Zainab Farahmand, ND A passion for health, healing, and wellness was what predisposed my pursuit of Naturopathic Medicine. My goals as an ND are to work with patients to help them get an understanding of their current state of health and work with them to improve there overall health and well being. I completed my honors bachelor degree at the University of Toronto, majoring in Biology and Neuroscience. Thereafter, I went on to study naturopathic medicine and graduated from The Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine in May, 2013. In addition to being a naturopathic doctor, I am a mother and homeschooler of 3 amazing children.
Though naturopathic doctors treat many conditions and many individuals, I decided to focus specifically on women's health and wellness. I completed additional studies and continuing education courses in order to help solidify my knowledge base and experience - this is an ongoing endeavor as treatment protocols, research, and standards of practice are always changing. Conditions often treated include: painful periods, PCOS, PMS, perimenopause and menopause, thyroid conditions, anxiety, depression, weight loss and metabolism, diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, hair loss, skin conditions, fertility, pregnancy, post-partum health management. Though trained in all modalities, my favorite modalities are TCM and acupuncture, nutritional medicine, botanical and physical medicine.
What is naturopathic medicine? Naturopathic medicine is a system of primary health care that promotes wellness and prevention of illness or disease by integrating standard medical diagnostics with a variety of natural therapies. Naturopathic medicine plays a huge role in integrative health care and the treatments that are offered can be used on their own or together with conventional medicine. Naturopathic doctors work to address the root causes of an illness and works by supporting the body's own healing ability. Treatments include acupuncture/Asian medicine, botanical medicine, physical medicine (such as massage and hydrotherapy, physical therapy), clinical nutrition, homeopathic medicine, and lifestyle counseling.
Who can be treated? Naturopathic medicine is for anyone who want to take their health into their own hands. NDs are primary health providers and are qualified to see and treat everyone, though some NDs choose to focus on a certain population segments such as pediatrics, fertility, geriatrics, cancer care, sports medicine, digestive health, pain management, etc.
Conditions Treated You don’t need to be sick to see an ND. You can book an appointment just to help get some guidance on how to maintain a healthy lifestyle and have optimal wellness. That being said, many patients seek naturopathic care after a diagnosis or those who are trying to manage a health condition they may already have. Naturopathic Doctors are primary health care providers and can thus manage a variety of conditions including:
Managing pregnancy and postpartum periods
Digestive complaints
Stress management
Respiratory complaints, such as allergies, asthma, colds and flus
Depression and anxiety, other mental health concerns
Pain management, for example, arthritis, and sports injuries
Diabetes (Type 2)
Cardiovascular diseases, high cholesterol high blood pressure, metabolic syndrome
Children's health and development
What are Treatments like? Each person will get individual treatment, though there are treatment protocols and standards of care, The naturopathic doctor will do their best to come up with a treatment that is suitable for you. For that reason, a full treatment plan may not necessarily be prescribed on the first visit and a second visit may be required to gather adequate information. Depending on the condition, some people require more time to see improvements, and as naturopathic treatments are often subtle and work with the body's own healing power, it may at times be frustrating for patients eager to see results. feel free to ask questions about your treatment plan and prognosis and alternative strategies.
Naturopathic Visits: A typical naturopathic visit is about 60 minutes in length, this however will vary from person to person, depending on their needs and concerns. Each patient will however, require a full initial consult which will run around 60-90 minutes in length, and any pertinent physical examination and potential blood work. The nature of the visits are designed so that the Naturopathic Doctor can gather the necessary information needed to provide an adequate treatment plan. After 2-3 visits, you may not need to see your naturopathic doctor for months, he or she may ask you to come in for a follow up, just to see how things are doing, or if you feel the need to come in more regularly, he or she will accommodate you.
Fees: Naturopathic medicine is not covered by OHIP, and so each practitioner sets his or her own rates. A typical appointment in the Greater Toronto Area, depending on the region, can start from $150-$300 per hour-long visit. Most health benefits packages include coverage for naturopathic medicine; check your benefits or consult your HR department.