What To Expect in a Naturopathic Visit
What Our Program Consists Of:
A detailed health history, family history and physical exam are all done to determine present and past physical health factors, and psychological issues may also contribute to the health of the patient. An evaluation of lifestyle and environmental factors also adds more information to help the doctor determine the best program for the patient.
Additional functional methods, such as muscle testing or Zyto testing, will be completed by the doctors to gather alternative angles regarding the present state of health of the patient.
Standard Lab Diagnosis may be suggested, and is typically done through the patient's medical doctor or through recommended labs. There is an additional charge when these tests are done through the ND's office.
Following the first visit, an individualized treatment program with dietary, lifestyle and supplement recommendations will be provided. Treatment programs generally span a month period and are then followed up with a visit to evaluate progress.
Individualized treatment protocols are recommended based on the results of the specific tests and lab work done on the patient. A naturopathic assessment and program includes educating the patient about how to care for themselves based on their needs and concerns, time and energy available. Our goal at the clinic is to assist individuals in gaining and maintaining optimal health in all aspects: mental, emotional, physical and spiritual.
The follow up visit will aim to evaluate the progress of the patient and make any necessary changes. At this time live blood cell testing may be conducted to aid in achieving an optimal state of functioning in the body. Subsequent visits will then be scheduled in three to six month intervals.
We encourage our patients to ask questions and address all concerns that they have as one symptom may be related to another symptom present in the body at the same time.
Specialized testing that may be recommended for follow up visits:
Specialized testing provides the ND with additional insight into the disease process and may be recommended for the second appointment if it's felt this testing would provide useful information regarding the patient's condition. Unfortunately, any testing recommended by Naturopathic Doctors is not covered by Alberta Health Care or extended insurance programs so care is taken in our clinic to ensure that any extra testing is warranted and the patient is not paying out of pocket for unnecessary information.
When recommended properly, these specialized tests can provide valuable sources of information that conventional testing may miss. For example, with a condition such as heart disease, standard medical testing would include blood tests and an EKG. Should evidence of heart disease be found in the patient, additional testing would be recommended by a cardiologist.
A naturopathic doctor would go a step further with tests that look for elements such as homocysteine which can be found on a blood test and is a major indicator for heart disease. Live blood cell analysis can reveal problems with the consistency of the blood, as well as free radical presence, indicating the potential for heart disease. These tests can give the naturopathic doctor additional information to structure a proactive therapeutic treatment plan specific to patient conditions and concerns.
Examples of Specialized Testing that may be recommended:
Food Allergy Testing - A number of health conditions are either caused or exacerbated by people eating foods that they may be allergic to. Identification and avoidance of certain foods can often resolve a number of challenging symptoms
Live Blood Cell Analysis - used as an adjunct to assess the earlier signs of disease in the body, including liver function, immune and digestive systems, as well as dehydration, vitamin E deficiency, early signs of stroke and iron/B12 deficiency.
Salivary Hormone Tests - provide a more accurate representation than blood levels to measure elements like estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, thyroid hormone and stress hormones such as cortisol and DHEA. Evaluation of these hormones may indicate imbalances that result in menopausal symptoms, decreased ability to adapt to stress, metabolism imbalances resulting in weight gain or loss, cancer and cardiovascular degeneration.
Basal Body Temperatures and the Iodine Test - a simple yet useful test that can be used to evaluate the function of the thyroid gland, the hormone system that regulates body temperature and metabolism.
Orthostatic Blood Pressure (lying then standing) - a test done in the office which can help determine the person's stress adaptation capability. The adrenal glands are the stress adaptive organs, so any change in orthostatic blood pressure can indicate functional adrenal problems.
Dietary and lifestyle review and counseling - Diet and lifestyle recommendations are based on the individual needs and food responses of the patient.