What is Whole Person, Whole Systems Care?

Most medical research looks at the effect of single supplements or medicines. While natural medicines are often mentioned in discussions or the media in this manner, it overlooks the fact that the practice of naturopathic medicine is really intended to help people find a healthy, healthful balance by using various approaches rather than one treatment. These approaches include lifestyle changes (diet, sleep, exercise, musculoskeletal balance and emotional/spiritual practices), supported or stimulated by herbal and/or homeopathic medicines, acupuncture, physical therapies (e.g. ultrasound) and hydrotherapy. Naturopathic treatment is usually most effective when several of these treatments are used simultaneously as opposed to one treatment at a time.

The Naturopathic profession recognizes that research that proves and reproduces outcomes with natural therapies is needed to increase public confidence and gain better acceptance within health care as a whole. However, studying a single medicine does not respect the philosophies of naturopathic medicine. Therefore, the leaders of research from the naturopathic profession are being clear with the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the National Centre for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM), who fund most of the public medical research, that research of naturopathic approaches (vs. a single medicine) is necessary to show the real efficacy of our medicine.

This is the approach we strive to use at Touchstone Naturopathic Centre, and will be recommended for the majority of patients.