Natural medicine
More vitamin D commentary
26/12/10 14:01
More recent commentary on vitamin D as covered by Natural Medicine Journal:
Let the Science and Evidence Guide Clinical Decision-Making on Vitamin D for the Benefit of Patients, Alexander G. Schauss, PhD, FACN
This article discusses biochemical individuality, as well as evidence in favour of vitamin D as relates to frailty in elderly populations, genetic and racial variations, and immune support. Ultimately, he reiterates that we must “consider the individual,” which is what naturopathic medicine is all about!
Broad-Brush Recommendations Are a Disservice to the Public, Geovanni Espinosa, ND
This article summarizes conditions associated with vitamin D deficiency and provides some broad intake recommendations.
Media Coverage Further Confounds Recommendations, Susan W. Ryan, DO
This article highlights one major issue plaguing media coverage of health issues - inaccurate or incomplete reporting. Unfortunately, as a naturopathic doctor I find this to be all too common! What gets covered in major media is not necessarily representative of the information that exists on a topic, it is slanted more towards what is strange/interesting/controversial/trendy. This also includes such information available on the internet. There is a lot of great information to be found on the internet, but your best bet is to find out what is best for YOU from a trained health professional, such as your naturopathic doctor.
Let the Science and Evidence Guide Clinical Decision-Making on Vitamin D for the Benefit of Patients, Alexander G. Schauss, PhD, FACN
This article discusses biochemical individuality, as well as evidence in favour of vitamin D as relates to frailty in elderly populations, genetic and racial variations, and immune support. Ultimately, he reiterates that we must “consider the individual,” which is what naturopathic medicine is all about!
Broad-Brush Recommendations Are a Disservice to the Public, Geovanni Espinosa, ND
This article summarizes conditions associated with vitamin D deficiency and provides some broad intake recommendations.
Media Coverage Further Confounds Recommendations, Susan W. Ryan, DO
This article highlights one major issue plaguing media coverage of health issues - inaccurate or incomplete reporting. Unfortunately, as a naturopathic doctor I find this to be all too common! What gets covered in major media is not necessarily representative of the information that exists on a topic, it is slanted more towards what is strange/interesting/controversial/trendy. This also includes such information available on the internet. There is a lot of great information to be found on the internet, but your best bet is to find out what is best for YOU from a trained health professional, such as your naturopathic doctor.
Comments
Since when did natural become the alternative?
20/12/10 10:25
Check out this blog by my colleague Ashley Mayer that asks the question “since when did natural become the alternative?”
I had to share this blog because it addresses a major shift in perception that has happened in society in a short period of time. Somehow in just a generation or two, most people have accepted advertising messages/manipulation that tells us that fake, altered, and lab-created foods are somehow equal to or even better than what nature has to offer. Although I have yet to read both of the Michael Pollan books I own, I know that one of his major messages is “eat food.” Even just sticking to this basic advice, meaning eat things in as close to their natural state as possible (unprocessed and free of preservatives, additives, flavours, colours, etc), would greatly benefit most people.
In this blog, Ashley addresses this question as well as the key points of: choose your sources of information carefully and employ your critical thinking skills to decide what is actually “healthy.”
I had to share this blog because it addresses a major shift in perception that has happened in society in a short period of time. Somehow in just a generation or two, most people have accepted advertising messages/manipulation that tells us that fake, altered, and lab-created foods are somehow equal to or even better than what nature has to offer. Although I have yet to read both of the Michael Pollan books I own, I know that one of his major messages is “eat food.” Even just sticking to this basic advice, meaning eat things in as close to their natural state as possible (unprocessed and free of preservatives, additives, flavours, colours, etc), would greatly benefit most people.
In this blog, Ashley addresses this question as well as the key points of: choose your sources of information carefully and employ your critical thinking skills to decide what is actually “healthy.”
Calcium and vitamin D
06/12/10 12:39
A recent article in the New York Times questioned the need for high levels of calcium and vitamin D supplementation that has become the new norm. I have already had patients ask me about this, so I will try to address it here.
I am always in favour of obtaining nutrients the way human beings were designed to get them, which is through food. Calcium and vitamin D are actually quite different types of nutrients, so I will discuss them separately. The main take-home point of this blog is that ultimately we are all unique and the beauty of naturopathic medicine is that as an ND I am able to work with you individually to assess your needs and make a recommendation that is personalized to you as an individual. So ultimately, to figure out how much calcium and vitamin D you should or should not take, talk to your naturopathic doctor!
Calcium
I am asked quite often how much calcium we need, what is the best source, etc... Osteoporosis is far too common in western society and yet we get lots of calcium here too! What’s going on? The short answer is that there is so much more to bone health than just calcium. There are three things to look at with regard to bone health.
First, the raw material needed to create bone. Calcium is just one of many building blocks necessary to make bone but it is definitely not the only one! Magnesium, phosphate, boron, and other minerals are all necessary.
Second, a pile of bricks does not make a house just as lots of materials (calcium and other minerals) do not automatically make bone. Bone has to be built and weight bearing exercise is a key factor to signal our bodies to take those materials and do something with them. When more stress is applied to bone, it becomes stronger. There are also other factors in building bone, such as proper blood flow (yes, bone is living tissue and needs blood!) and other signals like vitamin D (see below!) going on in the body.
Finally, we must prevent our bodies from breaking down bone to use those materials elsewhere. This is another complex area but in a nutshell, if your body needs some calcium to buffer your blood to keep it at the perfect pH level (which keeps you alive, by the way), it will draw this from bones. An acidic environment in our tissues increases the need to use bone to balance pH. And what causes an acidic environment? Stress, lack of sleep, caffeine/alcohol, sugar, dairy, and other acidifying foods...
While dairy groups and marketing boards have done an amazing job convincing people they need to eat a lot of servings of dairy products each day to get enough calcium, there are many other great sources of calcium that most people overlook. One great way is to make bone broth! You can also get calcium from leafy green veggies, nuts and seeds, and many other diverse food sources. For more info, check out the World’s Healthiest Foods site listing for calcium.
Vitamin D
In the case of vitamin D, our bodies use cholesterol (it’s not all bad!) to make vitamin D when our skin is exposed to the sun. For example, a caucasian person out in summer sun in just a bathing suit until his or her skin just begins to turn pink produces between 10,000 and 50,000IU of vitamin D. Vitamin D is a fat soluble vitamin and can therefore be stored by our bodies so that we can make it through winter off the supply we’ve built up in the summer. Lighter skinned people make more vitamin D from the sun so it’s no surprise that at higher latitudes you find blonder, paler people and near the equator (where there is more direct sun exposure and no long, dark winter) you find darker skinned people. Anyway, before there were ever vitamin D supplements, humans spent much of their time, particularly in the summer, outside and likely made enough vitamin D to last through each winter.
However, this is not the world we live in anymore! Unfortunately most people spend nearly all their time indoors during the day and therefore cannot make vitamin D from sun exposure. This alone is a powerful argument for supplementation, not to mention the greater issue of how our incredibly unnatural lifestyle impacts our health, but that is a topic for another day. In addition, there have been many studies on vitamin D in the past few decades demonstrating how vitamin D impacts so much more than bone health. Vitamin D is in fact a hormone, a key signalling system in the body that can impact all kinds of conditions. There are far too many studies for me to summarize here, but if you want to learn more, you can start with reading the response to the article linked above written by the Executive Director of the Vitamin D Council.
