Doctors offer alternative, naturally

By Hattie Klotz,
Naturopathic doctors are particularly strong in the areas of prevention and integrative medicine.
Photograph by: Getty Images, The Ottawa CitizenAccording to a survey conducted for Health Canada's Office of Natural Health Products in 2005, Canadians are surprisingly highly aware of natural health alternatives.

The survey says more than 71 per cent now consume natural health products -- traditional herbal products, vitamins and mineral supplements, traditional Chinese, Ayurvedic and homeopathic preparations.

Ottawa naturopathic doctor David Lescheid has seen this awareness in his own practice. As the doctor shortage becomes critical and wait times to even get an appointment to see the family physician seem to stretch forever, frustrated patients are turning to alternative therapies for basic medical needs, he says.

"We're seeing increasing numbers of people who come to us for their primary care needs," he says.

Dr. Lescheid and his partner Dr. Kristy Lewis chose to move to Ottawa from Toronto to set up their naturopathic practice because they recognize the growing pressure on the conventional medical system and know they offer complimentary care.

"Everybody recognizes the system is not working as it is and we believe that we should be working with people's strengths," says Dr. Lewis.

"Naturopathic doctors are particularly strong in the areas of prevention and integrative medicine. We like to work with other practitioners, and when we need to, we refer patients to other professionals."

Currently, Dr. Lescheid and Dr. Lewis have an informal arrangement with Dr. Jean-Pierre Morrissey who has an office on the floor above Pure Med Naturopathic Centre at 292 Montreal Road in Vanier. They refer patients to one another.

"People recognize it is important to optimize their health to prevent illness in the future and we're seeing more and more of that," says Dr. Lewis. "Our aim is to create a patient-centred facility with a variety of services and one that is recognized as an integrative clinic giving the best care available in partnership with other practitioners."

Since Pure Med is a private clinic, patients must pay for everything from intravenous and inhalation therapy to nutrition, homoeopathy, acupuncture, massage and an infrared sauna. However, health plans are beginning to recognize alternative treatments.

That's one of the reasons Dr. Lescheid and Dr Lewis moved to Ottawa and set up shop in Vanier.

"Typically, people who visit a naturopathic doctor are more highly educated, a significant number are white-collar workers and they have health insurance that covers this," says Dr. Lescheid.

Ottawa, with its high percentage of government employees, is fertile ground, and the couple chose Vanier because it's an area of the city that is not yet well served by alternative health practitioners.

Dr. Lescheid has a Phd in molecular biology and protein chemistry from the University of Victoria and is a former professor at the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine.

"I bring science to the art of naturopathic medicine and, to be honest, it's the naturopathic approach to the body and medicine, the way it looks at the body as a whole, from the mental, emotional, spiritual as well as physical levels that appeals to me.

"I've had a lot of experience with the conventional medical model but I'm more of a big picture person."

Dr. Lescheid is a spokesman for the Canadian Association of Naturopathic Doctors and sits on the advisory panel for the National Health Products Directorate.

He says an important change is coming in Ontario. Naturopathic doctors will become regulated under the Regulated Health Professions Act.

"We'll fall under the same umbrella as doctors," he says. "This will mean a higher level of regulatory control, which will increase credibility for the industry."