The goal of Naturopathic Medicine is to achieve optimal levels of health. Therefore, Naturopathic Doctors treat patients at every stage of life. Anyone can be helped with Naturopathic care. Many patients seek help with chronic conditions such as body pain, skin diseases, respiratory diseases, female disorders or gastrointestinal diseases and find much relief with Naturopathic treatment. Others present with acute illnesses, which can be quickly improved to help avoid pain, loss of sleep, loss of work, and anxiety. Still others seek education and prevention – you don’t have to be sick to feel better. A Naturopathic program is looking toward the future. You can begin to feel better now and you can reduce the likelihood of suffering and illness later in life.

Naturopathic Doctors have a minimum of three years of pre-medical studies at a university, followed by four years of study at an accredited Naturopathic Medical school. The education includes basic medical sciences including anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, laboratory diagnosis, etc. and treatment modalities including acupuncture, botanical medicine, clinical nutrition, homeopathy and so on. Candidates then undergo a full year of supervised clinical rotation. After completion of the ND program, candidates must successfully pass federal board-licensing exams before being allowed to practice Naturopathic Medicine in their Province. Each province has its own governing body for regulating Naturopathic Doctors.

Naturopathic Doctors in British Columbia are regulated by The College of Naturopathic Physicians of British Columbia (C.N.P.B.C.) – Naturopathy, under the federally regulated Drugless Practitioners Act. If you’d like a list of registered (licensed) ND’s practicing in BC, contact the British Columbia Naturopathic Association or the College of Naturopathic Physician of British Columbia.

Naturopathic Medicine focuses on treating the whole person using individualized treatment. Each visit and treatment protocol is tailored to your specific needs. Your first visit includes an in depth assessment including a complete medical history and examination. Further laboratory diagnostics may be ordered depending on your presenting condition. Expect to spend approximately 1-1.25 hours at the office for your first visit. By the second or third visit, depending on whether tests are conducted, is 30 to 45 minutes in length and is the time for your Naturopathic Doctor to review and discuss the findings and treatment options. Follow-up visits will vary after this point depending on the treatment program prescribed, as each additional visit is the time to assess progression and fine tune or continue your therapy. Since Naturopathic Doctors treat health and just not disease and in consideration of health as a dynamic process, it is important to keep in mind that you may visit them on an ongoing basis.

No referral is necessary to make an appointment with a Naturopathic Doctor.