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WillNDs takemeoffmymedications?
Our goal is to support your body so thatmedicationswon't be required long term, butwedon't change
yourmedicationdosages or prescriptions. For example, if youareonabloodpressuremedicationwe
willaddressyourdiet,activity level, stressors,andexplorewhatwasgoingon inyour lifewhenyourmed-
icationwas initially needed. By findingandmodifying the causeof your elevatedbloodpressure your
need for themedicationwill naturallydecline, at which timewe refer youback to yourmedical doctor
(MD) toadjust yourdose.
Will I need tochoosebetweenanNDandmyMD?
Ideallyyouareworkingwithbothpractitioners.YourMDspecializes indiseasediagnosis, symptomman-
agement, andcan refer you to specialists. YourND is lookingat you froma functional perspectiveand
exploringwhyyouhave the symptomand thenmaking treatment recommendations so that it doesn't re-
turn. An ideal arrangement iswhen yourMD&NDwork together; communicating recommendations
andhow theother's skills couldbebest utilized, in thebest interests of thepatient (you). I communicate
withseveralMDs inourcommunityabout lab tests, results,andpotential for further investigation, regard-
ing sharedpatients.
Will I have togooff gluten, coffee, etc, right away?
NDs areabout treating theperson in front of them, not puttingeachpersonon the sameplan. Through
lab testingand/orprocessofeliminationwewill likely recommenddietarymodifications,butnotbyover-
haulingyourdietallatoncenorbymakingunrealisticchanges. It isyourND's responsibility tomake rec-
ommendations,and it isyour responsibility tocommunicate to themwhatyoucanmanage todo.Making
manageablegoals fromoneappointment to thenext setsyouup for success, and that isultimatelywhat
workingwithanND isall about.
IsNaturopathicmedicineevidencebased?
A simplevisit toPubMed.com (National LibraryofMedicine)will showyou just howmuchpublished re-
search has been done. There youwill find19,000 studies on vitaminC, the same on vitamin E, and
11,000onomega3 fattyacids, and theseare just 3examples.Havea look!
Cananyonecall themself anND?
In some provinces and states they can. However, in regulatedprovinces likeOntarioanyone calling
themselves aNaturopathicDoctor needs to have completed1) an undergraduate degree containing
themedical sciences, 2) four years at anaccredited collegeof naturopathicmedicine, and3) pass rig-
orousNorthAmerican licensingexams. Inaddition, annual continuingeducationhoursare required to
maintain the licence.Curious if theNDyouhavebeen referred to inOntariohas theappropriatequali-
fications?Search for themat
.
Stillwant toknowmore?Contact a localND foracomplimentary15-minute ‘meet thedoctor’ visit.
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Wonderingwhy your
friends are raving
about their
Naturopathic Doctors
(NDs)?
Here are answers to
some of themost
common questions
about this growing
profession.
SHELBYWORTS, ND
5
CommonQuestions
about NaturopathicMedicine
by ShelbyWorts ND
ESCARPMENT
®
well-being
