What Is a Visit to a Naturopath Like?
When you make an appointment for your first naturopathic visit, the doctor may mail out a questionnaire for you to complete before your visit. He may also want copies of your previous medical records.
Your first naturopathic visit may last 1 ½-2 hours. If you completed a questionnaire, the doctor will review that and will spend quite a bit of time talking to you. She will ask questions about your lifestyle, diet, exercise habits, smoking, drinking, drug use, medication use and caffeine intake to begin with. She needs to get a good idea of your overall health.
The doctor will probably do a physical exam, much like a medical doctor does, and may order some laboratory tests. Naturopathic physicians rely more on their observations and less on diagnostic tests than medical doctors do, so the exam may be more detailed.
Once the naturopathic physician has made a diagnosis, she will work with you to come up with a treatment plan. She may recommend lifestyle changes, herbs, massage, Chinese therapies, nutritional supplements or any of several other treatments. Remember that these will usually be natural treatments that support your body’s ability to heal itself.
One of the distinctives of naturopathic care is that you are a full partner in your care. A naturopath will suggest a treatment plan, but you are the one who has to implement it. You have the opportunity to ask questions and discuss your concerns, and help design a treatment plan that you feel comfortable with.
Follow-up visits usually last 30-45 minutes. At follow-up visits, your naturopath will evaluate your progress and recommend any changes to the treatment plan.