Questions about Naturopathic Medicine in general:
❯ What is Naturopathic Medicine?
Naturopathic Medicine is a distinct system of healthcare that focus on determining and treating the root cause of illness and stimulating the body's natural ability to heal itself, rather than just suppressing the symptoms. Naturopathic medicine blends modern science and evidence-based and traditional therapeutic methods such as nutrient supplements, herbs, homeopathy, acupuncture, diet and lifestyle interventions.
In addition, naturopathic medicine recognizes that all individuals are unique, so treatments must be tailored to the individual rather than the disease (for example, treating indigestion in one person may require quite a different approach versus another person with the same health concern).
Although no pharmaceutical medicines are used in the treatment process, Naturopathic Doctors are capable of running standard and specialized lab tests, while also coordinating care with other physicians (such as general practitioners or specialists).
➜ Learn more about Naturopathic Medicine here
❯ What qualifications do licensed Naturopathic Doctors have?
In Ontario, licensed Naturopathic Doctors (NDs) have at least 7 years of post-secondary education, including 4 years of full-time training at an accredited educational institution, such as the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine (CCNM). This includes more than 4,500 hours of classroom training and 1,500 hours of supervised clinical experience.
They must also successfully pass the provincial and international board exams,
Naturopathic Physicians Licensing Examinations (NPLEX). NPLEX is the standardized examination used by all licensing jurisdictions for Naturopathic Doctors in North America. NDs must also obtain their professional licensing from the
College of Naturopaths of Ontario (CONO) and meet the Continuing Medical Education (CME) credits as required by the provincial regulatory boards on an ongoing basis.
NDs in Ontario are regulated under the Regulated Health Practitioners Act (RHPA) alongside Medical Doctors, nurses, physiotherapists and most other health-care providers in the province.
❯ How do I know if my Naturopathic Doctor is licensed and registered?
All licensed Naturopathic Doctors practicing in Ontario must meet all of the requirements listed above under "What kind of training and qualification do licensed Naturopathic Doctors have?", and be registered with the College of Naturopaths of Ontario (CONO)
in order to practice. In addition, they must also earn the Continuing Medical Education (CME) credits every year in order to stay in good standing with CONO.
You can visit CONO's registration directory
or contact CONO at 416-583-6010 to verify that your Naturopathic Doctor is registered and in good standing.
❯ Is Naturopathic Medicine covered by OHIP?
No. Unforunately, Naturopathic Medicine is currently not covered by OHIP. However, most extended health care plans do provide coverage for naturopathic services. Please contact your insurance provider to verify the details of your coverage.
❯ Are Naturopathic services covered by insurance?
It depends who your insurance provider is. The best way to be sure is to check with them. They will need your insurance policy number and Dr. Tam’s qualification (Naturopathic Doctor), and they may also need to know that Dr. Tam, ND is licensed in Ontario through the College of Naturopaths of Ontario (CONO).
❯ Do I need to leave my family doctor (MD) if I see a Naturopathic Doctor?
Not at all! It would be ideal for all patients to have a collaborative healthcare team where their health practitioners can work together to best serve the patient. All practitioners have their areas of specialty, and these should be utilitzed together to provide the best care possible. Naturopathic Doctors can support and enhance the care given by other practitioners.
❯ If I am taking prescription medications, is it safe for me to receive naturopathic therapies?
.
YES!
You can definitely see a Naturopathic Doctor, and you can take natural medicines depending on your situation. Like all medications, natural medicines can have potential interactions and side-effects when they are improperly combined with other drugs or supplements.
Licensed Naturopathic Doctors, like Dr. Tam, ND, are trained extensively in pharmacology and drug-herb-nutrient interactions, and will only prescribe natural therapies that are safe and beneficial for you. NDs can also help you manage the side effects of medications.
**It is very important that you bring in or provide a list of your current medications and supplements to your visits, and keep us informed of any changes to the list, so we can ensure that there are no interactions between your natural and drug prescriptions.