So how do you know what to do? Again, the best way to determine if supplementation is right for you and how much to supplement is to see a naturopathic doctor who can assess your unique situation. You can also ask your doctor to run a blood test for 25-hydroxy vitamin D. The province of Ontario has recently put more restrictions on this test because it became so popular but if you have a condition for which vitamin D is important or that puts you at greater risk for deficiency, such as osteoporosis, parathyroid disease, pregnancy, or kidney disease, speak to your doctor about testing your levels.
I am always in favour of obtaining nutrients the way human beings were designed to get them, which is through food. Calcium and vitamin D are actually quite different types of nutrients, so I will discuss them separately. The main take-home point of this blog is that ultimately we are all unique and the beauty of naturopathic medicine is that as an ND I am able to work with you individually to assess your needs and make a recommendation that is personalized to you as an individual. So ultimately, to figure out how much calcium and vitamin D you should or should not take, talk to your naturopathic doctor!
Calcium
I am asked quite often how much calcium we need, what is the best source, etc... Osteoporosis is far too common in western society and yet we get lots of calcium here too! What’s going on? The short answer is that there is so much more to bone health than just calcium. There are three things to look at with regard to bone health.
First, the raw material needed to create bone. Calcium is just one of many building blocks necessary to make bone but it is definitely not the only one! Magnesium, phosphate, boron, and other minerals are all necessary.
Second, a pile of bricks does not make a house just as lots of materials (calcium and other minerals) do not automatically make bone. Bone has to be built and weight bearing exercise is a key factor to signal our bodies to take those materials and do something with them. When more stress is applied to bone, it becomes stronger. There are also other factors in building bone, such as proper blood flow (yes, bone is living tissue and needs blood!) and other signals like vitamin D (see below!) going on in the body.
Finally, we must prevent our bodies from breaking down bone to use those materials elsewhere. This is another complex area but in a nutshell, if your body needs some calcium to buffer your blood to keep it at the perfect pH level (which keeps you alive, by the way), it will draw this from bones. An acidic environment in our tissues increases the need to use bone to balance pH. And what causes an acidic environment? Stress, lack of sleep, caffeine/alcohol, sugar, dairy, and other acidifying foods...
While dairy groups and marketing boards have done an amazing job convincing people they need to eat a lot of servings of dairy products each day to get enough calcium, there are many other great sources of calcium that most people overlook. One great way is to make bone broth! You can also get calcium from leafy green veggies, nuts and seeds, and many other diverse food sources. For more info, check out the World’s Healthiest Foods site listing for calcium.
Vitamin D
In the case of vitamin D, our bodies use cholesterol (it’s not all bad!) to make vitamin D when our skin is exposed to the sun. For example, a caucasian person out in summer sun in just a bathing suit until his or her skin just begins to turn pink produces between 10,000 and 50,000IU of vitamin D. Vitamin D is a fat soluble vitamin and can therefore be stored by our bodies so that we can make it through winter off the supply we’ve built up in the summer. Lighter skinned people make more vitamin D from the sun so it’s no surprise that at higher latitudes you find blonder, paler people and near the equator (where there is more direct sun exposure and no long, dark winter) you find darker skinned people. Anyway, before there were ever vitamin D supplements, humans spent much of their time, particularly in the summer, outside and likely made enough vitamin D to last through each winter.
However, this is not the world we live in anymore! Unfortunately most people spend nearly all their time indoors during the day and therefore cannot make vitamin D from sun exposure. This alone is a powerful argument for supplementation, not to mention the greater issue of how our incredibly unnatural lifestyle impacts our health, but that is a topic for another day. In addition, there have been many studies on vitamin D in the past few decades demonstrating how vitamin D impacts so much more than bone health. Vitamin D is in fact a hormone, a key signalling system in the body that can impact all kinds of conditions. There are far too many studies for me to summarize here, but if you want to learn more, you can start with reading the response to the article linked above written by the Executive Director of the Vitamin D Council.
So how do you know what to do? Again, the best way to determine if supplementation is right for you and how much to supplement is to see a naturopathic doctor who can assess your unique situation. You can also ask your doctor to run a blood test for 25-hydroxy vitamin D. The province of Ontario has recently put more restrictions on this test because it became so popular but if you have a condition for which vitamin D is important or that puts you at greater risk for deficiency, such as osteoporosis, parathyroid disease, pregnancy, or kidney disease, speak to your doctor about testing your levels.
Cholesterol talk November 17th
16/11/10 15:39
JD Kato and I will be giving at free talk on cholesterol on November 17th, 7pm at the Deer Park Library (40 St. Clair Avenue East, Toronto). Call 416-926-0084 to RSVP!
Topics will include:
Topics will include:
- What is cholesterol?
- Where does it come from?
- Types of cholesterol and other fats
- Why elevated levels are detrimental
- How to monitor levels
- Treatment options
Breast health and cancer prevention: nutrition
11/11/10 08:01
In October (breast cancer month) JD Kato and I did a presentation at a local library about breast health and cancer prevention. Here is a summary of some of the more interesting information we shared. Naturopathic medicine has an important role to play in cancer prevention and treatment. One of the most often used naturopathic treatments is dietary change because diet is the most powerful factor in health. You literally are what you eat! So here is an overview of WHY diet is so important to cancer and some examples of dietary choices that will help treat and prevent cancer.
Immune system:
Your immune system is your best defence against cancer. Every day, all day, your body is making potentially cancerous cells and it is your immune system that stands between this potential and uncontrollable cancer growth. A healthy diet provides nutrients that support immune function, while poor dietary choices impair immune function.
Antioxidant-rich foods support the immune system in killing abnormal cells, preventing and treating cancer. Sugar, on the other hand, impairs the activity of your white blood cells, which target and kill cancer cells and coordinate the functioning of your overall immune response.
Inflammation:
As discussed in part 1, chronic inflammation in the body leads to increased cell division, which increases the likelihood of the creation of cancer cells and accelarates cancer growth. Chronic inflammation also increases the body’s production of cortisol, which is an immune suppressing hormone.
What type of fat you consume is often more important than the amount because the fats in your diet directly impact many bodily functions. The compounds EPA and DHA derived from or found in omega 3 fatty acids, particularly fish oil, are powerful anti-inflammatory agents in the body. But saturated fats increase inflammation and trans fats alter cell membranes to encourage inflammation.
Hormonal balance:
The endocrine system, which produces and controls hormones throughout the body has a huge impact on physiological function. Hormones can encourage cancer growth as well as influence immune function and regulate inflammation. With regard to breast cancer, we know that some types of breast cancer are estrogen dependent, but many other hormones throughout the body also relate to breast cancer, such as thyroid hormones, insulin, and cortisol.
Green leafy vegetables contain nutrients that support endocrine organs. A minimum of 5-6 servings per day is recommended. Cruciferous vegetables in particular contain compounds called calcium-D-glucarate and indole-3-carbinol which aid in metabolism and detoxification of hormones. Pesticides used on non-organic produce can contain compounds that mimic estrogen in the body and can increase the risk of many types of cancer as well as overwhelm your detoxification system.
You can download the Environmental Working Group’s Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides, which specifies which produce is best to buy organic, at this web address: www.foodnews.org
Insulin resistance:
Insulin is a hormone that allows sugar to enter cells. Over time, high sugar intake leads to excess insulin production and eventually cells become insensitive to insulin. Cancer cells use sugar as fuel and have more insulin receptors than normal cells, so while other cells are insulin resistant, cancer cells can gain more access to sugar.
