- The Ontario Naturopathic Association (ONA) was established as a non-profit corporation in 1950 for the following purposes and objectives:
- To promote the science, art and philosophy of natural healing for the benefit of humanity and public health;
- To educate the general public concerning the benefits to be derived from Naturopathy and the various branches of natural healing;
- To unite, for their mutual interest, naturopaths in the province of Ontario;
- To foster and encourage professional, social and educational activities among the members of the corporation;
- To encourage the standardization of educational requirements for practitioners of all healing arts; and,
- To acquire and hold assets, both real and personal, for the benefit of its members.
- The name was changed to the Ontario Association of Naturopathic Doctors in 1997 to better reflect the mandate of the association, which is to be the voice and resource for the profession in Ontario.
- Originally established by eight Naturopathic Doctors, the OAND now represents over 600 of the province's registered Naturopathic Doctors and membership continues to grow annually.
- Naturopathic Medicine in North America dates back to the turn of the century and was founded by Benedict Lust, a German immigrant.
- Lust set up the first school of Naturopathic Medicine in New York, in 1905.
- Over 20 schools were established in the United States during the early 1900s.
- In Ontario, the government began licensing Doctors of Naturopathic Medicine under the Drugless Practitioner's Act in 1925.
- Interest in Naturopathic Medicine waned after World War II, as the introduction of antibiotics and advances in surgical techniques made some of the more traditional healing practices seem obsolete.
- By the 1960s, the pendulum began to swing back as society and government began to recognize the limits of drug- and surgery-based medicine.
- The notions of disease prevention and individual responsibility for health - the cornerstones of Naturopathic Medicine - have gained increasing prominence.
- Ontario’s new Naturopathy Act will move the regulation of NDs from the Drugless Practitioners Act (DPA) to the Regulated Health Professions Act (RHPA).
- Moving NDs into the RHPA provides more clarity about the regulation of NDs for the increasing number of Ontarians who are choosing complementary health care.
- The improved regulation of NDs is occurring at a time when the provincial government is continuing to look for new strategies to respond to the shortage of primary care providers, and to respond to some of the main pressures in health care, including an aging population, chronic diseases, and more flexibility in the use of available care providers.
The following principles guide Naturopathic Doctors (NDs) and govern the practice of Naturopathic Medicine:
First Do No Harm
- Use of methods and medicines that minimize the risk of harmful side effects;
- Use the least force necessary to diagnose and treat;
- Avoid, when possible, the harmful suppressing of symptoms; and
- Acknowledge, respect and work with the individual self-healing process.
Identify and Treat the Causes
In addition to alleviating acute and chronic symptoms of disease, NDs seek to identify and remove underlying causes of illness. Rather than merely eliminating or suppressing symptoms, this approach moves the body toward maintaining an optimal state of health.
Doctor as Teacher
NDs work collaboratively with patients by sharing knowledge and information to create a successful treatment plan. Patients are encouraged to take responsibility for their own optimal health.
Treat the Whole Person
In addition to addressing specific complaints or symptoms, NDs look at the ‘whole picture’. The physical, mental, emotional, genetic, environmental and social factors contributing to the health of each individual patient are thoroughly considered.
Emphasize Prevention
NDs emphasize prevention of disease by assessing risk factors, heredity and susceptibility to disease in each patient. Appropriate interventions can then be made in partnership with patients to prevent illness.
Support the Healing Power of the Body
The practice of naturopathic medicine recognizes an ordered and intelligent self-healing process that is inherent to every individual. NDs work to identify and remove obstacles to healing and recovery and to facilitate this natural self-healing process.
To schedule an interview or for more information, contact:
Ronda Parkes
Manager, Corporate Membership & Marketing
OAND
789 Don Mills Road, Suite 603
Toronto, ON – M3C 1T5
416-233-2001 ext. 228
ronda@oand.org
