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Frequently Asked Questions
These are some of the frequently asked questions we receive regarding our naturopathic services. If you don’t see your question here, please call us at 204-943-6079 and we will be happy to answer any questions that you may have
A Naturopathic appointment is much different than a regular medical appointment.
Your first visit will involve discussing all aspects of your physical and emotional health as well as family and work history. In order to discover the root cause of your health concerns, it is necessary to gather as much information as possible. So, we dedicate 90 minutes for your initial appointment to gather all the information needed to properly assess your current health.
Your initial visit will be 90 minutes long and will involve discussing all aspects of your physical and emotional health as well as family and work history.
Follow up appointments average 45 minutes long but may be as short as 15 minutes. Phone consultations are also a possibility for those cases where physical assessment is not necessary.
It is recommended that you bring in a copy of previous blood work from the last couple years as this helps to speed the process and give additional information about your health status. Note that your doctor may recommend other testing such as allergy or hormone testing as well as traditional blood labs to aid in the research of your case.
Follow up appointments will vary depending on the complexity of the case but the average person is likely to be seen for the second appointment within 2-4 weeks with follow ups being monthly, bi-monthly or even annually.
Most insurance companies provide some sort of coverage for naturopathic care. So, you will need to look into your specific plan for details. We will provide you with a detailed invoice that has your doctor’s licensing information on it; it is your responsibility to submit the invoice to your insurance company. It is important to note that your coverage may not be enough to cover all of the appointments you will need to reach your fullest health potential.
You are welcome to call our office any time to book appointments. It is best for us to re-book you at the end of each appointment if possible, but you can also book online to see what works best with your schedule.
Yes. Please bring in your treatment note and we will be glad to re-fill a prescription. However, if a number of months have passed since the last time you saw your doctor, and you decide you would like to re-start taking a product you were prescribed, we may require you to have a follow-up with your doctor before selling you more products.
If you have a simple clarification question, you can email your doctor at info@thenaturedoctors.ca. However, they will only get back to you through email if you are looking for a yes/no answer. If you need to speak with them about anything more involved, please call our front desk to book in for a short phone consult. If your matter is urgent and we are unable to schedule you with your doctor, there are several other practitioners who are available and we will do our best to book you in.
Naturopathic medical schools are four-year post-graduate degree programs recognized by the Department of Health as accredited institutions that grant the Doctoral Degree of Naturopathic Medicine. Graduates of the four accredited Naturopathic medical colleges in North America must pass numerous Board Exams to receive their license of Naturopathic Medicine and/or Acupuncture. The doctors at The Nature Doctors are board certified and licensed in the province of Manitoba.
A Naturopath takes the same basic medical sciences as an MD, the difference being they specialize in natural medicine. Some of the modalities an ND uses are vitamins, supplements, homeopathic medicine, acupuncture, Bowen therapy, nutrition and lifestyle counselling. Naturopathic doctors have access to regular lab work as well as specialty testing ie. Allergy tests, hormone panels etc.
Naturopathic Doctors treat on a broad range of concerns and are able to treat most conditions. We commonly treat concerns such as gastrointestinal, hormonal, immune system, food sensitivities, infertility and allergies. We also provide integrative cancer support. An ND is trained to treat conditions from an integrated perspective that focuses on natural processes.
The term “medical cannabis” is used to describe products derived from the whole cannabis plant or its extracts containing a variety of active cannabinoids and terpenes. Patients take these products for medical reasons after obtaining medical documentation from their health care practitioner.
The chemical ingredients in cannabis are called cannabinoids. The two main therapeutic cannabinoids are THC and CBD.
THC: Tetrahydrocannabinol is a partial agonist of the CB1 and CB2 receptors. It is psychoactive and produces the euphoric effect.
CBD: Cannabidiol, unlike THC, has anti-anxiety and anti-psychotic effects and is said to have various health benefits.
Store your medical cannabis in a cool, dry place. Please keep your medication out of reach of children.
Cannabis can be smoked, vaporized or taken orally. We recommend taking cannabis oil directly under the tongue (sublingually) or you can mix cannabis oil with fatty foods (like yogurt, honey or in a smoothie) to help disguise the taste. Please do not mix your oil into liquids such as water, juice, coffee or tea. We recommend using a vaporizer if using cannabis flower.
The general rule of thumb is start low and go slow. Please refer to the dosing schedule provided by your nurse practitioner.
One Daily Dose: Unless given other instruction, take your cannabis oil 2 to 3 hours before your usual bed time, at the same time every night. Document how you feel before and after each dose to manage your results (ex. Better sleep). Increase your dose slowly as indicated by your dosing schedule.
Two Daily Doses: Unless given other instruction, take your cannabis oil 2 to 3 hours before your usual bed time, at the same time every night. As dosing increases, incorporate your second dosage in the morning within 20 minutes of eating breakfast. Try to take both doses around the same time each morning and evening. Document how you feel before and after each dose to manage your results (ex. Better sleep).
Medical cannabis may be covered by insurance and is a tax-deductible medical expense. Some products will be available for medical use that are not found in recreational stores. Also, Licensed Producers are required to maintain inventory for patients, recreational stores are not.
The regulations around driving have recently changed under the Cannabis Act. It is advised that patients do not drive 4 hours after inhalation, 6 hours after ingestion, and 8 hours after experiencing psychoactive effects. It remains the individual’s responsibility to ensure that they are not impaired while driving. For more clarity, please call your local police station.
You can travel anywhere in Canada with your medical cannabis. Please call your airline to confirm their advised instructions. Arrive early and be prepared to show the documentation that is provided by your Licensed Producer. At this time, you cannot take your medical cannabis on international trips.
Start by ensuring you do not have a medical expense component in your health insurance plan that may be able to cover some costs. Next, find out if the licensed producer you are interested in has a compassionate pricing program. Many licensed producers offer up to 25% off for low-income patients. Some patients also qualify for tax benefits.
Cannabis products are strictly regulated by Health Canada and only Licensed Producers may sell directly to patients. Therefore, The Nature Doctors cannot legally sell you products directly. Your Nurse Practitioner will fax your documents directly to the Licensed Producer of your choice and they will be in touch with you in 1 to 3 business days. Once you receive the information from the Licensed Producer, you may purchase product through their website or over the phone. If you do not hear from your Licensed Producer within one week, please call us.
Please ensure that we are aware of all medications that you are currently taking. Unless advised otherwise, you should continue to take your current medications. Over time, you may find that you can reduce use of other medications as the cannabis product becomes part of your routine. For example, you may be able to take less ibuprofen for pain. Please do not stop any medications unless advised by the health care practitioner.
You may only be registered with one Licensed Producer per Medical Document. If you wish to change the LP after you have been registered, you must cancel your registration prior to registering with another LP. Please call us and we will help you with the process.
Health Canada regulations restrict The Nature Doctors from providing a copy of medical documents to patients.
You can find more information on Health Canada’s website:
https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/topics/cannabis-for-medical-purposes.html
Contact us and we would be happy to help answer any questions you may have about our services.
Naturopathic services are covered by most benefit plans.
We acknowledge that The Nature Doctors is located on ancestral lands, Treaty 1 territory, the traditional territory of the Anishinaabeg, Cree, Oji-Cree, Dakota, and Dene Peoples, and on the homeland of the Métis Nation.