comprehensive health history, thoroughly researching any physical, mental, emotional or spiritual factors that may be preventing you from achieving optimum health. In addition, the information from a physical exam and laboratory tests assist in making an assessment and diagnosis. This patient-centred approach results in the creation of a comprehensive and individualized treatment plan that is custom-tailored to your unique health condition. This approach offers patients the opportunity to learn about and incorporate healthy lifestyles and thereby maintain resiliency and wellness for life. Naturopathic doctors cooperate with all other branches within the medical field, referring patients to other practitioners for diagnosis or treatment when appropriate. Who Should Use Naturopathic Medicine?
Everyone! Naturopathic Medicine is effective and safe for virtually all illnesses and disease states and is used in the treatment of acute and chronic conditions as well as for preventative wellness. This is because Naturopathic Medicine works with each person’s own unique ability for healing; it focuses on the belief that within each person resides the inherent knowledge of how to live balanced and be well. It is the Naturopathic Doctor’s goal to strengthen that inherent healing power, enabling the body itself to bring about true healing. Are Naturopathic Doctors licensed physicians?
After completing a minimum of 3 years of premedical studies at a university, a licensed naturopathic doctor attends a four-year graduate level medical school and is educated in all the same biomedical and clinical sciences as an MD. The first two years of education include over 4200 hours of study focusing on anatomy, physiology, pathology, pharmacology, biochemistry, immunology and other basic medical sciences, as well as an in-depth study of naturopathic philosophy, the healing response and the mind-body connection. In the last two years of their medical training, NDs study the major organ systems, physical and clinical diagnosis, differential diagnosis, minor surgery and diagnostic imaging as well as the 6 major naturopathic disciplines including Traditional Chinese Medicine, lifestyle counseling, clinical nutrition, botanical medicine, homeopathy, hydrotherapy and other physical therapeutic modalities. Two years and 1500 hours of supervised outpatient clinical training prepare the ND to provide safe and effective true healthcare. Upon graduation from an accredited naturopathic medical school, NDs sit for the Naturopathic Physicians Licensing Examination (NPLEX) as well as the Provincial Board examinations. These are standardized examinations that determine professional competency. After passing these rigorous five-day exams, NDs qualify for provincial licensure. Finally, continuing medical education credits are a requirement to maintain licensure for naturopathic physicians. What can I expect from my first consultation?The initial consultation is 60 minutes, during which time Dr. Yarish will listen to your story and symptoms, take a thorough health and lifestyle history, learn your health goals, review your current nutritional supplements and pharmaceutical medications (if any), conduct a brief physical exam, review your completed intake forms, review or order the appropriate lab tests, and develop a comprehensive treatment plan. To assist in making an accurate diagnosis of your condition(s), Dr. Yarish may choose from an array of hundreds of laboratory tests, ranging from conventional blood and urine tests, to more progressive, functionally-oriented salivary hormone, adrenal and neurotransmitter testing, food allergy/sensitivity, genetic, digestive stool and many others. What can I expect from follow-up consultations?During the second visit, usually about 30-45 minutes, Dr. Yarish will present his findings and detail the lifestyle and dietary changes needed, along with the appropriate nutritional and herbal supplements, and other follow-up laboratory tests, as needed. Will my insurance cover naturopathic medicine?In Ontario, ND fees are not covered by OHIP. However, with the growing demand for Naturopathic Medicine, more and more insurance companies are reimbursing patients for visits to licensed naturopathic doctors. Whether or not your insurance company will cover any or all of your visit with Dr. Yarish largely depends on the type of coverage you have. You may want to contact your insurance company to find out what your policy covers. We do not bill your insurance company however you’ll receive a receipt that you can submit as an insurance claim. Many of our patients tell us they are receiving reimbursement for their visits. What if I'm taking prescription medications, will herbs interact with them?There are certain drug-nutrient and drug-herbal interactions that need to be taken into consideration when devising an individual treatment plan. Certain herbs and nutrients can have adverse effects when combined with prescription drugs. Dr. Yarish is aware of the interactions and will avoid all possible combinations. However, it is essential that you provide your doctor with a list of all current medications as well as any allergies.
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