Naturopathic Medicine Frequently Asked Questions
What is naturopathic medicine?
Naturopathic medicine is a form of primary health care that integrates natural therapies to encourage the body’s inherent ability to heal itself. Therapies that each naturopathic doctor in Ontario is trained and regulated to use include:
- Clinical Nutrition
- Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine
- Lifestyle Counselling
- Herbal Medicine
- Physical Medicine and Hydrotherapy
- Homeopathy
Are My Naturopathic Visits Covered by OHIP?
Naturopathic Medicine is not covered by OHIP at this time. Visit fees are due at the end of each visit. A receipt for insurance purposes can be given to you at the end of each visit, or you can ask for one at the end of each month, year or whenever you are ready to submit to your insurance company. If we are able to bill your insurance company directly, our amazing office team can help arrange that for you.
Most extended health insurance plans cover naturopathic medicine. It is often listed under the subheading “Paramedical Expenses” or “Other Health Care Professionals”, similarly to where your coverage for chiropractic or massage therapy may be found.
It is recommended that you contact your insurance company before your initial visit to find out more about your health insurance coverage. Some plans cover the full amount of naturopathic visits up to a certain amount per year while other plans cover a certain amount per visit. Any supplements or products recommended by a naturopathic doctor are not covered by insurance plans. Most conventional laboratory tests and naturopathic testing such as food sensitivity testing are not covered by insurance plans. Speak to your insurance company to find out all of the details of your naturopathic coverage so you can start taking charge of your health care.
What Training does a Naturopathic Doctor Have?
Naturopathic doctors have a minimum of 7 years post-secondary education. They need to have completed at least 3 years of university study and then successfully completed a 4-year naturopathic medical program that includes a clinical internship in their final year. Graduates must then pass the Naturopathic Physician Licensing Exams which are a series of 1-week exams standardized across North America, as well as any regulatory exams for the province or state they intend to practice in.
Dr. Odette has 9 years of post-secondary education. She completed a Specialist Degree in Human Biology at the University of Toronto, followed by earning a post-graduate certificate in Workplace Wellness and Health Promotion. She then successfully completed her naturopathic studies at the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine and received the Award for Clinical Excellence in Asian Medicine and Acupuncture upon graduation.
How Is the Safety of Naturopathic Medicine Regulated?
In Canada, naturopathic medicine is regulated at the provincial level. In Ontario, naturopathic medicine is regulated under the Regulated Health Professions Act. Regulation allows the public to be confident that the naturopathic doctor they are seeing has successfully completed the necessary training and exams. The College of Naturopaths of Ontario ensures that naturopathic doctors act within their scope of practice and ensure public safety.
What can I expect in my first visit with Dr. Odette?
Your first visit is 70 minutes in length. During this time Dr. Odette collects vital information on your entire health history. Since there is a great deal of past and present health details to gather, she spends the majority of the first visit doing this – which is crucial for her to understand all of the unique factors that have brought you to your current state of health and allow her to properly assess you.
In this visit, Dr. Odette will also do a complaint-oriented physical exam, meaning she will examine the body systems that are involved in your current health concerns. She may also recommend and give you a requisition for additional blood tests that will help confirm or rule out specific diagnoses. If you prefer, she will refer you back to your family doctor in order to get the additional blood tests performed. More information on lab testing is available here. Initial nutritional, herbal or lifestyle or other treatment recommendations will be made at the end of the first visit, according to your individual health needs, to initiate the healing process.
How is the second visit different than the follow-up visits?
After the first visit is finished, you will book a second visit usually 1-2 weeks later. The second visit is generally 50 minutes in length, during which time Dr. Odette will explain your individualized treatment plan, and begin any hands-on treatment as necessary, for example, acupuncture.
Between the first and second visit, Dr. Odette performs a thorough analysis of all of the information she gathered in the first visit, along with the physical exam results and any lab test results she obtains during this time period, in order to develop an accurate naturopathic diagnosis. The second visit is longer than the follow-up visits because of the importance of explaining the treatment plan which will often be in-depth, incorporating nutritional changes, supplements, herbs, lifestyle recommendations, and acupuncture. In order for you to be successful in achieving your health goals, you must understand the treatment plan and have the opportunity to have any questions you have about the treatment plan answered by Dr. Odette.
How long are the follow-up visits…and how many will I need?
The follow-up visits are generally 30 minutes in length and allow Dr. Odette to:
- Assess your progress on your treatment plan
- Make changes to your treatment plan as your health improves
- Address any obstacles to successful completion of your treatment plan
Like most patients, you will likely need a follow-up appointment 1 month after the second visit. After that, you may not need another follow-up visit for 1-3 months later. This all depends on your health concerns and their severity and how closely we need to monitor your progress. Dr. Odette can review the likely frequency and duration of visits with you in the second and follow-up visits.
If acupuncture is part of your treatment plan, you can expect to need 6-10 treatments to gain long-lasting effects. Again, this number varies depending on your individual health needs. In a typical course of acupuncture, treatments will be most effective if done on a weekly basis. If you have more questions about acupuncture, look for the answer here.
Remember that your individualized treatment plan is not restricted to only acupuncture or nutrition or herbal medicine. Instead, Dr. Odette selects and integrates the most effective naturopathic therapies for your individual health needs, and adjusts them as your individual needs change.