Regardless of age, gender, or illness, naturopathic medicine is a primary health approach that combines scientific advances in Western medicine with more traditional approaches to health.  Our naturopathic doctor, Dr. Nav Dhindsa at Active Therapy applies a wide range of natural therapies such as botanical medicine, trigger point injections, IV therapy, Vitamin B 12 shots, nutritional counselling, hydrotherapy, acupuncture, and counselling toward health promotion and disease prevention.

You might say that naturopathic medicine combines the art and science of health care in the processes of diagnosis, treatment and prevention, and ongoing health maintenance.  So then, how do you know if naturopathic medicine is right for you?

When comparing naturopathic approaches to typical approaches you find in the health care field, it’s important to understand that naturopaths are doctors that undergo extensive training to provide primary care services.  They can be your first point of contact with health care (which is to say, they are primary care practitioners), but they often differ from conventional “MDs” in that they take a more holistic approach to treating the individual by assessing and addressing physical, emotional and mental, environmental, and lifestyle factors that impact health.  Beyond treating the disease, naturopathic doctors treat the person in the context of the world they live in so that their clients can achieve lasting, overall health.  On the other hand, most doctors from a Western philosophy of medicine (think your family doctor, the emergency doctor, surgeons, etc.) are trained to identify the disease and treat said disease with pharmaceuticals and surgeries.

Individuals who turn to naturopathic medicine are sometimes surprised to learn that naturopathic doctors are well-versed in all health conditions including acute and chronic conditions across the lifespan.  There are myriad benefits for naturopathic approaches to both physical and mental health.  Indeed, for prevention and health promotion strategies, improved quality of life, and a comprehensive approach to health care that digs deeper than just the disease, many people find naturopathic medicine a breath of fresh air.  In particular, people looking for alternatives to conventional medical approaches, folks who want to support other medical treatments by combining traditional health care with naturopathy, or those who have had limited success with conventional medicine for achieving health, naturopathic medicine is often beneficial.

In British Columbia, naturopathic medicine has been a regulated health profession for more than 20 years.  This means naturopathic doctors must meet strict practice guidelines and they cannot provide health care without thorough education and training.  There is a growing body of research that supports naturopathic medicine in the treatment of all acute and chronic physical and psychological health conditions.  In other words, when it comes to seeking health care from naturopathic doctors, you can trust that your health is in the hands of highly qualified professionals that are practicing from an evidence-based lens.

If you’d like to learn more about naturopathic medicine or how Dr. Nav Dhindsa, our Active Therapy naturopathic doctor can help you on your journey to health, contact our clinic today to book a consultation.

Learn more about Naturopathic Medicine at Active Therapy Clinic in North Vancouver