3 - Naturopathic Medicine

Question 1

What is naturopathic medicine?

Answer 1

A distinct system of primary health care that addresses the root causes of illness, and promotes health and healing using natural therapies.

Question 2

How does naturopathic medicine diagnose, treat and care for patients?

Answer 2

Using a system of practise that bases the treatment on natural laws governing the human body.

Question 3

What does naturopathic medicine use?

Answer 3

Uses natural methods/modalities such as natural foods, nutrients, herbs, and remedies to support and stimulate a patient’s own healing process.

Question 4

What does naturopathic medicine exclude?

Answer 4

major surgery, therapeutic use of x-ray and radium, and use of most pharmaceutical drugs (each province varies)

Question 5

What province became the first in Canada to grant naturopathic doctors with prescribing authority in April 2009?

What province became the second?

Answer 5

1st - BC

2nd - Ontario

Question 6

Describe the training/regulation of becoming a naturopathic doctor?

Answer 6

• Bachelor degree - including pre-medical science courses
• 4 year degree at an accredited naturopathic medical school
• National board examinations
• Clinical rotations
• Canadian licensing
• Provincial licensing examinations
• CME credits and yearly provincial licensing requirements

Question 7

What kind of tests can licensed ND’s routinely run?

Answer 7

• Blood chemistry
• Nutrient levels
• Blood immunoglobulin levels to certain allergens
• Stool samples/cultures - for bacteria, parasites
• Lipoprotein cholesterol analysis
• Salivary hormone levels

Question 8

Are tests ordered by a naturopathic doctor covered by the province?

Answer 8

No way - it’s good to have these done by a conventional doctor so they are covered

Question 9

What are the treatment modalities of naturopathic medicine?

Answer 9

• Lifestyle and psychological counselling
• Nutritional counselling
• Clinical nutrition
• Botanical medicine
• Homeopathic medicine
• Acupuncture - Traditional Chinese Medicine
• Physical medicine

Question 10

Naturopaths are more for ________ rather than ________

Answer 10

prevention rather than treatment

Question 11

NHPs are divided into lots of categories:

List types of nutritional supplements

Answer 11

vitamins, minerals, anti-oxidants, amino acids, fatty acids, fibre

Question 12

NHPs are divided into lots of categories:

List types of herbal medicines

Answer 12

tinctures, glycerites, solid extracts, teas, granules, standardized encapsulated forms

Question 13

NHPs are divided into lots of categories:

Probiotics can be what kind of delivery?

Answer 13

oral and/or vaginal delivery

Question 14

NHPs are divided into lots of categories:

What are glandular extracts?

Answer 14

Could come from bovine/pig source

Question 15

NHPs are divided into lots of categories:

Types of enzymes?

Answer 15

digestive, fibrinolytic, proteolytic

Question 16

NHPs are divided into lots of categories:

Types of topical NHPs?

Answer 16

salves, ointments, creams

Question 17

NHPs are divided into lots of categories:

What can be IV?

Answer 17

vitamins and minerals

Question 18

NHPs are divided into lots of categories:

What can be IM?

Answer 18

vitamins and iron

Question 19

What are the principles of naturopathic medicine?

Answer 19

• first do no harm
• healing power of nature
• recognize and remove barriers to the healing process
• treat the underlying cause of the illness
• treat the whole person
• educate the patient about their illness and empower them to make necessary steps
• emphasize prevention

Question 20

Principles of naturopathic medicine:

Describe “Healing power of nature”

Answer 20

• It’s the belief in the inherent self-organizing and healing process of living systems which establishes, maintains and restores health.
• It is the ND’s role to support, facilitate and augment this process by identifying and removing obstacles to health and recovery and by supporting the creation of a healthy environment.

Question 21

Principles of naturopathic medicine:

Describe “Getting to the root of the problem”

Answer 21

• Finding out what the underlying processes are that contribute to the disease
• Finding out where are there imbalances, looking below the surface to find unifying themes (digestive, toxicity, endocrine, mitochondrial dysfunction)

Question 22

Principles of naturopathic medicine:

Describe “Treating the whole person”

Answer 22

• Health and disease result from a complex of physical, mental, emotional, genetic, environmental, spiritual, social and other factors
• The multi-factorial nature of health and disease requires a personalized and comprehensive approach to diagnosis
• Patient entered approach is required

Question 23

Principles of naturopathic medicine:

Describe “First do no harm”

Answer 23

• Use substances that minimize the risk of harmful effects
• Generally avoid suppression of symptoms
• Do not give the patient false hope
• Recognize the limitations of natural medicine
• Refer for conventional treatments when needed

Question 24

Principles of naturopathic medicine:

Describe “doctor as teacher”

Answer 24

• the original meaning of the word doctor is teacher ? LOL
• a principle objective of naturopathic medicine is to educate the patient and emphasize self-responsibility for health
• patient as co-learner
• partnership with patient

Question 25

Principles of naturopathic medicine:

Describe “prevention”

Answer 25

• The prevention of disease AND the attainment of optimal health in patients is a primary objective of naturopathy
• NDs assess risk factors, heredity and susceptibility to disease and make appropriate interventions in partnership with the patient to prevent illness

Question 26

Principles of naturopathic medicine:

Describe “the therapeutic order”

*pic on slide 24

Answer 26

• re-establish the basis for health
• stimulate the healing power of nature
• tonify weakened systems
• prescribe specific natural substances for pathology
• advise pharmacological substances for pathology

Question 27

Describe what would happen in a naturopathic visit

Answer 27

• Length of first visit is usually minimum 1-2hrs
• Thorough history is taken
• Review of prescription medications
• Physical examination
• Lab testing is required (urine, blood, saliva, stool)
• Request for release of records
• Delivery of treatment plan/options

Question 28

What are some foundations for health?

Answer 28

• nutrition
• clean water
• sleep
• exercise
• sunshine/outdoors/nature
• stress management
• supportive relationships

Question 29

What are some things that naturopathic medicine excels in?

Answer 29

• digestive concerns
• increasing quality of life in those with chronic and life-threading illnesses
• decreasing side effects
• diabetes
• autoimmune diseases
• hormonal imbalances
• assessing an individual’s unique healthcare needs and risks due to differences in family history or genetics
• allergies
• multiple chemical sensitivities
• fibromyalgia/chronic fatigue syndrome

Question 30

What types of patients go to ND’s?

Answer 30

• For those who express an interest in natural medicine or complementary care
• Those who are looking for additional support and counselling to maintain and improve their health
• Those who are self-prescribing herbs and nutritional supplements are there are concerns about interactions with medications
• Those who are looking for more information on disease management, in addition to conventional protocols
• Those who value prevention and are in good health but would like to avoid becoming ill in the future (Chris Treiger !!)
• Those who have been diagnosed with chronic illnesses and are looking for treatment options
• Patients that have a range of symptoms that have not been connected or resolved by their current medical practitioners

Question 31

Look at cases

Answer 31

okay