Complex carbs include vegetables and whole grains and can help balance blood sugar levels and control weight, both of which prevent and reduce insulin resistance. Complex carbs are high in fibre, which binds to and eliminates toxins and hormones from your body. Try to eat foods as close to their natural state as possible rather than processed foods, which contain more simple carbs, which are easily reduced to sugar and therefore promote insulin resistance.
Digestion and elimination:
Digestion influences all other bodily functions as it is key to absorbing essential nutrients and eliminating waste products and toxins from the body.
Alcohol is an example of a substance that places an additional load on the liver, which can lead to increased toxic load in the body. Over time, this can damage cells and encourage cancer formation. Adequate water intake is necessary for optimal digestion and elimination as your body uses water to carry out many processes essential for life. A simple guideline for water intake is at least 1/2 ounce of water per pound of body weight. So a 128-pound woman should drink about 64 ounces of water daily, which is about 2 litres. Caffeine and alcohol do not count toward this intake and in fact dehydrate the body!
Beyond diet:
So far we’ve covered a lot with regard to diet, but there is so much more! As a naturopathic doctor, I work with patients to address their unique nutritional needs with a plan tailored to them. Beyond diet, I also work to create a personalized plan that may include supplements, herbs, lifestyle counselling, stress reduction, and mental/emotional work to address each patient’s unique needs and the root causes behind their health specific concerns.
With regards to cancer, naturopathic medicine is a powerful tool to both prevent and treat cancer, either alone or in conjunction with conventional cancer treatment.
Immune system:
Your immune system is your best defence against cancer. Every day, all day, your body is making potentially cancerous cells and it is your immune system that stands between this potential and uncontrollable cancer growth. A healthy diet provides nutrients that support immune function, while poor dietary choices impair immune function.
Antioxidant-rich foods support the immune system in killing abnormal cells, preventing and treating cancer. Sugar, on the other hand, impairs the activity of your white blood cells, which target and kill cancer cells and coordinate the functioning of your overall immune response.
Inflammation:
As discussed in part 1, chronic inflammation in the body leads to increased cell division, which increases the likelihood of the creation of cancer cells and accelarates cancer growth. Chronic inflammation also increases the body’s production of cortisol, which is an immune suppressing hormone.
What type of fat you consume is often more important than the amount because the fats in your diet directly impact many bodily functions. The compounds EPA and DHA derived from or found in omega 3 fatty acids, particularly fish oil, are powerful anti-inflammatory agents in the body. But saturated fats increase inflammation and trans fats alter cell membranes to encourage inflammation.
Hormonal balance:
The endocrine system, which produces and controls hormones throughout the body has a huge impact on physiological function. Hormones can encourage cancer growth as well as influence immune function and regulate inflammation. With regard to breast cancer, we know that some types of breast cancer are estrogen dependent, but many other hormones throughout the body also relate to breast cancer, such as thyroid hormones, insulin, and cortisol.
Green leafy vegetables contain nutrients that support endocrine organs. A minimum of 5-6 servings per day is recommended. Cruciferous vegetables in particular contain compounds called calcium-D-glucarate and indole-3-carbinol which aid in metabolism and detoxification of hormones. Pesticides used on non-organic produce can contain compounds that mimic estrogen in the body and can increase the risk of many types of cancer as well as overwhelm your detoxification system.
You can download the Environmental Working Group’s Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides, which specifies which produce is best to buy organic, at this web address: www.foodnews.org
Insulin resistance:
Insulin is a hormone that allows sugar to enter cells. Over time, high sugar intake leads to excess insulin production and eventually cells become insensitive to insulin. Cancer cells use sugar as fuel and have more insulin receptors than normal cells, so while other cells are insulin resistant, cancer cells can gain more access to sugar.
Complex carbs include vegetables and whole grains and can help balance blood sugar levels and control weight, both of which prevent and reduce insulin resistance. Complex carbs are high in fibre, which binds to and eliminates toxins and hormones from your body. Try to eat foods as close to their natural state as possible rather than processed foods, which contain more simple carbs, which are easily reduced to sugar and therefore promote insulin resistance.
Digestion and elimination:
Digestion influences all other bodily functions as it is key to absorbing essential nutrients and eliminating waste products and toxins from the body.
Alcohol is an example of a substance that places an additional load on the liver, which can lead to increased toxic load in the body. Over time, this can damage cells and encourage cancer formation. Adequate water intake is necessary for optimal digestion and elimination as your body uses water to carry out many processes essential for life. A simple guideline for water intake is at least 1/2 ounce of water per pound of body weight. So a 128-pound woman should drink about 64 ounces of water daily, which is about 2 litres. Caffeine and alcohol do not count toward this intake and in fact dehydrate the body!
Beyond diet:
So far we’ve covered a lot with regard to diet, but there is so much more! As a naturopathic doctor, I work with patients to address their unique nutritional needs with a plan tailored to them. Beyond diet, I also work to create a personalized plan that may include supplements, herbs, lifestyle counselling, stress reduction, and mental/emotional work to address each patient’s unique needs and the root causes behind their health specific concerns.
With regards to cancer, naturopathic medicine is a powerful tool to both prevent and treat cancer, either alone or in conjunction with conventional cancer treatment.
Root cause beyond the physical
08/11/10 09:32
One of the principles of naturopathic medicine is “identify and treat the cause” of illness. I think that every health care professional believes this, but we may differ in what we identify as the cause! This blog at Crazy Sexy Life focuses on stress and emotional pain as two important, but often overlooked, causes of illness.
This is why I love to work with a combination of modalities that work physiologically (such as nutrition, botanical medicine, lifestyle) and energetically (such as homeopathy, Asian medicine). Energy medicine can go far deeper into balancing stress, changing mental patterns, and healing emotional pain. In fact, all of these modalities have some impact on both body and soul. However, while you can achieve incredible results through dietary changes, supplementation, herbs, and lifestyle habits, addressing the deeper levels of mind, emotions, and spirit can lead to major shifts in susceptibility and vitality that can help a patient achieve wellness, which is beyond just physical health.
Look for more blogs on this topic soon!
This is why I love to work with a combination of modalities that work physiologically (such as nutrition, botanical medicine, lifestyle) and energetically (such as homeopathy, Asian medicine). Energy medicine can go far deeper into balancing stress, changing mental patterns, and healing emotional pain. In fact, all of these modalities have some impact on both body and soul. However, while you can achieve incredible results through dietary changes, supplementation, herbs, and lifestyle habits, addressing the deeper levels of mind, emotions, and spirit can lead to major shifts in susceptibility and vitality that can help a patient achieve wellness, which is beyond just physical health.
Look for more blogs on this topic soon!
Varicose veins article
05/11/10 21:24
Surviving cancer with true wellness
02/11/10 21:52
On the first page of this website I explain that true wellness is so much more than simply being free of illness. It is a state of balance of all aspects of your being, and this requires a holistic approach. Wellness is not quite the same thing as being “healthy”. One can have a disease or poor physical health and still be “well” because wellness is feeling your best no matter what ups and downs life hands to you and doing your best to support your mind, body, and spirit. Wellness has more to do with intention and balance; it is something that anyone can achieve.
