Fall is the perfect time to see a Naturopathic Doctor!

Fall is the season when we see the greatest volume of clients who are most ready to invest in their health. Perhaps this is true because the summer has rejuvenated our spirits or because the fall is a season of new beginnings. Regardless of why we feel more ready to take action, we all have limited time and resources and no one wants their energy, efforts or money put to waste. Here are the top 5 reasons why you need to see a Naturopathic Doctor this fall:

1. You are overwhelmed by Dr. Google and struggling with information overload.

With all of the health information available to us on the internet and through the media, it can make anyone feel that they need to be adding thousands of things to their “health to-do list”. Unfortunately, this motivation is often driven out of fear. A longer to-do list and alarmist health information only creates stress, a situation that is not good for our health. A Naturopathic Doctor can help you understand health information in the context of your own life. Together, you can determine what your individual health priorities are and create a systematic and manageable plan to take action. The goal of a Naturopathic Doctor is to help you get more by doing less. When you feel well educated about your healthcare decisions, it leads to more confidence in your choices and a great deal of stress reduction.

2. You are craving a real conversation and truly want to understand your health.

The most powerful tool you have for achieving better health in your life is YOU. Your Naturopathic Doctor can be a great teacher and a wonderful guide. Naturopathic visits involve an in-depth conversation about your health, history and all of the many contributing and influencing factors. At the Integrative Health Institute, our initial visit is normally 90 minutes and follow-up visits are 30 minutes, giving you the ideal amount of time to discuss what is important to you.

3. You have questions and want detailed answers.

Your Naturopathic Doctor wants to talk to you! Most people do not want to feel rushed or pushed into making a health care decision. The role of a Naturopathic Doctor is to present a client with evidence and options and recommend a course of treatment is right for them. Often times, there are many answers to a health question, and many paths to recovery. While being presented with more than one treatment option can be challenging, we feel it is best that our clients are armed with information and understanding.

4. You want so much more than the latest supplement sales pitch.

If you are taking a laundry list of supplements or are expecting that health food store advice will ultimately change your life, you are probably looking for answers in all the wrong places. True Naturopathic Medicine requires more than a supplement or fad diet. A naturopathic treatment plan will prioritize nutrition, exercise, stress reduction, mental-emotional health and a better connection with ourselves and the world around us. While supplements can be very supportive, or even an essential stepping-stone towards great health, they cannot replace these foundational elements for healing the body. Our goal is to help you understand the cause of your health challenges, to identify where your body needs support and work towards rebalancing your system. The ultimate goal is to live supplement free as much as possible.

5. You need a plan for health promotion and your long-term vision of your health.

Let’s say, for example, that you have high blood pressure. Taking blood pressure lowering medication is great, but it is only treating the symptom. There is so much more you can do to address the cause of the high blood pressure, and in the process create a cascade of harm reduction for your entire body. Taking medication is only one part of a health promotion plan. Understanding how you developed the health concern and how you can change your environment and lifestyle to reduce your risk and potentially reverse the condition is a much bigger and arguably more important question to consider. This is the type of conversation our Naturopathic Doctors can have with you.

If you have questions about the Integrative Health Institute or our services please contact our friendly reception team. We hope you find the amazing Naturopathic Doctor that you deserve!

Dr. Erin Wiley is a naturopathic doctor with a strong focus on preventative and integrative medicine. She is the Owner and Clinic Director of the Integrative Health Institute, an integrative medical clinic located in downtown Toronto. Erin has a strong clinical emphasis on stress related illness, anxiety, depression and hormone balance. As a naturopathic doctor, Erin is passionate about working with people to help them better understand their health and achieve their health goals.