What a naturopathic doctor does
Naturopathic doctors are trained in conventional diagnosis and in natural therapies. After successfully completing an undergraduate degree, Dr. Erin Esau, ND completed a four-year Doctor of Naturopathy program at the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine, with over 3,000 hours of classroom training and 1,200 hours of supervised clinical practice. Every first visit has the same aim: to understand your health as a whole before recommending anything.
Depending on your plan, care may draw on nutrition and dietary counselling, vitamins and minerals, botanical medicine, homeopathy, acupuncture, physical medicine and lifestyle counselling. Dr. Erin Esau, ND is also certified to provide IV nutrient therapy and injections; whether either is appropriate for you is decided at an assessment.
In Manitoba, naturopathic doctors can order lab testing, but can't order imaging or prescribe medications.
Your first visit
- Before you come: book online, and complete any intake forms Jane (external site) sends you. Bring a list of your medications and supplements and any recent test results.
- The conversation: 60 to 90 minutes, in a confidential setting, about your concerns, history and goals.
- Assessment: a physical exam related to your concerns, and testing if it's needed to reach a diagnosis.
- Your plan: options you choose together, written down so you know exactly what to do next.
Two ways to have your first visit
A whole visit with the naturopathic doctor. The full 60 to 90 minutes is with the ND, who takes your history, completes the assessment and works out a written plan with you. Because it uses the ND's time throughout, these visits can book out a few months.
The accelerated two-part visit. First, a registered nurse completes your intake for up to 60 minutes: your health history, current concerns, medications and vital signs. Then you meet the naturopathic doctor for 30 minutes. The ND goes over that intake with you, completes the assessment and works out a written plan with you. Because the background is already gathered, your time with the ND goes straight to your concerns, and these visits can generally be booked much sooner.
Working alongside your family doctor
You don't need a family doctor to see a naturopathic doctor. If you do have other providers, your ND can share results with them, and tell your ND about every medication and supplement you take. In Manitoba, naturopathic doctors can't prescribe medications or order imaging.
Who you'll see
Dr. Erin Esau, ND sees people of all ages, in person and by virtual visit, with a focus on fertility and on adjunctive care during cancer treatment. Dr. Jayden Dobson, ND sees patients by virtual visit only, with a focus on metabolic and preventive health.
In the clinic
Dr. Erin Esau, ND in the IV room. 
Starting an IV.