This blog from Crazy Sexy Life written by a man who is a six time cancer survivor does a great job of explaining this point! Plus he’s Canadian (from New Brunswick)!
This blog from Crazy Sexy Life written by a man who is a six time cancer survivor does a great job of explaining this point! Plus he’s Canadian (from New Brunswick)!
Homeopathic flu prevention
20/10/10 21:45
Once again, Kew Beach Natural Health Clinic is running our hugely popular homeopathic flu prevention program!
People who participate in this program have very few flu incidents over the winter, even though family members and co-workers may become very ill. Flu symptoms may be much milder and last for a shorter duration than other non-homeopathically protected people. Many participants no longer experience the flu at all. Each year the program grows in popularity due to overwhelmingly positive word of mouth!
How does it work?
The Homeopathic Flu Prevention Program is an ongoing research study conducted by Helena Ovens, ND. Your participation is voluntary and appreciated. Here’s how to participate:
1. To participate you must currently be in good health and you must not have had a flu shot since April 15, 2010.
2. Call Kew Beach Natural Health Clinic at 416-690-6168 to arrange at time to come by to fill out an intake form. You will be given a 6-month supply of homeopathic pellets, an instruction sheet, and a form to record any “flu-like” symptoms. There is a $5.00 administrative fee per adult (children are free) to cover the costs of materials and remedies.
3. Take 1 pellet of the remedy once per month on the same day to prevent the flu. If you have any “flu-like” symptoms, record them on the form.
4. Return your form by the end of April 2011 by fax, email, in-person, or by mail. It is very important that you return your form (whether you experienced “flu-like” symptoms or not) so that we can track the success of the program.
We look forward to helping you have a healthy, flu-free season!
People who participate in this program have very few flu incidents over the winter, even though family members and co-workers may become very ill. Flu symptoms may be much milder and last for a shorter duration than other non-homeopathically protected people. Many participants no longer experience the flu at all. Each year the program grows in popularity due to overwhelmingly positive word of mouth!
How does it work?
The Homeopathic Flu Prevention Program is an ongoing research study conducted by Helena Ovens, ND. Your participation is voluntary and appreciated. Here’s how to participate:
1. To participate you must currently be in good health and you must not have had a flu shot since April 15, 2010.
2. Call Kew Beach Natural Health Clinic at 416-690-6168 to arrange at time to come by to fill out an intake form. You will be given a 6-month supply of homeopathic pellets, an instruction sheet, and a form to record any “flu-like” symptoms. There is a $5.00 administrative fee per adult (children are free) to cover the costs of materials and remedies.
3. Take 1 pellet of the remedy once per month on the same day to prevent the flu. If you have any “flu-like” symptoms, record them on the form.
4. Return your form by the end of April 2011 by fax, email, in-person, or by mail. It is very important that you return your form (whether you experienced “flu-like” symptoms or not) so that we can track the success of the program.
We look forward to helping you have a healthy, flu-free season!
Seeing patients!
12/10/10 17:45
I am seeing patients as of Monday, October 18th at two locations! Intake forms are available for download here!
Alternative medicine debate on the Michael Coren show
07/07/10 22:14
Check out this debate on the Michael Coren show about “Alternative Medicine.” Incidentally, I prefer the term natural medicine (versus conventional medicine), since for many people, there is nothing “alternative” about it...
A few of my thoughts (in chronological order with the video):
- What do NDs do that MDs don’t? A lot! See my blog Top ten reasons you need a naturopathic doctor.
- For a comparison of the training of an MD versus and ND, see my blog Curriculum comparison.
- There is research on homeopathy and evidence to support its efficacy as a healing modality. Just because most people are ignorant of this does not mean it doesn’t exist! For more about that, see my blog Homeopathy literature review.
- Many conventional medical interventions actually lack research evidence. I wrote about this in my blog Mythology of science-based medicine.
- I’m not a chiropractor and cannot speak to much in this area, however one example of when a chiropractor may require an x-ray is not to diagnose, but to screen for/rule out any conditions that are contraindications for chiropractic treatment. This is a basic safety procedure which is prudent and responsible. Another example may be to confirm a diagnosis before proceeding with treatment, which is another valid and reasonable use of such technology.
- One of the major problems in conventional medicine is the idea of “standard of care” which denies individuals care that targets the cause of illness, which may be different for the same “disease.” The “standard of care” in conventional medicine is often inferior to even the most basic common sense... For example, if high cholesterol is caused by poor dietary habits and lack of physical activity, how does the “standard of care” prescription of statin drugs solve these issues?
- Michael Coren makes a great point that many of the cases against alternative medicine are “hysteria.” In any profession, there are practitioners who are not ethical or safe. Naturopathic medicine is a regulated health profession in most provinces and therefore naturopathic doctors are held to a professional standard of safety and ethics. For more info on naturopathic medicine, read more on my Naturopathic Medicine and FAQ pages. This marks a major difference between NDs and many other “alternative” practitioners.
- Why aren’t naturopathic doctors MDs? Because there is a fundamental philosophical difference. This is not to say that we can’t work together and that patients cannot take advantage of both, but the training and approach to treatment are vastly different. Specialization leads to greater and deeper expertise in all kinds of professions which provides value to the consumer.
A few of my thoughts (in chronological order with the video):
- What do NDs do that MDs don’t? A lot! See my blog Top ten reasons you need a naturopathic doctor.
- For a comparison of the training of an MD versus and ND, see my blog Curriculum comparison.
- There is research on homeopathy and evidence to support its efficacy as a healing modality. Just because most people are ignorant of this does not mean it doesn’t exist! For more about that, see my blog Homeopathy literature review.
- Many conventional medical interventions actually lack research evidence. I wrote about this in my blog Mythology of science-based medicine.
- I’m not a chiropractor and cannot speak to much in this area, however one example of when a chiropractor may require an x-ray is not to diagnose, but to screen for/rule out any conditions that are contraindications for chiropractic treatment. This is a basic safety procedure which is prudent and responsible. Another example may be to confirm a diagnosis before proceeding with treatment, which is another valid and reasonable use of such technology.
- One of the major problems in conventional medicine is the idea of “standard of care” which denies individuals care that targets the cause of illness, which may be different for the same “disease.” The “standard of care” in conventional medicine is often inferior to even the most basic common sense... For example, if high cholesterol is caused by poor dietary habits and lack of physical activity, how does the “standard of care” prescription of statin drugs solve these issues?
- Michael Coren makes a great point that many of the cases against alternative medicine are “hysteria.” In any profession, there are practitioners who are not ethical or safe. Naturopathic medicine is a regulated health profession in most provinces and therefore naturopathic doctors are held to a professional standard of safety and ethics. For more info on naturopathic medicine, read more on my Naturopathic Medicine and FAQ pages. This marks a major difference between NDs and many other “alternative” practitioners.
- Why aren’t naturopathic doctors MDs? Because there is a fundamental philosophical difference. This is not to say that we can’t work together and that patients cannot take advantage of both, but the training and approach to treatment are vastly different. Specialization leads to greater and deeper expertise in all kinds of professions which provides value to the consumer.
Exams! (aka what I’m doing for the next 2 months)
09/06/10 16:15
It’s been awhile since I’ve written a blog, mostly because I’ve been very busy finishing up my clinical year, celebrating my birthday, and graduating! It’s so exciting to finally reach this point in my four-year journey! I’m looking forward to starting practice in the fall, but first I must get licensed, which is no small feat. I bet there are a lot of people who don’t really know how a weary naturopathic graduate actually passes muster to be allowed to practice on real people, so I thought I would write a blog about it.
