Frequently Asked Questions

1. Should I take a daily multivitamin?
2. I was told I do not drink enough water.  Is it really that important and how much should I drink?
3. What are the best first foods when introducing solids to baby?
4. What can I expect at my first massage therapy appointment?
5. Is massage therapy covered under O.H.I.P. or my extended health benefits?
6. Does massage therapy need to be painful to be effective?  What if I hurt afterwards?
7. What is the training to become a licensed naturopathic doctor?
8. What kind of health issues can be treated with naturopathic medicine?
9. What are the primary treatment methods that you use to treat patients?
10. Are the services offered at your clinic covered under Extended Health Care plans?
11. Are appointments available outside of the administrative hours?
12. Will Naturopathic Medical care be covered through insurance?
13. Can Naturopathic Doctors do any medical testing?
14. What can I expect from a visit with my Naturopathic Doctor?
15. What is Heilkunst?
16. What does Heilkunst treatment encompass?

1. Should I take a daily multivitamin?

I look at a good quality multivitamin/ multimineral formula as an insurance policy.  We all have busy lives and our diet may be missing some key nutrients on any given day.  Our food simply does not have the nutrient density that it used to, so a good quality multi will help bridge the gap and protect against deficiency.

2. I was told I do not drink enough water.  Is it really that important and how much should I drink?

Clean filtered water is important for optimal functioning of the body and essential for the removal of toxins.  We need water daily for good health.  A good rule of thumb when it comes to water intake is your body weight in LBS divided by 2.  The number you get is the number of ounces of water you need daily–minimum.  Should you consume caffeine or alcohol, exercise or if the weather is hot you need to increase that amount.

3. What are the best first foods when introducing solids to baby?

Let’s begin with a quick tip….never start solids early (before 6 months).  Doing so can lead to digestive problems, food allergies or sensitivities, immune system problems and obesity.  The optimal nutrition for baby to this point is breast milk or a hypoallergenic formula if you cannot breast feed.  These first foods should be simple and natural with no added flavour (sugar or salt) – pureed or mashed pear, apple, yam, squash or banana are good choices.  Introduce one food at a time a few days apart to ensure they are tolerated well.  Grains such as rice and oatmeal may then be added.  Avoid fish, dairy, egg whites and wheat until after age 1 and if allergies to nuts run in the family avoid until after age 2.

4. What can I expect at my first massage therapy appointment?

When coming to your first appointment, it is recommended that you arrive 15 minutes early as you will be asked to fill out a confidential health intake form.  This is to ensure that the therapist understands your primary reason for coming that day and to also ensure that any health issues are not contraindicated for a massage treatment.

Your therapist will review your information and go over your specific reasons for seeking massage therapy and your individual goals for treatment.  In some situations, an assessment may be necessary to help ascertain certain functional limitations or to help in making clinical decisions in respect to your treatment.  Although this may decrease the amount of “hands-on” time of your appointment it is an important piece in tailoring a session to be more efficient and effective to your needs.

Once your treatment goals have been established and assessment performed (if necessary) you will be instructed on how to get on the table, what to disrobe (you may stay dressed if this will be most comfortable for you), and what to expect in terms of the areas to be treated.  The therapist will leave the room to allow you adequate time to get on the table and under the sheets.  After your treatment your therapist will make a recommendation for further sessions and offer tips or exercises specific to your body’s needs.

5. Is massage therapy covered under O.H.I.P. or my extended health benefits?

a)    Massage is not covered under O.H.I.P but may be covered under your extended health package.  You should check with your insurance company or human resource department to find out the maximum allowance and the percentage covered (some only reimburse 80% of the full amount).  In addition, some companies require a doctor’s prescription in order to approve coverage.

Payment is required directly from you after a massage therapy session.  You will be given a receipt that provides the necessary information required for reimbursement by your insurance.  This receipt should be submitted by yourself to your insurance company.

6. Does massage therapy need to be painful to be effective?  What if I hurt afterwards?

Treatment techniques under the scope of massage therapy vary greatly.  Some can be more painful than others and depending on the outcome of treatment, may require the therapist to work more deeply into muscle or joint structures or with more pressure.  But massage does NOT necessarily need to hurt to be effective and it is best to find a therapist that can deliver the type of treatment that you are most comfortable with.  It is therefore important that you keep an open dialogue with your therapist.

