Information Gathering

Since naturopathic doctors focus on the underlying causes of a condition, they’ll typically ask a series of questions covering areas such as your current and past medical history, medications, supplements, diet, sleeping habits, emotional and mental health as well as a review of all body systems to try and gather as much information as possible.

If at any point you feel like the questions being asked are unrelated to your condition, remember that the main goal of the first visit is for your naturopathic doctor to pinpoint exactly why you’re feeling the way you are and what’s causing it and that each question asked can play a part in your treatment plan. Be honest when answering the naturopathic doctor’s questions and bring along the results of any recent lab tests you’ve had — this will help ensure they can create the most effective treatment plan possible.

Physical Examination

If necessary, your naturopathic doctor may carry out a physical examination on your first visit to collect important information such as your height, weight, blood pressure, heart rate, and information from a standard physical exam that you would have performed by your conventional doctor. Physical examinations are especially important if your condition stems from or has affected a particular part of your body.

Blood Work

Once your naturopathic doctor has gathered the necessary information and carried out a physical examination, they may order some blood work. Blood work and other lab tests can be an effective way to assess your overall health and help your naturopathic doctor better understand what’s causing your current condition, as well as how to effectively treat it.

While you might not receive any naturopathic treatment to take home with you on your very first visit, it’s an essential step on the road to recovery and a better life. Reach out to Calgary Integrative Medicine to find out more about the benefits of naturopathy and book your first visit today.

With many of us striving to achieve optimal health and wellbeing, the demand for health products and services has been accelerating. In addition to conventional medicine, society as a whole has been focusing on preventative and proactive approaches to healthcare. This is where naturopathic medicine is playing a foundational role in shaping the future of healthcare as we know it. Naturopathic medicine is that preventative, and proactive healthcare model that so many patients are looking for.

Naturopathic Doctors aim to find the root cause of their patient’s health issues, not just to address the symptoms present. This requires investigation with a very thorough consultation, physical exam, and blood work. Rather than solely relying on medication, Naturopathic Doctors use a variety of techniques, and treatment modalities to approach a patient’s health and healthcare goals. So, why would people choose to visit a Naturopathic Doctor in addition to a conventional physician? Let’s find out!

An Individualized and Integrative Approach to Wellness

Taking an integrative approach to wellness means that your health care is now a part of a team effort. Naturopathic Doctors have a broad scope of training in many modalities and also work in conjunction with your other health care providers. Each body is unique and requires an individualized approach. Naturopathic doctors may use several treatments to tackle your health including lifestyle modification, clinical nutrition, supplementation, acupuncture, injections, intravenous therapy, and manual therapy. No two bodies are alike, and your treatment protocol will reflect this as each protocol is personalized to you and your case.

Suitable for a Variety of Medical Conditions

Naturopathic medicine can treat a wide variety of medical conditions, with many Naturopathic Doctors choosing to focus on specific areas like integrative oncology, chronic pain, and cardiovascular health. A few medical conditions commonly treated by our Naturopathic Doctors include:

Cardiovascular disease
Neurological disease
Integrative oncology
Lyme disease
Digestive and metabolic disorders
Hormone balance and thyroid optimization (female and male hormone imbalances)
Weight loss
Pain management (prolotherapy, neural therapy, acupuncture)

Focus on Root Cause

Naturopathic Doctors focus on the root causes of medical conditions to develop long-term sustainable solutions, rather than short-term relief. The first visit to a Naturopathic Doctor is typically an information-gathering visit that involves the Naturopathic Doctor going through a series of questions to get a detailed view of your health history, with the intention of identifying the root cause of your condition. Advanced blood/serum, sputum, urine, and stool testing may be utilized on a case-case basis, to create an effective treatment plan.

Natural Treatments

The use of natural therapies facilitates the body’s self-healing capabilities. Treatments are focused on improving both a patient’s physical and mental wellbeing. Treatment modalities range from: clinical nutrition, nutraceutical/supplement prescriptions, botanical/herbal medicine, acupuncture, injection and IV therapies. Lifestyle medicine is at the core of naturopathic medicine, as what we put into our bodies highly impacts our health and ability to heal.

Works in Conjunction with Conventional Medicine

Many prospective patients are surprised to hear that Naturopathic Doctors work alongside conventional medical doctors. Despite what some may think, naturopathic medicine does not exclusively follow traditional/natural healing techniques but rather blends the two with modern conventional medicine. This approach is an integrated medical approach for patients, that allows for optimal, well rounded, personalized treatment plans, that support the patient in all domains. A collaborative, integrative team of medical professionals, is what gives the results we are all looking for: true health.

Anyone can benefit from naturopathic medicine however, if you’re unsure if it’s right for you or the medical condition you’re currently facing, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with Calgary Integrative Medicine. Our team of passionate healthcare providers is on-hand to ensure that you receive the best treatment possible so you can continue living life to the fullest.