NPLEX
NPLEX stands for Naturopathic Physicians Licensing Examinations. NPLEX is administered by NABNE which stands for the North American Board of Naturopathic Examiners. As you might have gathered, NPLEX examinations are the licensing exams that graduates from accredited naturopathic colleges across North America must write to be licensed. They occur each year in February and August.
There are actually two sets of NPLEX exams. NPLEX I tests biomedical sciences: anatomy, physiology, biochemistry & genetics, microbiology & immunology, and pathology. Theses exams are usually written after two years of naturopathic medical education and fill a full day.
The second set of NPLEX exams cover clinical sciences: diagnosis (physical, clinical, and lab), diagnostic imaging, botanical medicine, nutrition, physical medicine, homeopathy, counseling, behavioral medicine, health psychology, emergency medicine, medical procedures, public health, pharmacology, and research. These exams are written after passing NPLEX I and graduating from an accredited school. There are also two elective examinations: minor surgery and acupuncture and whether you take these depends on the scope of practice in your jurisdiction. These exams take three days to complete and are entirely written (multiple choice).
Ontario Board Examinations
In provinces and states that regulate naturopathic medicine, graduates must also pass local licensing exams to obtain a license for their specific jurisdiction because different provinces and states allow different scopes of practice for naturopathic doctors.
Living in Ontario, I must pass the Ontario Board exams, administrated by the BDDT-N, which stands for Board of Directors of Drugless Therapies – Naturopathy. These exams cover Ontario Jurisprudence and three practical exams in Acupuncture, Instrumentation/Physical Exam and Naturopathic Manipulation over one day.
How do you do it???
Preparing for these examinations is a major commitment! I did a lot of work in advance to plan out my study time and resources and am now working through a nine week study schedule using study guides, flashcards, course notes, textbooks, practice (for the practical exams), pictures, rhymes, mnemonic devices, colour coding, highlighters, group study, and so on and so forth to get myself ready. In addition to studying, it is also important to take care of my overall health and well-being through these months, so I also have plans for diet (overall lots of protein, fruits, veggies, water, and green tea), exercise (lots as stress relief and to counter all the sitting I’m doing), supplements, sleep, meditation, and fun (very important)!
NPLEX
NPLEX stands for Naturopathic Physicians Licensing Examinations. NPLEX is administered by NABNE which stands for the North American Board of Naturopathic Examiners. As you might have gathered, NPLEX examinations are the licensing exams that graduates from accredited naturopathic colleges across North America must write to be licensed. They occur each year in February and August.
There are actually two sets of NPLEX exams. NPLEX I tests biomedical sciences: anatomy, physiology, biochemistry & genetics, microbiology & immunology, and pathology. Theses exams are usually written after two years of naturopathic medical education and fill a full day.
The second set of NPLEX exams cover clinical sciences: diagnosis (physical, clinical, and lab), diagnostic imaging, botanical medicine, nutrition, physical medicine, homeopathy, counseling, behavioral medicine, health psychology, emergency medicine, medical procedures, public health, pharmacology, and research. These exams are written after passing NPLEX I and graduating from an accredited school. There are also two elective examinations: minor surgery and acupuncture and whether you take these depends on the scope of practice in your jurisdiction. These exams take three days to complete and are entirely written (multiple choice).
Ontario Board Examinations
In provinces and states that regulate naturopathic medicine, graduates must also pass local licensing exams to obtain a license for their specific jurisdiction because different provinces and states allow different scopes of practice for naturopathic doctors.
Living in Ontario, I must pass the Ontario Board exams, administrated by the BDDT-N, which stands for Board of Directors of Drugless Therapies – Naturopathy. These exams cover Ontario Jurisprudence and three practical exams in Acupuncture, Instrumentation/Physical Exam and Naturopathic Manipulation over one day.
How do you do it???
Preparing for these examinations is a major commitment! I did a lot of work in advance to plan out my study time and resources and am now working through a nine week study schedule using study guides, flashcards, course notes, textbooks, practice (for the practical exams), pictures, rhymes, mnemonic devices, colour coding, highlighters, group study, and so on and so forth to get myself ready. In addition to studying, it is also important to take care of my overall health and well-being through these months, so I also have plans for diet (overall lots of protein, fruits, veggies, water, and green tea), exercise (lots as stress relief and to counter all the sitting I’m doing), supplements, sleep, meditation, and fun (very important)!
Suggestion box
11/03/10 18:27
As I will be graduating from CCNM in May, I am thinking a lot about what my own practice will be like. So, I’d like to pose a few questions here:
Email me your ideas, suggestions, and experiences at kwhimster@wavelengthwellness.com with the subject “Suggestion Box”.
- What have you liked/disliked about your experiences with natural medicine, allopathic medicine, or health care in general?
- What do you look for in a health care provider, or, more specifically, a naturopathic doctor?
- What topics would you like to see explored in this blog? Or on this website?
Email me your ideas, suggestions, and experiences at kwhimster@wavelengthwellness.com with the subject “Suggestion Box”.
Is evidence-based medicine compatible with naturopathic principles?
08/02/10 17:50
One of the most common criticisms of natural medicine is that it lacks supportive evidence. This is simply not true! In many cases, there is as much or more research evidence for natural medicine as conventional medicine. However, there are also areas in which the research evidence is sparse or incomplete. The purpose of this blog is to clarify the true meaning of evidence-based medicine (EBM) and explore its role in contributing to natural medicine.
Evidence-based medicine (EBM) is defined as the “conscientious, explicit and judicious use of current best evidence in making decisions about care of individual patients (1).” Furthermore:
“The practice of evidence based medicine means integrating individual clinical expertise with the best available external clinical evidence from systematic research. By individual clinical expertise we mean the proficiency and judgment that individual clinicians acquire through clinical experience and clinical practice (1).”
This definition of evidence-based medicine does not conflict with the principles of naturopathic medicine. Naturopathic medicine is based on a large body of evidence gathered through systematic research and knowledge gained through clinical experience. Its principles support the application of this information to devise the most effective treatment for our patients.
However, the colloquial understanding of EBM supports randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled studies as gold standard of knowledge and leaves little room for other forms of research or for clinical experience.
Conventionally understood EBM is limited in encouraging health care that adheres to naturopathic principles. First, EBM does not recognize holistic treatment of individuals, and in fact seeks to boil down complex information to a simple conclusion recognizing only how the majority of subjects respond to a single intervention. Not only does this ignore the knowledge that could be gained through examining all the subjects in a study and why they each responded in the way that they did, but also is not necessarily applicable to real life health care since patients are nearly never under controlled conditions and subject to only one intervention. Naturopathic doctors are interested in treating real patients in the real world and therefore in gathering knowledge in any area that will serve this purpose. In many cases, this knowledge includes clinical observation and experience with real patients.
Second, funding committed to research is not allocated based on what areas of knowledge are the most interesting, warrant the most investigation, or even may be the most beneficial to the public. Most research is conducted by pharmaceutical companies on products they hope to bring to market in order to earn profits for shareholders. Unfortunately, this capitalist drive behind health knowledge is not conducive to researching how low-cost treatments such as diet and lifestyle changes can be far more effective than any drug. It is also not conducive to gaining knowledge through “failed” experiments, such as when pharmaceutical research does not yield results favourable to the drug being researched. Currently, pharmaceutical companies are not required to publish such research, although there is a movement to change this, thankfully. Naturopathic doctors are interested in achieving results, even if there is no particular product to sell.
