"Naturopathic docs seek regulation" with Letter to the Editor

This article appeared April 17 in the Moncton Times and Transcript. Although the overall message is positive, the article was a bit unclear in some aspects. Read it over -  then take a look at my letter to the editor. I'd be interested to hear what you think. More exposure for New Brunswick naturopathic doctors :)



HEALTH
NATUROPATHIC DOCS SEEK REGULATION
BY COLE HOBSONTIMES & TRANSCRIPT STAFF 16 APR 2013 11:27PM


The field of naturopathic medicine is currently unregulated in New Brunswick, but that hasn’t stopped the industry from growing in the province, according to a local doctor.

Dr. Martin Gleixner is a naturopathic doctor who works at the Moncton Naturopathic Clinic. He is also the president of the New Brunswick Association of Naturopathic Doctors, the self-regulating association that is looking to build credibility for this relatively new form of medical practice.

“Why it’s not regulated is simply that it’s like other provinces that aren’t regulated, it’s still quite new to New Brunswick. If you look at five years ago we had two naturopathic doctors here,” he said, noting the government doesn’t approve regulation with such small membership numbers. “Luckily now within five years we’re already up to 15 and that’s only going to increase in numbers. We’ll continue operating as an association and regulate the profession through that venue.”

The New Brunswick association describes naturopathic medicine as a “comprehensive and holistic approach to improving health, and treating illness in patients of all ages.” Their website states that it’s the art and science of disease diagnosis, treatment and prevention using natural therapies and substances. Naturopathic treatments can be used effectively on their own or complement conventional medical treatments. The association notes that a naturopathic doctor blends modern clinical sciences with traditional healing practices.

Gleixner said a lot of the issues they face deal with a misconception of what they do and the background they have. For example, Gleixner said while they are not yet officially regulated in the province, naturopathic doctors who are affiliated with the provincial association have gone through undergraduate study and then four years of medical school and also passed the required licensing tests at one of the accredited locations in Canada.

As an example, Gleixner holds a master of science degree and obtained his doctor of naturopathic medicine from the Boucher Institute of Naturopathic Medicine in British Columbia. From there, he obtained licensing and registration with the College of Naturopathic Physicians of British Columbia.

He said many of the diagnostic tools they use are similar to conventional doctors and they work with the hospitals in getting information on patients such as blood test reports and imaging studies.

“We understand the conventional approach for diagnostics and we use that as part of our tools,” he said.

In a sense of treatment approaches, however, Gleixner said they are “radically different” from conventional doctors.

“It’s not about drug versus supplement, it’s about you have these symptoms, we have this diagnosis for a certain disease, now instead of treating the symptoms directly as the only thing, we continue that sometimes if you have to provide relief and give some symptoms management,” he said, noting solutions can come from various nutrients, natural medicines or even acupuncture.

While there are recognized credentials that can be obtained, as the provincial association is still seeking title protection in New Brunswick, they advise people to make sure they are dealing with an actual certified naturopathic doctor and not someone simply claiming the title.

“Most people again they aren’t really bold enough to put ‘doctor’ unless they truly went through the eight years education that we need. It does happen, again the example where someone is a doctor in homeopathic medicine but then will do that crossover and add an ND after their name just for extra marketing, even though there’s no truth,” he said. “Again it’s because we don’t have a title protection yet in New Brunswick.”

There are currently two accredited schools in Canada for this type of work, the one Gleixner attended in British Columbia and the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine in Toronto.

In Canada there are five provinces that have naturopathic regulations: British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Ontario.

Gleixner also said the Canadian Association of Naturopathic Doctors website at cand.ca is a great resource on the field as well as to determine whether or not a naturopathic doctor has proper accreditation.

Mélanie Sivret, a communications agent with the Department of Health, noted their department is working with the members of the New Brunswick Association of Naturopathic Doctors to discuss models to formalize their practice in the province.

“There are very few naturopathic doctors in New Brunswick, compared to other provinces. However it is anticipated that the demand for their services will increase over time,” she wrote in an email. “With this understanding, we continue to learn from other provinces and explore different models of oversight.”

Dr. Ed Schollenberg is the registrar at the College of Physicians and Surgeons of New Brunswick, which deals with licensing and monitoring of conventional physicians.

He said opinions are mixed in the medical community on naturopathic doctors.

“A lot of physicians would tend to dismiss it, but patients are entitled to make their own choices and if they feel some benefit, we don’t object,” he said. “They go to their own type of training and it’s obviously significantly different and I think you’ve got varying views of that among physicians, from dismissing it, to tolerating it to I guess being quite open-minded about the whole thing.”

Schollenberg noted that it’s unfortunate with no title protection that there aren’t tighter controls on who could claim to be a practitioner.

“Our general view is if you are providing a service to the public in that context you should do it in a regulated manner and they’ve been looking into that,” he said, noting naturopathic doctors could run into regulation issues due to a current lack of “critical mass” of people involved in the practice. “I think it’s still a preliminary stage.”

Dr. Melissa Blake is a naturopathic doctor who works out of The Pear Tree Naturopathic Clinic in Dieppe, which offers infrared sauna and ionic foot bath sessions, a dispensary, and IV therapy treatments.

She is also the vice-president of the provincial association and said public perception of what they do has increased greatly in recent years.

“It’s 100 times better than when I first graduated seven years ago, but there’s still a lot of awareness and education that needs to happen about exactly who naturopathic doctors are, what the training is and what we can do for people,” she said.

