What can I expect on my first visit?
On the first visit you will meet with Dr. Nerman and you can feel free to talk to Dr. Nerman about all your health issues both past and present and ask as many health related questions as feel you need. Unlike Western medical doctors, Naturopathic Doctors have 1hr initial visits to address of all symptoms that are bothering you and to find the true root cause of your illnesses. Before the visit you will be asked to fill out a Naturopathic Intake form which will review all of your health concerns and your medical history. You can choose to have this form emailed to you upon making an appointment. You will be asked to bring in your current medical lab work (past 6 month). Dr. Nerman may suggest you go to your Md and get certain lab work done based on his findings during the initial visit to rule out possible causes of your illness. By the end of the visit Dr. Nerman will have a treatment plan tailored to your health concerns. He may prescribe various supplements or treatments to address your health issue.
Is Dr. Nerman, N.D. a medical doctor?
Dr. Nerman is not a medical doctor (MD) but is a Naturopathic Doctor (ND). Naturopathic Doctors have similar a sciences based medical education as Medical doctors as part of their Naturopathic Medical school training and are licensed in some provinces in Canada to act as Primary Care providers. For a comparison of MD vs ND degrees click here. Dr. Nerman graduated from the Boucher Institute of Naturopathic Medicine, receiving his Doctorate of Naturopathic Medicine (2012). Dr. Nerman is a Board Certified Naturopathic Doctor with NABNE (North American Board of Naturopathic Examiners) (2012) and a Licensed Naturopathic doctor in good standing with the College of Naturopathic Physicians of British Columbia, Canada. (CNPBC). Dr. Nerman holds current certification in Intravenous Therapy, Neural Injection Therapy, Visual Homeopathy, Unda Numbers, Scratch Allergy Testing and CPR C level designation.
What is Naturopathic Medicine?
Naturopathic medicine is a distinct primary health care profession, emphasizing prevention, treatment and optimal health through the use of therapeutic methods and substances which encourage the person's inherent self-healing process. This is accomplished through education and the rational use of natural therapeutics. Naturopathic physicians are trained as primary health care physicians whose diverse techniques include modern and traditional, scientific and empirical methods. Naturopathic Doctors apply their treatments according to the Principles of Naturopathic Medicine. Naturopathic doctors apply individualized treatment and prevention focused on natural therapies including, but not limited to: Acupuncture and Traditional Oriental Medicine, Botanical medicine, Physical Medicine, Chiropractic, Diet and Nutrition, Homeopathy, Lifestyle counseling and more. To find out more about the therapies Dr. Nerman uses click here.
How long will take me to get better?
There is a no set answer to this question. However the general rule is that for however many years you have suffered from a problem you can expect it to take that amount of months. For instance if you have been ill for 5 years it may take 5 months to get you to a place of full recovery. This being the rule there are always exceptions both in terms of it taking longer and shorter times to heal. In acute problems like sports injuries ect it can take a week to two months to fully heal. Time for healing also depends on the condition. Just be prepared that if you have a complex issue that you have been suffering for quite some time it will generally take a good amount of time to heal.
What will I be expected to change to get better?
Depending on the problem you have you might be asked by Dr. Nerman to avoid certain foods or add some new foods to your diet. Dr. Nerman may also ask you to take certain supplements or to do certain exercises. What is most important is to note that part of optimal health is taking responsibility for it, and Dr. Nerman will work with you based on what you are willing to do to help you achieve the health you want.
I am scared to see a Naturopath because I am worried that I will be told that I have to stop eating all the things I love is that true?
This is not true, being healthy does not mean that a person has to forsake eating everything they like, it just means bringing the totality of what they are eating into balance. Everything in moderation.
Why are homeopathic intakes so time consuming and costly?
Extensive case taking is required in Classical homeopathy to find the right remedy, usually over 1.5hrs and then it may take another hour or two of searching to find the correct remedy for a patient. The intake is very indepth and people who have had constitutional homeopathic intakes describe them as being some of the most intense and probing converstaions they have every had, as the doctor searches to understand the patient in order to identify their unique remedy. Over 6000 remedies exist in nature and Dr. Nerman uses specialized computer programs to find the correct remedy based on the patients individual symptom picture. Although finding the constitutional remedy is time consuming, it can have powerful effects on the health of the individual, at times producing cures that can not be found via any other medicine. To book an appointment to find your constitutional remedy click here.
Is acupuncture painful?
The pain associated with acupuncture is felt just as the needle punctures the skin and only lasts momentarily. Once the needles are in, any pain the patient feels generally subsides. There may be a slight ache in the muscle. Often the patient does not feel any pain at all. Rarely there can be some slight bruising.
What if I can't afford to get treatment?
Private medicine can be expensive and often a patient who really needs Dr. Nerman's services can not afford treatment. On a case-to-case basis and in certain circumstances, Dr. Nerman tries to make his treatments available to those in need. If you are concerned you may not be able to afford treatment please call and we will see what we can do to help.
What are the principles of Naturopathic Medicine?
The Healing Power of Nature (Vis Medicatrix Naturae): Naturopathic medicine recognizes an inherent self-healing process in the person which is ordered and intelligent. Naturopathic physicians act to identify and remove obstacles to healing and recovery, and to facilitate and augment this inherent self-healing process.
Identify and Treat the Causes (ToIle Causam): The naturopathic physician seeks to identify and remove the underlying causes of illness, rather than to merely eliminate or suppress symptoms.
First Do No Harm (Primum Non Nocere): Naturopathic physicians follow three guidelines to avoid harming the patient:
Treat the Whole Person: Naturopathic physicians treat each patient by taking into account individual physical, mental, emotional, genetic, environmental, social, and other factors. Since total health also includes spiritual health, naturopathic physicians encourage individuals to pursue their personal spiritual development.
Prevention: Naturopathic physicians emphasize the prevention of disease-assessing risk factors, heredity and susceptibility to disease and making appropriate interventions in partnership with their patients to prevent illness. Naturopathic medicine is committed to the creation of a healthy world in which humanity may thrive.
Identify and Treat the Causes (ToIle Causam): The naturopathic physician seeks to identify and remove the underlying causes of illness, rather than to merely eliminate or suppress symptoms.
First Do No Harm (Primum Non Nocere): Naturopathic physicians follow three guidelines to avoid harming the patient:
- Utilize methods and medicinal substances which minimize the risk of harmful side effects, using the least force necessary to diagnose and treat;
- Avoid when possible the harmful suppression of symptoms;
- Acknowledge, respect and work with the individual's self-healing process.
Treat the Whole Person: Naturopathic physicians treat each patient by taking into account individual physical, mental, emotional, genetic, environmental, social, and other factors. Since total health also includes spiritual health, naturopathic physicians encourage individuals to pursue their personal spiritual development.
Prevention: Naturopathic physicians emphasize the prevention of disease-assessing risk factors, heredity and susceptibility to disease and making appropriate interventions in partnership with their patients to prevent illness. Naturopathic medicine is committed to the creation of a healthy world in which humanity may thrive.