Finally, naturopathic doctors also act as teachers, seeking to empower patients with information so that they can care for themselves. EBM places power in a faceless research environment, removing it from clinicians with decades of experience, and therefore also removing it from individual patients who may know their unique needs best.
Therefore, while the official definition of EBM does fit with naturopathic principles, the applied definition, in terms of how the health care system actually operates, does not.
For more information and more of my thoughts on conventional medical research, please see my previous blog Mythology of science-based medicine.
1. Sackett DL, Rosenberg WM, Gray JA, Haynes RB, Richardson WS. Evidence based medicine: what it is and what it isn't. BMJ. 1996;312 (7023):71–2.
Evidence-based medicine (EBM) is defined as the “conscientious, explicit and judicious use of current best evidence in making decisions about care of individual patients (1).” Furthermore:
“The practice of evidence based medicine means integrating individual clinical expertise with the best available external clinical evidence from systematic research. By individual clinical expertise we mean the proficiency and judgment that individual clinicians acquire through clinical experience and clinical practice (1).”
This definition of evidence-based medicine does not conflict with the principles of naturopathic medicine. Naturopathic medicine is based on a large body of evidence gathered through systematic research and knowledge gained through clinical experience. Its principles support the application of this information to devise the most effective treatment for our patients.
However, the colloquial understanding of EBM supports randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled studies as gold standard of knowledge and leaves little room for other forms of research or for clinical experience.
Conventionally understood EBM is limited in encouraging health care that adheres to naturopathic principles. First, EBM does not recognize holistic treatment of individuals, and in fact seeks to boil down complex information to a simple conclusion recognizing only how the majority of subjects respond to a single intervention. Not only does this ignore the knowledge that could be gained through examining all the subjects in a study and why they each responded in the way that they did, but also is not necessarily applicable to real life health care since patients are nearly never under controlled conditions and subject to only one intervention. Naturopathic doctors are interested in treating real patients in the real world and therefore in gathering knowledge in any area that will serve this purpose. In many cases, this knowledge includes clinical observation and experience with real patients.
Second, funding committed to research is not allocated based on what areas of knowledge are the most interesting, warrant the most investigation, or even may be the most beneficial to the public. Most research is conducted by pharmaceutical companies on products they hope to bring to market in order to earn profits for shareholders. Unfortunately, this capitalist drive behind health knowledge is not conducive to researching how low-cost treatments such as diet and lifestyle changes can be far more effective than any drug. It is also not conducive to gaining knowledge through “failed” experiments, such as when pharmaceutical research does not yield results favourable to the drug being researched. Currently, pharmaceutical companies are not required to publish such research, although there is a movement to change this, thankfully. Naturopathic doctors are interested in achieving results, even if there is no particular product to sell.
Finally, naturopathic doctors also act as teachers, seeking to empower patients with information so that they can care for themselves. EBM places power in a faceless research environment, removing it from clinicians with decades of experience, and therefore also removing it from individual patients who may know their unique needs best.
Therefore, while the official definition of EBM does fit with naturopathic principles, the applied definition, in terms of how the health care system actually operates, does not.
For more information and more of my thoughts on conventional medical research, please see my previous blog Mythology of science-based medicine.
1. Sackett DL, Rosenberg WM, Gray JA, Haynes RB, Richardson WS. Evidence based medicine: what it is and what it isn't. BMJ. 1996;312 (7023):71–2.
Top 10 reasons you need a naturopathic doctor
13/01/10 13:36
1. A naturopathic doctor will explain the likely causes of your concerns, the connection between them, what treatment they advise and WHY, and what you can do to prevent future illness so that you actually understand what is going on with your own health. What a novel idea…
2. Your naturopathic doctor can answer your curious health questions, such as “what is this thing on my foot?”, “what is adrenal fatigue?”, or “does soy cause man boobs?”
3. Your naturopathic doctor will spend more than 15 minutes with you and get to know you as an individual, resulting in a personalized treatment plan addressing your unique combination of concerns.
4. Your naturopathic doctor can help you figure out which supplements are right for you so you take only what is useful and save a lot of money! And they can even help you figure out how much you need to take to see results, so you save even more money!
5. Your naturopathic doctor will seek to understand the cause of your symptoms, leading to treatment that is effective, gentle, and produces long-lasting results. No more trial and error, confusion, frustration, and hopelessness.
6. Your naturopathic doctor has the most training and experience using natural medicine (and how natural medicine interacts with conventional medicine). More than your medical doctor, Oprah, Dr. Oz, your uncle Ernie, your hairdresser, and anyone else you can find. Take advantage and get the right answers the first time.
7. Your naturopathic doctor is trained as a primary health care provider, meaning she can diagnose conditions, perform physical exams, order lab tests, and generally care for you as a family doctor. And she won’t make you wait for hours in a crowded waiting room for a 15-minute appointment.
8. Your naturopathic doctor can perform acupuncture, prescribe homeopathic remedies, interpret lab results, and much more. Don’t try this at home!
9. Your naturopathic doctor will work cooperatively with any other health care practitioners you are seeing to ensure that their treatment will be effective and everyone is on the same page.
10. Your naturopathic doctor will work to restore and support your own inherent healing abilities so that you heal YOURSELF. Never knew you were so powerful, did you?
2. Your naturopathic doctor can answer your curious health questions, such as “what is this thing on my foot?”, “what is adrenal fatigue?”, or “does soy cause man boobs?”
3. Your naturopathic doctor will spend more than 15 minutes with you and get to know you as an individual, resulting in a personalized treatment plan addressing your unique combination of concerns.
4. Your naturopathic doctor can help you figure out which supplements are right for you so you take only what is useful and save a lot of money! And they can even help you figure out how much you need to take to see results, so you save even more money!
5. Your naturopathic doctor will seek to understand the cause of your symptoms, leading to treatment that is effective, gentle, and produces long-lasting results. No more trial and error, confusion, frustration, and hopelessness.
6. Your naturopathic doctor has the most training and experience using natural medicine (and how natural medicine interacts with conventional medicine). More than your medical doctor, Oprah, Dr. Oz, your uncle Ernie, your hairdresser, and anyone else you can find. Take advantage and get the right answers the first time.
7. Your naturopathic doctor is trained as a primary health care provider, meaning she can diagnose conditions, perform physical exams, order lab tests, and generally care for you as a family doctor. And she won’t make you wait for hours in a crowded waiting room for a 15-minute appointment.
8. Your naturopathic doctor can perform acupuncture, prescribe homeopathic remedies, interpret lab results, and much more. Don’t try this at home!
9. Your naturopathic doctor will work cooperatively with any other health care practitioners you are seeing to ensure that their treatment will be effective and everyone is on the same page.
10. Your naturopathic doctor will work to restore and support your own inherent healing abilities so that you heal YOURSELF. Never knew you were so powerful, did you?
Mythology of science-based medicine
12/01/10 16:30
This blog emerged after reading several different articles about the state of conventional medical care and some of the misperceptions surrounding efficacy of conventional medical treatments.
