Our Diagnosis Process

Naturopathic Physicians are primary healthcare providers. We order diagnostic tests similar to any other general practitioners. We interview you about your exercise, habits, sleep and emotional state, in order to understand why you are ill. We take an extensive history and often spend a great deal of time with you in the first visit in order to put together an assessment and treatment order for naturopathic services, and answer any questions.

Naturopathic doctors use traditional and functional tools for assessing health concerns and determining the most appropriate naturopathic services  treatment program. The diagnostic tools used include:

Thorough Health History

The initial intake with a Naturopathic Doctor is usually about 1½ to 2 hours in length and includes a detailed history. A Naturopathic Doctor will take the time to find out about your family history, your lifestyle, the stressors in your life, past medical history, history of accidents or injuries and the significant events in your life that have affected your health or well being. Often Naturopathic Doctors will use questionnaires to ensure that they are aware of the factors that may be affecting your current health status.

Nutritional Analysis

Understanding your nutritional status, eating habits and patterns and the type of food that you eat on a regular is an important part of the naturopathic assessment. Naturopathic Doctors will often take the time to assess the impact that diet is having on health and your body’s ability to handle the food that you are eating.

Physical Examinations 

Naturopathic Doctors are trained to do complete physical exams as use them as a standard part of an assessment. As your health changes or as acute situations arise, Naturopathic Doctors will use aspects of the physical examination to aid in diagnosis and assessment of your health concerns. Having a complete physical exam on yearly basis is an essential part preventative health care. Naturopathic Doctors often take the time to ensure that the “small” symptoms are identified and addressed before they become a “bigger” problem.

Traditional and Functional Assessments

Pulse and tongue evaluations, organ reflux analysis, acoustic cardiography, body fluid evaluations, iris patterns, and other traditional and functional assessments as done as part of our comprehensive naturopathic evaluations.  These techniques often reveal chronic, underlying disturbances and that we want to address to help in restoring health.

Comprehensive Laboratory Testing 

Laboratory testing, including urine analysis, blood work and saliva testing, is an essential aspect of a complete medical assessment for naturopathic services. Naturopathic Doctors will use standard laboratory testing to provide them with further information for a complete assessment.

Previous Medical Reports and Diagnostic Testing 

All medical reports, such as MRIs, X-rays or scans are valuable assets that a naturopathic doctor will use during their assessment of your health concerns. Naturopathic Doctors will refer to another medical health professional when appropriate to ensure that all patients receive the best quality health care possible and that all required information is available in order to fully understand the root causes of a patient’s health concerns.