Some treatments, not matter how gentle or painless during the session can still create a feeling of soreness the next day.  This is not necessarily a bad thing.  As tissues are manipulated and release the tension they are holding, the body then makes adjustments to this.  There are also underlying metabolic processes that are adapting to the change and ridding the body of toxins that may have built up in the area.  Always mention to your therapist if you experienced excessive discomfort for more than 24 hours.  In most cases after that 24 hour period you should be much better.  And of course, some people don’t experience this at all!

7. What is the training to become a licensed naturopathic doctor?

Naturopathic doctors receive their training at one of 6 accredited schools in North America following the completion of pre-Medical sciences degree at the undergraduate level.

In addition, naturopathic doctors must:

8. What kind of health issues can be treated with naturopathic medicine?

As registered primary health care providers in Ontario, naturopathic doctors can treat any conditions which you would go to a medical doctor for.

9. What are the primary treatment methods that you use to treat patients?

Naturopathic doctors use a broad spectrum of modalities to treat patients. Our training includes diet and lifestyle assessments, clinical nutrition, botanical medicine, acupuncture and Chinese medicine, homeopathy, physical medicine, hydrotherapy and health psychology. Each patient is treated as a unique individual and receives a personalized treatment plan based on the results of a complete initial assessment.

10. Are the services offered at your clinic covered under Extended Health Care plans?

Naturopathic Doctors and Registered Massage Therapists are covered under most plans. Registered Holistic Nutrition and Medical Heilkunst need to be looked into on an individual basis on your plan as some plans do cover these services and others do not.  We advise all clients to consult their plan provider’s brochure, web site or representative.

11. Are appointments available outside of the administrative hours?

Yes, our practitioners offer appointments outside of the administrative hours.

12. Will Naturopathic Medical care be covered through insurance?

Although OHIP does not cover Naturopathic Medicine, most extended health care plans provide coverage.  Plans typically provide coverage for naturopathy provided by a licensed Naturopathic Doctor.  Please check your benefits plan.

13. Can Naturopathic Doctors do any medical testing?

Yes.  Naturopathic Doctors frequently rely on diagnostic testing before installing a treatment protocol.  These include conventional testing, such as blood work, urinalysis, etc., as well as Naturopathic testing including saliva hormone testing, stool analysis, food sensitivity testing, vitamin/mineral analyses, hair mineral analysis, etc.

14. What can I expect from a visit with my Naturopathic Doctor?

Typically your first two appointments with your Naturopath will be 1 hour in length.  During the first visit you will discuss your concerns and your medical history.  A thorough health history will be taken and any necessary testing may be ordered.  Initial recommendations will be made.  During the second visit, a physical exam will usually be performed and a personalized treatment plan put into place.  Subsequent visits are usually 30 min in length to follow-up and continue with the treatment.

15. What is Heilkunst?

Heilkunst is a German term meaning the art of making a person healthy and whole in all aspects and levels – physically, emotionally, mentally and soul/spiritually. Heilkunst includes and goes beyond the treatment of  symptoms and gets to the root causes, ultimately helping you to step into your life more fully with vibrancy, energy, confidence, improved health and more clarity.

16. What does Heilkunst treatment encompass?

Initially, the individual will meet with a Doctor of Medical Heilkunst (DMH) to determine their complaints, and explore physical, emotional, mental and soul/spiritual elements of their life. Their lifestyle habits will be discussed to see if they are contributing to their suffering. An individual will be asked to create a timeline of their life events including physical, emotional, mental events, surgeries, medications, environmental and toxicity aspects since conditions and symptoms may be stemming from an individual’s life traumas and events. This list of events and treatment of inherited influences, unhealthy thoughts and behaviours, anxieties and fears, self confidence, organ, function and system support, and balancing of emotions are used by the Doctor of Medical Heilkunst in developing a treatment plan.

The Doctor of Medical Heilkunst will use homeopathic medicines and therapeutic education to address the root causes of disease and removal of the symptoms. The homeopathic remedies are included in the consultation fees, which makes it a very valuable investment in yourself and your health.