First, an article titled The Mythology of Science-Based Medicine provides examples of conventional medical interventions considered to be safe, valid, or effective when in fact they lack scientific basis or have been proven ineffective. This article provides links to sources and some responses from the authors and other medical experts in the comments. Here is an addendum to that article further addressing comments.
Second, an article titled How Common Are Medical Mistakes? which delves into the startling fact that the third leading cause of death of Americans is iatrogenic causes, meaning caused by doctors, medical treatment, or diagnostic procedures.
Finally, a few of my thoughts on this topic:
The “gold-standard” of medical research is the double-blind randomized controlled trial, which attempts to isolate the effect of a single intervention and control all other factors (including many features of patients such as pre-existing conditions, medications, lifestyle, diet, etc.) This makes sense in a research context but has little bearing on reality, in which medical interventions are used in conjunction with other treatments in a wide variety of patients. It is important to understand that a clinical trial is only the first step in evaluating treatment. It provides information on how something works and verifies safety in the short-term but is most definitely not a verdict on the effectiveness in the real world. This can only truly be gauged in the context of an uncontrolled patient population over time.
Something important to note about bypass surgery and angioplasty is that while they do not extend life (which is the case for many common medical treatments), this is not the only important measure to consider! Quality of life is also incredibly important and these procedures can make a major difference here. Patients with cardiovascular disease who in the past would not have these options would be severely limited by the inability to engage in even the most basic everyday activities but would also not be ill enough that they would pass away. These procedures have allowed many patients to return to a more normal level of activity and participation in life which is invaluable, even if their lifespan remains the same.
Regarding antidepressants, it should not be surprising that they are not very effective except in cases of severe depression. In most cases, antidepressants are the sole treatment prescribed despite mountains of evidence that combining them with other treatments (most notably psychotherapy) is far more effective. For many patients with depression, there are valid reasons to feel depressed, such as grief, declining health, emotional stressors, post-partum changes, etc. Depression is a natural human response to life’s ups and downs. Unfortunately most of us are just not equipped to accept and work through life’s challenges on our own. Psychotherapy can be enormously helpful in arming patients with coping and self-care skills. There are also many patients for whom antidepressants are very useful in boosting them up enough so that they can actively seek other treatments to address the underlying causes of depression, but the key here is that the cause must be addressed and corrected. Otherwise antidepressants either just don’t cut it or simply mask a problem that will re-emerge once the patient discontinues the medication. This is common considering the many uncomfortable and intolerable side-effects of these medications. There are so many proven and safe treatments for depression (such as nutrition, exercise, supplements, lifestyle changes, homeopathy, therapy) that can be used in place of or in conjunction with antidepressants to achieve much better outcomes.
First, an article titled The Mythology of Science-Based Medicine provides examples of conventional medical interventions considered to be safe, valid, or effective when in fact they lack scientific basis or have been proven ineffective. This article provides links to sources and some responses from the authors and other medical experts in the comments. Here is an addendum to that article further addressing comments.
Second, an article titled How Common Are Medical Mistakes? which delves into the startling fact that the third leading cause of death of Americans is iatrogenic causes, meaning caused by doctors, medical treatment, or diagnostic procedures.
Finally, a few of my thoughts on this topic:
The “gold-standard” of medical research is the double-blind randomized controlled trial, which attempts to isolate the effect of a single intervention and control all other factors (including many features of patients such as pre-existing conditions, medications, lifestyle, diet, etc.) This makes sense in a research context but has little bearing on reality, in which medical interventions are used in conjunction with other treatments in a wide variety of patients. It is important to understand that a clinical trial is only the first step in evaluating treatment. It provides information on how something works and verifies safety in the short-term but is most definitely not a verdict on the effectiveness in the real world. This can only truly be gauged in the context of an uncontrolled patient population over time.
Something important to note about bypass surgery and angioplasty is that while they do not extend life (which is the case for many common medical treatments), this is not the only important measure to consider! Quality of life is also incredibly important and these procedures can make a major difference here. Patients with cardiovascular disease who in the past would not have these options would be severely limited by the inability to engage in even the most basic everyday activities but would also not be ill enough that they would pass away. These procedures have allowed many patients to return to a more normal level of activity and participation in life which is invaluable, even if their lifespan remains the same.
Regarding antidepressants, it should not be surprising that they are not very effective except in cases of severe depression. In most cases, antidepressants are the sole treatment prescribed despite mountains of evidence that combining them with other treatments (most notably psychotherapy) is far more effective. For many patients with depression, there are valid reasons to feel depressed, such as grief, declining health, emotional stressors, post-partum changes, etc. Depression is a natural human response to life’s ups and downs. Unfortunately most of us are just not equipped to accept and work through life’s challenges on our own. Psychotherapy can be enormously helpful in arming patients with coping and self-care skills. There are also many patients for whom antidepressants are very useful in boosting them up enough so that they can actively seek other treatments to address the underlying causes of depression, but the key here is that the cause must be addressed and corrected. Otherwise antidepressants either just don’t cut it or simply mask a problem that will re-emerge once the patient discontinues the medication. This is common considering the many uncomfortable and intolerable side-effects of these medications. There are so many proven and safe treatments for depression (such as nutrition, exercise, supplements, lifestyle changes, homeopathy, therapy) that can be used in place of or in conjunction with antidepressants to achieve much better outcomes.
The power of natural medicine
15/12/09 17:05
Great article on the power of natural medicine. Written by two naturopathic doctors in response to an unfounded and fanatical criticism of natural medicine, it clearly presents the facts about naturopathic medical education and the role that naturopathic medicine can play in modern health care.
Curriculum comparison
18/09/09 12:21
Have you ever wondered what the difference is between naturopathic medical education and conventional medical education? Check out this comparison of accredited naturopathic schools, conventional medical schools, and non-accredited “ND” programs.
In sciences, naturopathic and conventional medical schools are on par. Naturopathic doctors must complete required science courses and pass licensing exams in basic sciences in order to become licensed to practice in North America. These exams are administered by the North American Board of Naturopathic Examiners (NABNE).
A very interesting area is nutritional education. Given that food is literally the material that fuels all the processes in our bodies and from which all our cells and bodily structures are constructed, one would expect (not unreasonably) that any professional in the health care field would be educated in the use of nutrition as medical therapy (which includes therapeutic use of vitamins and minerals in addition to diet). Nutrition is most certainly a first line therapy and is repeatedly confirmed to produce dramatic clinical improvements in the prevention and treatment of chronic disease.
Another interesting area is botanical medicine, which is included under naturopathic therapeutics. Most pharmaceuticals are inspired by or made directly from plant constituents, which is why naturopathic medical students are required to complete courses in both pharmacology and botanical medicine and also pass licensing exams in both these subjects. There is a movement now to treat botanicals as drugs since many of them have powerful actions and carry risks if used improperly. Again, one would expect that any medical professional be trained in both these areas.
The last key point here is the vast difference in education between accredited and non-accredited ND programs. The Council on Naturopathic Medical Education (CNME) accredits naturopathic medical programs. NDs from accredited schools have a minimum of 7 years of post-secondary education. This includes at least three years of university and prerequisites in chemistry, biology, and psychology. Naturopathic medicine is a four year program offered by six schools in North America. Upon completion of the program, naturopathic doctors are qualified to work as primary care physicians.
Naturopathic medicine is a regulated profession in five Canadian provinces (BC, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, and Nova Scotia) and many states in the US. For more information on naturopathic medicine, check out the Canadian Association of Naturopathic Doctors (CAND) and the Ontario Association of Naturopathic Doctors (OAND).
