Naturopathic Medicine

Naturopathic medicine is a unique and comprehensive approach to improving health and treating illness. Focusing on prevention and addressing the cause of illness, naturopathic doctors (NDs) combine scientific knowledge with traditional healing wisdom to support and stimulate the body’s ability to heal itself. NDs often collaborate with other health care professionals, and treatment is complementary to other forms of health care, including conventional medical treatment. Services are covered by most workplace and private health insurance plans.

NDs are considered primary health care physicians, having completed 4 years of pre-med undergraduate training and 4 years at a naturopathic medical college/university. Naturopathic training includes:

• Basic medical sciences: anatomy, biochemistry, physiology, immunology, pathology, histology, lab diagnosis, physical clinical diagnosis, differential diagnosis and pharmacology
• Naturopathic modalities: clinical nutrition, botanical medicine, traditional Chinese medicine, homeopathy, physical therapies and counseling
• One year of supervised clinical internship

In Nova Scotia, most NDs are members of the Nova Scotia Association of Naturopathic Doctors (NSAND). All members have graduated from an accredited naturopathic medical college/university, passed North American standardized board examinations, and belong to the Canadian Association of Naturopathic Doctors (www.cand.ca). Pending legislation for NDs in Nova Scotia, members are required to maintain a license in a regulated province such as Ontario or British Columbia.

Naturopathic treatment provided at Hydrostone Osteopathy include:

• Nutritional analysis and recommendations (including individualized diet plans)
• Supplementation with vitamins, minerals and other nutrients
• Botanical (herbal) medicines
• Homeopathy
• Lifestyle counseling
• Physical therapies, including Bowen Therapy