About Naturopathic Medicine
WELCOME
MacDonald Naturopathic Clinic
Treating the whole you.... Naturally
519-539-7000
29 Wellington St. N
Woodstock
What is Naturopathic Medicine?
Naturopathic medicine is a distinct system of primary care that addresses the root cause of illness or disease and promotes health and healing using natural therapies. Treatment modalities may include clinical nutrition, botanical (herbal) medicine, homeopathic medicine, physical treatments, acupuncture and Asian medicine and lifestyle counselling.
The primary goal of naturopathic treatment is to address the cause of the illness rather than simply treating or suppressing symptoms. While naturopathic care helps to alleviate specific symptoms, NDs are primarily concerned with addressing the root cause of an illness: the focus is more on the why of a disease than the what.
Frequently Asked Questions:
What Can Naturopathic Medicine Treat?
Naturopathic Medicine treats all forms of health concerns -- from pediatric to geriatric, from acute infections to chronic illness and from the physical to the psychological. It is the approach, philosophy and training of naturopathic doctors that set it apart from other forms of health care.
Since Naturopathic Doctors are primary health care practitioners, they are trained to refer patients if they feel that the patient would benefit from the help of another health professional or if a second opinion is required. Naturopathic Medicine can complement and enhance the services and treatments provided by other health care professionals, providing a truly integrative and holistic form of health care.
A sample of health concerns that Crista MacDonald-Werby, ND frequently sees includes:
- Women’s health issues
- Men’s health issues
- Children’s health issues
- Fertility issues and healthy pregnancy (pre-conception, pre-natal, post-natal)
- Arthritis & Chronic pain
- Auto-immune diseases and Chronic Diseases
- Chronic Stress and Fatigue
- Depression
- Detoxification
- Diabetes, insulin resistance
- Digestive complaints and Gastrointestinal disorders
- Fibromyalgia & Chronic Fatigue
- Health maintenance and prevention of disease
- Heart health; High blood pressure & high cholesterol
- Hormonal imbalances
- Infections
- Skin conditions
- Weight loss/Weight gain
What Can I Expect on my First Visit to the Clinic?
Your first appointment at the MacDonald Naturopathic Medical Clinic will be 1½ hours long and subsequent appointments will be ½ hour. Prior to your appointment, you will be required to fill out a health history intake form. The intake form will be either mailed or e-mailed to you when your appointment is made. During your initial visit Crista MacDonald, ND will:
- Take a detailed intake that covers all aspects of your health history and current state of health, diet and lifestyle
- Conduct a physical exam and use information from laboratory tests to make an assessment and diagnosis
- Perform further specialized testing as needed
- With your input, a personalized treatment plan will be proposed to help you achieve your health goals.
What is the Difference between Naturopathic Medicine and Homeopathy?
Naturopathic doctors (NDs) are general practitioners of natural medicine. They are trained to treat ailments using clinical nutrition, acupuncture, botanical medicine, physical medicine, lifestyle counseling and homeopathy.
Homeopaths, on the other hand, are trained to practice in one discipline – homeopathy.
So while a homeopath would prescribe a homeopathic therapy, a naturopathic doctor would use any of the approaches listed above, including homeopathy, in their treatments.
In addition, homeopathy is not a regulated or licensed health profession in Ontario. Naturopathic medicine is regulated and licensed in Ontario.
Payment and Health Insurance
Payment is due upon receipt of treatment. Please call the MacDonald Naturopathic Medical Clinic at (519) 421-5330 for our current fee schedule.
Naturopathic Medicine is not covered by OHIP. However, it is covered under most extended health care plans. Contact your health insurance provider for details.
What Education do Naturopathic Doctors have?
Registered Naturopathic Doctors (NDs) have a minimum of 7 years of post-secondary education including:
- a minimum of 3 years of pre-medical university studies, plus
- 4 years of full-time, professional naturopathic medical education including training in basic medical science courses, clinical sciences and naturopathic therapies, and
- a full year internship at The Robert Schad Naturopathic Clinic, a very large and busy clinic in Toronto, Ontario.
After graduation, Naturopathic Doctors must pass rigorous regulatory board examinations that are standardized across North America before being licensed to practice. All naturopathic doctors practicing in Ontario must be registered with the BDDT-N and they must meet the Continuing Medical Education (CME) credits as required by the provincial regulatory boards on an ongoing basis.
