People come to us most often for digestive issues, hormonal concerns, and chronic conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, or high cholesterol. NDs prioritize treating the root cause, which helps prevent recurrent issues and future complications of these conditions.  On top of these issues, I personally see a lot of pain (both acute and chronic), as well as mental health concerns/burnout.

Initial visits are anywhere from 60-90 minutes as NDs like to get the whole picture of someone’s health before creating an individualised, holistic plan. We take an in-depth health history and often do a head-to-toe assessment including physical exams based on the patient’s health concerns. We close out visits by discussing our findings, the treatment options we have, and the risks and benefits of those treatments, before deciding with the patient what treatments fit their values and health goals best. The aim by the end of the visit is that patient’s feel heard, informed, and confident in their health journey.

It depends on the person and the condition - For general or chronic health concerns, there is always a 90-minute initial visit. This is followed up by a 30-45 minute appointment 2-4 weeks after initial visit to assess progress, go over any lab results, and address any barriers to progress. Then, there is typically a 30-45 minute follow-up 4-6 weeks after that to check in and nail down a continued care plan. If the patient’s health concern(s) are able to be addressed through acupuncture, cupping, body work, etc., follow-ups are more frequent. A typical acupuncture protocol is once a week for 6-8 weeks. Acute concerns such as coughs/colds, allergies, earaches, etc. require follow-ups closer together (1-3 visits over a 2 weeks period) but typically do not require long-term care. 

No! Interpreting blood work can help us understand what is going on underneath the surface, but it is not necessary before seeing an ND. Our assessment and diagnostic skills tell us a lot, and we have ample time to discuss your entire health picture in the initial visit. Blood work done through ND or MD requisitions may be a part of our continued care plan in order to inform specific treatment parameters and track changes of certain health concerns. If you have recently had blood work done - feel free to bring it to your next appointment. Otherwise we can point you in the right direction if do need specific tests.

Some nutrients that I find patients are commonly deficient in or lacking include Magnesium, B vitamins, Vitamin D, and Iron. I do not recommend everyone take these nutrients in supplement form unless prescribed, because dose and form are very important to consider and differ widely based on individuals’ needs. Lab testing can help determine a person’s level of various nutrients and help determine need for supplementation. * An important factor to note about lab results is that just because levels are within “normal” range, does not mean they are optimal so reviewing results with a healthcare practitioner is important! A trained health professional will help determine the need for these nutrients through detailed history taking and symptom assessment. 

My favourite conditions to treat would have to be:

• Muscle and joint pain/injuries

• Mental health

• Hormonal complaints

What I love about treating these conditions is that they typically respond extremely well to naturopathic and conservative care. There is often a limited number of medical interventions offered for these conditions and patients don’t always respond well or feel comfortable with the risks or side effects of those treatment options. I love watching patients be surprised and relieved when they finally see progress in these conditions when they didn’t think they would find relief. 

Yes! Most extended health coverage includes Naturopathic Medicine. Here at ProActive Centre, we can even direct bill your insurance for naturopathic visits and diagnostic testing.

My favourite part about being an ND is getting to support and educate people while they take charge of their health. I love teaching patients about their body and health while building individualised care plans that are in line with their values and goals. Working with people every day is very rewarding and I get just as excited as patients to watch all the progress they make!