Naturopathic Medicine: Is it right for your kids?

Naturopathic Medicine is still a mystery to most people.  A lot of parents don't know that it can be a great option for the whole famly, including kids!  I know as a busy mom it's hard to find time to research your options so we've compiled a list of FAQ's from parents to naturopaths at Optimum Wellness Clinic to help you realize the benefits naturopathy can offer! 

• What does naturopathy offer versus an MD?  The main goal of naturopathic medicine is to get to the root cause of disease.  We look for symptoms and often are able to match them up to a nutritional deficiency, for example, chronic nose bleeds is quite often a sign of a zinc or vitamin C deficiency.  A good example of getting to the root cause is eczema – often MDs will prescribe cortisone cream which seems to help, but if you stop using it the condition returns. This is because the root cause of the condition has not been identified and that is one of the main differences with an ND – we seek to identify and treat the problem rather than using “band-aid” solutions. We also spend more time with patients on the first visit to take a thorough medical history. 
• Does my child need to see a pediatrictian if I am seeing a Naturopath? Many parents typically use NDs as their primary care physician, but it is helpful to have a file started with a pediatrician if testing is required. It is good for ND's and MD's to work together for the optimal health of the patient.

• What kind of conditions can naturopathy help my child with? Any condition that you would take your child to an MD for can be treated with naturopathic medicine.  The most common conditions we see are: eczema, asthma, autism, ADD/ADHD, frequent colds and ear infections, digestive concerns, constipation, “picky eaters”, behavioural disorders, etc.
• When should my child start seeing a naturopath? From the day they are born would be the technical answer, however lots of studies are showing now that a pregnant mother who has good nutrition throughout her pregnancy will produce a child who is smarter, has less incidence of illness, less ear infections, less skin issues, etc.  So seeing a mother before she conceives is ideal so that we can make sure she is as healthy as possible before conception. 
• Can a naturopathic doctor prescribe medication? Not yet.  Once regulation for naturopathic doctors gets passed by the government, a limited set of medications will become available to ND's. For example, in British Columbia, Naturopathic doctors have prescription rights for antibiotics, antidepressants, bioidentical hormones, and some cardiovascular medications.
• What type of tests do naturopathic doctors use? We can request the same type of blood tests that MDs can; however, we often differ in our interpretation of test results as we practice “functional” or “optimal” medicine which means we look at where you are within the reference range and what direction the body is going in. We don’t wait until your have an abnormal test result instead, we try to prevent this from happening. While conventional blood work can provide a lot of clues to health, other tests can provide additional information.  Such tests include:  food intolerance testing, heavy metal testing, organic acid testing, comprehensive stool testing, environmental pollutants test, comprehensive nutritional profile, neurotransmitter testing, hormone testing, etc.  
• What kind of treatments do naturopathic doctors prescribe?  We have a lot of tools in our toolbox as we are trained in Botanical medicine, Traditional Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture, Homeopathy (which is great for kids!), Nutrition and supplementation, Counselling and Lifestyle changes, as well as Energetic medicine (ie mind-body medicine and Bowen therapy) and Hydrotherapy. We also study pharmacology so we are aware of commonly prescribed medicines used by MDs.  
• What is the number one thing that parents should know about Naturopathic medicine? Optimal health requires effort and often change is required in terms of diet or taking prescriptions. Awareness is the key and once you know better, you will do better and as a result of your efforts, you will feel better. Good health is attainable for everyone!

                                                                     

Dr. Christina Bjorndal and Dr. Michael Mason-Wood are a husband and wife team both are naturopathic doctor's who are truly passionate about helping people achieve greater health

At Optimum Wellness Clinic we operate a full naturopathic medical practice where patients benefit from the use of naturopathic therapies that create a healthy environment in which the body can heal itself. Prevention, detoxification, education and self-responsibility are the cornerstones of our naturopathic philosophy.