In sciences, naturopathic and conventional medical schools are on par. Naturopathic doctors must complete required science courses and pass licensing exams in basic sciences in order to become licensed to practice in North America. These exams are administered by the North American Board of Naturopathic Examiners (NABNE).
A very interesting area is nutritional education. Given that food is literally the material that fuels all the processes in our bodies and from which all our cells and bodily structures are constructed, one would expect (not unreasonably) that any professional in the health care field would be educated in the use of nutrition as medical therapy (which includes therapeutic use of vitamins and minerals in addition to diet). Nutrition is most certainly a first line therapy and is repeatedly confirmed to produce dramatic clinical improvements in the prevention and treatment of chronic disease.
Another interesting area is botanical medicine, which is included under naturopathic therapeutics. Most pharmaceuticals are inspired by or made directly from plant constituents, which is why naturopathic medical students are required to complete courses in both pharmacology and botanical medicine and also pass licensing exams in both these subjects. There is a movement now to treat botanicals as drugs since many of them have powerful actions and carry risks if used improperly. Again, one would expect that any medical professional be trained in both these areas.
The last key point here is the vast difference in education between accredited and non-accredited ND programs. The Council on Naturopathic Medical Education (CNME) accredits naturopathic medical programs. NDs from accredited schools have a minimum of 7 years of post-secondary education. This includes at least three years of university and prerequisites in chemistry, biology, and psychology. Naturopathic medicine is a four year program offered by six schools in North America. Upon completion of the program, naturopathic doctors are qualified to work as primary care physicians.
Naturopathic medicine is a regulated profession in five Canadian provinces (BC, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, and Nova Scotia) and many states in the US. For more information on naturopathic medicine, check out the Canadian Association of Naturopathic Doctors (CAND) and the Ontario Association of Naturopathic Doctors (OAND).
Health is key to success
24/06/09 09:45
What do you think is the most important quality of a successful entrepreneur?
Confidence?
Creativity?
Risk taking?
Would you believe that the most important trait is good health?
Not only must entrepreneurs work hard, often for long hours, but also they are usually self-employed, so they do not have an employer subsidized health insurance plan. Plus, every moment they are off work literally costs them income. So it actually makes a lot of sense that good health is key to success! These people can’t afford to take a sick day, much less develop chronic disease! This idea holds true for many other professions too, such as contract employees, performers, and other self-employed workers.
Naturopathic medicine can be a cost effective way for self-employed people to optimize their health today and stay healthy through prevention. In the short-term, it is far better to avoid coming down with every cold or flu going around, and in the long-term it is imperative to stay healthy and vital until retirement. Health is one of the most valuable assets we have and successful entrepreneurs recognize the value of investing in health rather than only treating disease.
Check out this list of common traits of successful entrepreneurs, based on research done by Southern Methodist University's Cox School of Business for more details.
Confidence?
Creativity?
Risk taking?
Would you believe that the most important trait is good health?
Not only must entrepreneurs work hard, often for long hours, but also they are usually self-employed, so they do not have an employer subsidized health insurance plan. Plus, every moment they are off work literally costs them income. So it actually makes a lot of sense that good health is key to success! These people can’t afford to take a sick day, much less develop chronic disease! This idea holds true for many other professions too, such as contract employees, performers, and other self-employed workers.
Naturopathic medicine can be a cost effective way for self-employed people to optimize their health today and stay healthy through prevention. In the short-term, it is far better to avoid coming down with every cold or flu going around, and in the long-term it is imperative to stay healthy and vital until retirement. Health is one of the most valuable assets we have and successful entrepreneurs recognize the value of investing in health rather than only treating disease.
Check out this list of common traits of successful entrepreneurs, based on research done by Southern Methodist University's Cox School of Business for more details.
"I just don't have the time..."
22/03/09 13:47
This blog was originally published on June 29, 2006 here.
A few weeks ago, a woman came into the health food store that I work at to ask advice from the owner. Her daughter (not sure of age) has severe asthma that is sometimes so bad that it keeps her up all night and out of school frequently. She said that they had been to several doctors starting with their family doctor and moving on to various specialists, who of course prescribed all kinds of scary drugs and steroids with serious side effects. Anyway, she came to the owner of the store to find out what her daughter could take that was “natural”.
So many people come into the store and ask for detailed health advice from the owner, although it is actually illegal for him to dispense health advice. Many of these people already see an ND or some other natural medicine practitioner, but some do not. For those who do not see a professional, we recommend that they do and usually can provide several names in various parts of the city.
In the case of the woman with the asthmatic daughter, we most certainly would ask if she has seen an ND, due to the complexity of her issues. So, when the owner asked this very question, she said: “No, I don’t have time for that.” So he started to explain that asthma is a complex problem which could be rooted in several causes, so an ND could deal better with that complexity. To this she responded: “I just don’t have the time, I just need to get her through school. I need you to tell me what to give her that will help.”
I had to write this blog because, I still can’t get this scene out of my mind! I wanted to say to her, “So you have time to be up at night nursing your daughter, you have time for her to be off from school, you have time to deal with all the repercussions of her suffering, but you don’t have time to actually improve your daughter’s health and quality of life dramatically?” I am glad that I was not helping this woman, because I just don’t know how I could have avoided reacting to her that way. This poor girl is probably miserable enough due to her asthma, and because of her mother’s attitude she will be affected physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually for the rest of her life.
Time is the one thing that everyone gets the same amount of (at least to start!), unlike money. How each of us uses our time is entirely a personal choice, but it does reflect what we value most. How do you use the time you have been given?
A few weeks ago, a woman came into the health food store that I work at to ask advice from the owner. Her daughter (not sure of age) has severe asthma that is sometimes so bad that it keeps her up all night and out of school frequently. She said that they had been to several doctors starting with their family doctor and moving on to various specialists, who of course prescribed all kinds of scary drugs and steroids with serious side effects. Anyway, she came to the owner of the store to find out what her daughter could take that was “natural”.
So many people come into the store and ask for detailed health advice from the owner, although it is actually illegal for him to dispense health advice. Many of these people already see an ND or some other natural medicine practitioner, but some do not. For those who do not see a professional, we recommend that they do and usually can provide several names in various parts of the city.
In the case of the woman with the asthmatic daughter, we most certainly would ask if she has seen an ND, due to the complexity of her issues. So, when the owner asked this very question, she said: “No, I don’t have time for that.” So he started to explain that asthma is a complex problem which could be rooted in several causes, so an ND could deal better with that complexity. To this she responded: “I just don’t have the time, I just need to get her through school. I need you to tell me what to give her that will help.”
I had to write this blog because, I still can’t get this scene out of my mind! I wanted to say to her, “So you have time to be up at night nursing your daughter, you have time for her to be off from school, you have time to deal with all the repercussions of her suffering, but you don’t have time to actually improve your daughter’s health and quality of life dramatically?” I am glad that I was not helping this woman, because I just don’t know how I could have avoided reacting to her that way. This poor girl is probably miserable enough due to her asthma, and because of her mother’s attitude she will be affected physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually for the rest of her life.
Time is the one thing that everyone gets the same amount of (at least to start!), unlike money. How each of us uses our time is entirely a personal choice, but it does reflect what we value most. How do you use the time you have been given?