Naturopathic Medicine Week

“The purpose of the lectures is to increase awareness and increase public education,” says Manitoba chapter coordinator Dr. Melanie Leppelmann. “We want to increase awareness of this profession as a whole, and let people know how we approach treatment options.”

Manitoba is home to 21 naturopathic doctors, making the Manitoba Naturopathic Association one of the smaller groups in Canada. The benefits of naturopathic medicine remain relatively unknown to most Manitobans, however the field is growing exponentially as private insurance companies begin to cover the cost of treatment. Few people are aware that naturopathic doctors (NDs) are primary health care providers trained in the medical sciences, just like medical doctors.

According to the Canadian Association of Naturopathic Doctors, the “naturopathic philosophy is to stimulate the healing power of the body and treat the underlying cause of disease.” In order to achieve this, NDs use similar forms of lab testing as medical doctors but treat with nutrition, herbs, acupuncture, lifestyle counseling, homeopathy, and hydrotherapy.

Although they do not prescribe pharmaceuticals, NDs are well educated in prescription medications. This ensures that they are able to work alongside MDs in order to provide patients with the most well rounded treatment possible. Part of a naturopathic doctor’s appeal is the alternative testing that a naturopath may conduct, which can help patients find the root cause of acute or chronic issues that an MD may have overlooked.

“For some patients, we’re their last resort,” says Leppelmann. “We also get people who want us to work together with their MDs and then there are those who at all costs want to avoid MDs altogether.”

Naturopathic doctors take a great deal of care in creating comprehensive treatment plans for their patients; however developing an effective treatment plan can be a lengthy process. Because everyone has a different set of genetic stressors that could be affecting their health, it’s crucial to develop individual treatment plans tailored to each individual, and healing results are not automatic.

“Treatment becomes a lifestyle change,” says Leppelmann, “and that change takes longer to take effect than medication. The benefit is that there are no side effects, and the patient is basically taking control of their own health.” 

In order to truly assess a patient’s health concerns, an initial appointment with an ND is often an hour and a half long. Dr. Leppelmann tends to follow up with her patients at the Nature Doctors clinic in Winnipeg every 4-8 weeks in order to assess their progress. Patients are also encouraged to check in periodically, especially if they have any concerns. In the medical field, that kind of personalized attention is generally unheard of, however an ND is concerned about more than just your medical health.

“We help with the mental aspects, as well as emotional health,” explains Leppelmann. “We are there to guide them as well as give them protocols.”

Naturopathic doctors form close bonds with their patients, which is appealing to a lot of patients who are looking for support throughout their illness, yet not many people are aware of the benefits of naturopathic medicine.

NDs are giving free lectures in Winnipeg, Brandon, Gimli and Selkirk every evening during Naturopathic Medicine Week to provide education about naturopathic medicine and how it applies to common health concerns. A day of lectures is also taking place at McNally Robinson on Saturday, May 8th, with topics ranging from eating for energy, changing your genetic potential, natural solutions for blood sugar and diabetes management, naturopathic support for perimenopausal and menopausal women, as well as asthma, allergies and eczema.

The week is capped off with a day of cooking on May 9th at the Food Studio located at 3200 Roblin Boulevard. At this event, attendees will learn some of the basics of healthy eating, such as the best oils to cook with, and how to cook appetizers and main courses for dairy, egg and gluten-free diets. The session will also stress the importance of cooking with organic foods.

“We promote eating whole foods because it’s important to promote things that are as close to how they are in nature,” says Leppelmann. “Whole, organic foods are kind of ideal.”

Foods that are fresh and preservative free provide the most nutrients. Simply making small adjustments to one’s diet can provide a vast amount of health benefits, from reduced fatigue to an improved immune system. Although some may be skeptical about trying naturopathic treatments, Leppelmann is hoping that the awareness raised during Naturopathic Medicine Week will help increase the popularity of the natural healing method.

“You get some resistance sometimes,” explains Leppelmann. “But when people see that a patient seems to be getting better, and see a patient improving, they seem to be more willing. Proof is in the pudding, and the popularity of naturopathic medicine will keep growing as patients improve.”

For more information about Manitoba’s Naturopathic Medicine Week events, click here. For more information about naturopathic medicine in Canada, click here.