What makes a Naturopathic Doctor (ND) different?

To put it simply, ND’s are interested the ‘why’. ND’s care about why you’re experiencing (insert your health concern here – headaches/irregular cycles/weight gain…) to uncover and treat the root cause of your symptoms.
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We ask a ton of questions to connect the dots. This means we get into the nitty gritty details of your health to uncover what about your unique genetics, physiology and environment are contributing and/or causing your health concerns.

Sometimes it’s not as simple as taking an Advil when you have a migraine. We ask: are your hormones causing the migraines? Is an under-active thyroid a factor in your fertility struggles? Is a hormonal imbalance making it difficult to manage weight? Is an estrogen dominance contributing to your anxiety?⠀

What approach do Naturopathic Doctors take?

Naturopathic Doctors take a holistic approach to healthcare. We’re interested in looking at your as a whole person. We’ll chat about sleep, digestion, diet, energy, hormonal health and stress – among other things. Our goal is to treat you as a person, not an illness.

Naturopathic Doctors also practice Individualized Medicine; every treatment plan is completely individualized for you, your health and your goals. Everyone is different, so cookie cutter healthcare doesn’t cut it (see what I did there).

I like to think of Naturopathic Doctors as both ‘Health Detectives’ and ‘Health Educators’ who help uncover why things are happening and give you the tools and support you need to address the root cause of it.⠀

How can an Naturopathic Doctor help me?

ND’s focus on providing research-based natural and integrative medicine. This includes:

NDs with additional licensing (like Dr. Courtney) are able to prescribe certain pharmaceutical medications like bio-identical hormones, thyroid treatments + more and provide injections if necessary. Learn more about services here.

Dr. Courtney has a special interest in hormonal health, digestion, functional nutrition, weight management + fertility. Learn more about conditions treated here.

Can a Naturopathic Doctor order lab testing?

NDs in Ontario are able to order laboratory testing. This includes blood-work (standard blood panels, cholesterol, blood sugar, thyroid panels, etc), urine testing, Pap testing, stool testing + more. ND’s are also able to provide, order and interpret functional testing such as Food Sensitivity Testing, Comprehensive Hormone Testing, vitamin testing + more.

Comprehensive lab testing allows us to dig deeper to uncover the root cause of your concerns. Just because results are within a ‘normal range’ does not mean that they are optimal to feel great! 

Can I see a Naturopathic Doctor and a Medical Doctor?

Yes- and you should! Dr. Courtney strives to work alongside conventional medicine to ensure that you have an entire healthcare team on your side.

Like your MD, Naturopathic Doctors are regulated primary health care provider who are able to diagnose and treat a variety of health concerns, both acute and chronic.

What happens in an Initial Appointment?

Initial appointments are 60-75 minutes long and they give us the chance to go over your health history, goals and outline a plan. As an ND, ⁣I believe health goes deeper than your symptoms so getting to know the ins-and-outs of your health and goals helps me to tailor a plan to treat the root cause and your individual needs. ⁣We’ll chat about digestion, nutrition, hormonal health, sleep, energy levels, your health history and your goals.

Learn more about what happens in an initial appointment here.

Still interested in learning more about ND’s? Visit www.cand.ca and www.oand.org