Bethesada Integrative Health Clinic 

                  Natural Medicine

Natural Medicine

Natural Medicine is a wide and comprehensive field. The training of a Doctor of Natural Medicine (DNM) consists of more than 4400 hours of intensive training that includes Biochemistry, Anatomy & Physiology, Pathology, and specific postgraduate and clinical training in several Diagnostic Modalities and Treatment Modalities.

The Designation of Doctorate of Natural Medicine®, is awarded to a Practitioner who has met all the qualifications, and passed all the examinations required by the Examining Board of Natural Medicine Practitioners- Canada (EBNMP™). The Practitioner, who is qualified by the EBNMP™ will use the designation Doctorate of Natural Medicine®, member EBNMP™ either behind their name or under their name. The DNM® is a professional designation, other such familiar Professional Designations are C.A. (Charter Accountant)etc. The DNM is a Designation and not an academic degree given by a school.

DNM's® have earned Degrees in health fields such as Doctorates of Medicine, Osteopathy, Chiropractic, Traditional Chinese Medicine, Oriential Medicine etc. and have many years of Practice and are highly skilled Practitioners.

Why Natural Medicine?

Natural Medicine takes a different approach from mainstream medicine. The patient is always treated as an indivisible whole. Health is determined by the weakest link in a patient's body. Therefore, only looking at the obvious issue rarely brings lasting results. Rather than simply trying to control your body mechanisms, Natural Medicine works on empowering your body to control itself.

There are the most obvious differences between Natural Medicine and conventional, mainstream medicine.

Patient versus Disease:

Natural medicine looks at any condition within the whole make-up of the patient; mainstream medicine treats an isolated disease. Often this is summarized as: Natural medicine treats the patient—mainstream medicine treats the disease.

Cause versus Symptom

When it comes to treating a condition, natural medicine will want to find and treat the cause; mainstream medicine mostly treats symptoms.

Support versus Suppression

Treatment in the case of natural medicine means supporting your body in its attempt to heal itself—slowly and systematically. Mainstream medicine
suppresses a disease in order to quickly remove the most obvious symptoms, pain and inflammation.

Chronic versus Acute

Because of its ability to work with your body and bring about improvements slowly, natural medicine is particularly suitable for the treatment of chronic, ongoing conditions. Mainstream medicine is excellent at handling acute situations and all cases where surgery is required.

   Prevention versus Sick Care

Preventive care is easy for natural medicine since it critically looks at early and subtle changes in your systems and functions. Mainstream medicine relies mostly on blood and urine tests for diagnosis. These show changes only once you are seriously ill.

Lifestyle Change versus Prescription Medication

Where possible, natural medicine advocates lifestyle changes that include: nutrition and exercise. Mainstream medicine generally starts with synthetic prescription drugs—some for life long.