Naturopathic Medicine

Frequently Asked Questions

The fees for Naturopathic visits are as follows:
$130 for the initial 1-hour visit (which includes a physical exam and thorough case-taking)
$90 for 45-minute second-visits
$70 for subsequent half-hour visits, $90 for subsequent 45-minute visits, and $110 for subsequent 1-hour visits.
Therapies performed during the visit (such as acupuncture or Reiki) are included in these prices, which will be effective April 1st, 2007, and do not include the cost of supplements or herbal products. Payment can be made via cash & cheque only at this time.

In Ontario, OHIP does not cover naturopathic visits, but many private health insurance plans (e.g. through your employer or school benefits plan) provide coverage for naturopathic visits as well as acupuncture treatments. Plans typically provide coverage for naturopathy practiced by a licensed Naturopathic practitioner, and acupuncture by a registered acupuncturist or Naturopath. Contact your health insurer to find out what services are covered for you, and how much coverage you have per year. If you do not have naturopathic coverage, we can create a treatment plan that takes your budget into consideration.

Registered naturopathic doctors have at least 7 years of post-secondary education - 3+ years in a recognized university & 4 years at one of 5 accredited naturopathic teaching institution in North America (CCNM is the only one in Canada). Candidates for licensure must then pass rigorous medical & ethical licensing exams that are set by medical regulatory boards. Vanessa has 8 years of post-secondary education, with a BSc in Cell & Molecular Biology in addition to the Naturopathic qualifications.
Click to read more about Naturopathic Qualifications.

Yes... but No. Naturopathic medicine is about treating people, not conditions. Naturopaths take the time to get to know their patients, and to understand what the root cause is behind the illness. Then we determine what combination of treatments work best to help your body repair itself or maintain a healthy state (disease prevention).
Click to see a list of commonly treated diseases & health concerns.

The first visit with Vanessa is about gathering information, and will last approximately 1 hour. You will be asked to fill out a health questionnaire, and provide details about your current & past health concerns. A general physical exam may be performed, including examination of your tongue and pulses (Chinese medical form of diagnosis). Lab testing may be asked of you in order to complete your health assessment; if you already have lab results, please bring them in to your first visit. These details are required in order to fully understand everything about you and your health. Subsequent visits are 30-45 minutes long, and treatments usually start on the second visit. The number and frequency of subsequent visits depend on the severity of your condition, how long you have had it, and how quickly your body responds to the therapies. Follow-up visits are very important in order for your doctor to monitor your progress.

Medical doctors and specialists are experts in diagnosing diseases, and prescribe pharmaceutical drugs and surgery in order to treat these diseases and reduce the appearance of symptoms. Naturopaths are experts in diagnosing the root cause of illness, and treating people as a whole. The cause of the illness is addressed through alternative modalities such as acupuncture, Asian medicine, herbal medicine, homeopathy, hydrotherapy, nutrition, lifestyle counseling, Reiki (energy healing) and massage therapy.
Click to read more about the types of Naturopathic Therapies.

The naturopathic philosophy is based on using natural therapies to stimulate the body's own healing response. In cases when drugs & major surgery are required, patients are referred to medical doctors. Patients undergoing surgery or on prescription medication can benefit from concurrent naturopathic treatment. In Canada, naturopaths registered in British Columbia are licensed to perform minor surgery. In the USA, naturopaths are able to prescribe some medication, such as antibiotics.

Naturopaths are trained in homeopathy, but we are also trained in many other modalities, such as acupuncture, Asian medicine, herbal medicine, homeopathy, hydrotherapy, nutrition, lifestyle counseling, Reiki (energy healing). Our goals, as naturopaths, are to address the whole person, treat each patient as an individual, and treat the root cause of their concerns. Naturopathy is therefore a branch of medicine that includes homeopathy as part of a holistic approach to health.
Click for more about homeopathy.

Have questions that we have not answered? Feel free to e-mail us!