Get Relief With Naturopath Medicine

Only a few years ago, most Canadians had one choice when it came to health care - they could visit their doctor or they could hope their problems went away on their own. They might use an old wives' treatment or a traditional aboriginal medicine, but only if they knew someone who was knowledgeable. There were no organized forms of alternative medicine. But today things are different. If you've got something ailing you, you could go to your regular doctor or you could choose to see an alternative medical practitioner such as a naturopath.

Naturopathy is a type of treatment that's based on balancing a person's vital energy as a way of keeping bodily systems such as digestion, circulation, reproduction, and metabolism functioning properly. Instead of focusing on a specific condition or problem, Naturopaths aim to achieve whole body wellness in their patients. If you visit a naturopath, medicine will probably not be on the treatment menu. Naturopathic treatments focus on the non-invasive, such as lifestyle changes and diet, massage, acupuncture, vitamins, or enemas rather than chemical drugs or surgery, though some naturopaths will explore these avenues if necessary.

Naturopathy is largely unregulated in Canada. BC, Manitoba, Ontario, Alberta, and Saskatchewan require naturopaths to be licensed, but even licensed naturopaths may not have any post secondary medical training. If they do, it's likely to be at a school of naturopathic medicine, not a university. The title of 'doctor' when applied to a naturopath does not necessarily mean he or she has completed medical school, though some medical doctors do practice naturopathy as a sideline. BC and Ontario allow naturopaths to prescribe some drugs, so in order to make sure you are being looked after by someone who knows what he or she is doing, you may want to check up on their credentials. The Canadian Association of Naturopathic Doctors is a good place to start.

Whenever you try alternative medicine, you should carefully weigh claims against evidence. Some naturopaths may claim their treatments cure cancer or eliminate the need for vaccinations, but before you hand over your money or risk your health on untested, unregulated treatments, you should make an effort to find out if their claims have been proven true by objective testing. If they haven't been, it may be that a practitioner is trying to take advantage of your desperation to cheat you out of your savings.