What does a naturopathic doctor actually do?

What is a naturopathic doctor, and what is naturopathic medicine?

Naturopathic medicine is a comprehensive, patient-centered system of health care delivered by licensed naturopathic doctors who complete an accredited, four-year doctoral-level naturopathic medical education following an undergraduate degree. In practice, an ND looks at your main concern alongside the rest of your health: sleep, digestion, diet, activity, stress and, where relevant, your menstrual cycle.

Naturopathic doctors are trained to assess health concerns and individual risk factors, support disease prevention, and manage acute and chronic conditions using a broad range of diagnostic and therapeutic approaches. Care may include clinical nutrition, lifestyle counselling, botanical medicine and other naturopathic therapies, as well as laboratory testing. In some jurisdictions, naturopathic doctors prescribe medications/drugs and can perform minor surgery. In Manitoba, although trained in pharmacology, naturopathic doctors do not prescribe medications.

Naturopathic medicine’s core beliefs and values about health vary from conventional medicine. Naturopathic Doctor Erin Esau believes that the body is wonderfully made and, in most cases, is able to heal when given the right environment and when barriers to health are removed. In naturopathic medicine we speak about the “Vis Medicatrix Naturae”, which essentially translates to “The Healing Power of Nature.” We believe that nature provides many powerful medicines, put there by the Creator, that can stimulate the innate ability to heal within an individual. Dr. Esau, ND even named Natura Integrative Care Clinic after this very concept: Natura is the singular form of the word “Naturae” and pays homage to this main concept in naturopathic medicine of working with the body’s vis, not suppressing symptoms but rather working out the imbalances within the body. So, naturopathic treatment plans are designed to stimulate the body’s capacity to heal and self-regulate.

Training

A licensed ND in Canada has completed a 3-4 year undergraduate degree including a strong focus in sciences, then a four-year, full-time accredited naturopathic program, and has passed standardized board exams. Dr. Erin Esau, ND, for example, completed the four-year Doctor of Naturopathy program at the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine in Toronto, which includes over 3,000 hours of classroom training and 1,200 hours of clinical experience.

The word “naturopath” is commonly used to refer to actual NDs; however, in Manitoba the legally protected term is “Naturopathic Doctor”. Be mindful that if someone calls themselves a “naturopath practitioner” or “natural medicine practitioner”, they are likely not a licensed Naturopathic Doctor. For the list of licensed Naturopathic Doctors in Manitoba, see the Manitoba Naturopathic Association member directory (external site).

What does a naturopathic doctor do at your first visit?

A first naturopathic visit at Natura Integrative Care Clinic is 60 to 90 minutes. Natura offers an accelerated two-part visit: you spend up to 60 minutes with a registered nurse, who completes your intake, asking you all the questions that your ND would, and then reviews this with the ND, who sees you for 30 minutes to make the plan. We call it the accelerated visit because you get to skip much of the wait: the one-part initial visit, with the entire time spent with Dr. Esau, ND, tends to book out a few months, whereas we can generally book the two-part visit quite quickly.

The visit itself is a long conversation about you in a confidential setting. We talk about your health, your stressors, medications, goals and so on. Then we figure out a plan to address your goals. Sometimes we need further testing, so we can order that. For information on lab testing in Manitoba, see our guide to lab testing with a naturopathic doctor.

Follow-ups are usually 30 or 45 minutes, with 60-minute visits when there’s more to cover. They’re where you go over results, talk through how the plan is going and make changes.

What therapies do naturopathic doctors use?

An ND draws on several therapies rather than a single method, and what’s suggested depends on your concern, your preferences and your other care. At Natura, Dr. Erin Esau, ND uses:

• Dietary and lifestyle counselling: food, sleep, movement and stress habits.
• Botanical medicine.
• Vitamins, minerals and supplements, chosen with your current medications in mind.
• Acupuncture, both Traditional Chinese Medicine and dry needling. See acupuncture at Natura.
• Physical medicine: hands-on techniques for muscles and joints.
• Homeopathy.
• IV therapy.
• Injections.

Why do people see a naturopathic doctor?

NDs see people of all ages, for recent concerns and long-standing ones. Common reasons people book at Natura include:

• Fertility concerns and preparing for pregnancy (see fertility and preconception care)
• Tiredness that hasn’t been explained (see why am I always tired?)
• Digestive concerns
• Painful or irregular periods, perimenopause and menopause (see women’s health)
• Stress and sleep concerns
• Muscle or joint pain
• Preventive health and general questions about diet and lifestyle
• Adjunctive care during cancer treatment, and to improve health after cancer treatments (see care during cancer treatment)
• Children’s health concerns (see children’s visits)

Naturopathic doctor vs homeopath: are they the same?

No. Naturopathic doctors are trained in homeopathy and may use it as one of several therapies. NDs are also trained to run labs, diagnose health concerns, do physical exams and use the other naturopathic modalities (acupuncture, plant medicines, vitamins and more). A homeopath exclusively practises homeopathy.

How does a naturopathic doctor work with your family doctor?

Scope of practice for naturopathic doctors depends on jurisdiction. In Manitoba, NDs work well with family doctors, nurse practitioners and specialists to facilitate the best care for you, the patient. Relating to scope, naturopathic doctors can order comprehensive lab testing, but they can’t order imaging (ultrasound, CT or MRI), refer to most specialists or prescribe pharmaceutical drugs.

Is naturopathic medicine covered under Manitoba Health?

Manitoba Health doesn’t cover naturopathic visits, but many extended health plans do. After your visit at Natura Integrative Care Clinic you pay for the visit and submit your receipt to your insurer for reimbursement. See is naturopathy covered in Manitoba? and our fees and insurance page.

Seeing a naturopathic doctor at Natura

Natura has two naturopathic doctors. Dr. Erin Esau, ND sees people of all ages in Steinbach in person and also offers phone or video calls. She sees people with a wide variety of concerns, with a special interest in fertility and adjunctive care during cancer treatment. Dr. Jayden Dobson, ND sees patients by virtual visit only, with a general practice and a focus on metabolic and preventive health.

In-clinic visits are at 9B-90 Brandt Street in Steinbach. The clinic’s other practitioners offer pelvic floor therapy (Taryn Bloodworth, RNBN), clinical exercise physiology (Lindsay Porter, CSEP-CEP) and counselling (Cameron Plett, M.A.). You can book online through Jane (external site) or call 204-515-6283.