Blake said a lot of the work they do is about prevention of issues as opposed to treating them after they have happened.

“So we look at things like stress and lifestyle factors, including nutrition and how they impact health on a short-term and long-term basis and how we can use naturopathic modalities like diet, exercise, stress management, herbs, acupuncture, to stay well. But also I think naturopathic doctors are well trained in management of disease as well,” she said. “I think our strong point is definitely in chronic disease management, versus where I think the conventional system sort of excels is more in acute care, we are chronic care.

Blake added that another big issue with a lack of regulation is that their work isn’t covered under most health-care plans, which can make it pricy to have to pay out of pocket for their services.

She said she’s had good co-operation with doctors in the conventional medical field and she hopes their profession continues to gain respect and is soon regulated.

“It will just bring us on par with some of the other provinces in the country, it’s not like we’re asking for too much, there’s many other provinces that are regulated and are practicing to their full scope,” she said. “I think it’s only common sense that happens in New Brunswick.”


Letter to the Editor - April 29, 2013


I was recently interviewed and quoted for an article that appeared April 17 titled "Naturopathic docs seek regulation". Although I feel the article was very informative and touched on many important points, there were some inaccuracies that I would like to clarify with this letter.

Within the last paragraph of the article, it was suggested that naturopathic medicine is not covered by healthcare plans. This is completely inaccurate. Although not covered by provincial healthcare, most extended healthcare plans offer significant coverage for visits to naturopathic doctors. This is important to know as many people feel unable to afford naturopathic services and are unaware of their coverage. You can find out what your coverage under "naturopath" is by simply calling your insurance carrier.

The message naturopathic doctors in New Brunswick want to promote is that we are well educated and well trained healthcare professionals who can play a vital role in complementing the current healthcare options available in New Brunswick. Proper regulations for health services are a public safety issue and, as noted by Dr. Schollenberg, "if you are providing a service to the public in that context you should do it in a regulated manner".

All members of the New Brunswick Association of Naturopathic Doctors (www.nband.ca) are required to maintain licensing, memberships, and continuing education status that is on par with NDs practicing in regulated provinces.

Naturopathic doctors in New Brunswick are excited about the potential of naturopathic medicine in the province, are eager to work with other healthcare professionals, and are working hard towards regulating this very worthy (and quickly growing!) profession.

A big thank you to the times and transcript for shedding some light on this important issue.

In health,

Melissa Blake, ND

Seven Days of Green Smoothies - DAYS 1 & 2

The more I learn about nutrition - the more emphasis I put on greens. Green smoothies are my daughter's favourite way to eat her greens, probably because they are so delicious! Each recipe can be tailored to accommodate what you have in your fridge or the benefits you are looking for. Don't be afraid to try your own! Our smoothies are loosely based on recipes we've tried but have adapted to our tastes. Leftover smoothie can be stored in airtight container for up to 24hrs and blended again when ready to eat. For small blenders or single servings, simply half the recipes.

Day 1 - Ginger Boost Smoothie

Ginger is a potent anti-inflammatory. It's also a wonderful digestive tonic. If you are new to ginger, try half the amount suggested and increase to your taste. As with most things, fresh is best, but powdered ginger would work ok here too.

1 thumb sized piece of fresh ginger

1 cup frozen blackberries

2 cups of kale (washed and trimmed)

1/2 cup fresh parsley

1/2-1 cup of water

Place all ingredients in high speed blender and blend until smooth, adding more water if needed to reach desired consistency. Makes 2-3 large servings. This smoothie tends to separate quickly - so keep any leftovers in the blender and refrigerate. When you are ready for another taste, simply blend again and enjoy! This recipe works well at room temperature or poured over ice. 

Day 2 - The Proof is in the Mustache Smoothie

I really did grab whatever I saw when I first opened my fridge for this smoothie - and it turned out great! The texture is almost pudding like thanks to the avocado. Yummy! It is a bit on the sour side but an extra ripe pear or a splash of local maple syrup would sweeten things up nicely. The wheatgrass powder is a superfood and a great addition to this recipe.

1 cup frozen blueberries
1 cup fresh pineapple
1 ripe pear
1 avocado
4 cups of baby spinach
1 tablespoon wheatgrass powder
1 cup water



Place all ingredients in high speed blender and blend until smooth, adding more water if needed to reach desired consistency. Makes 4 large servings. This smoothie has a thick consistency and does not separate so is great for taking on the road!

Steps to Going Green with Your Family

Of all the nutritional advice out there, perhaps the choice that provides the most benefit is getting more greens in your diet.

Greens, which include spinach, kale, arugula, watercress, beet greens, etc. are important for many reasons. They are packed with essential phytonutrients, fiber, vitamins, and minerals. With all of these benefits, greens are also low in calories and are an important part of achieving and maintaining healthy weight. Considering the fact that overall obesity, particularly obesity in children, is on the rise, adding more greens daily is an essential part of improving the short term and long term health of your family.

Getting more of these super foods in your family's diet can be made easier with the following suggestions:

Smoothies - blending fruit and greens is a great way to enhance the flavor and increase intake. It is always best to rotate your fruit and greens to increase the variety of nutrients, but a favorite smoothie in my home is:

2 cups spinach
2 ripe pears
2 cups frozen blueberries
1/2" piece of ginger
1/2 cucumber
1-2 cups of water (to desired consistency)

Blend in high powered blender and serve immediately. Makes 2 large servings.


Purées - especially with kids, texture is everything. Try increasing greens by cooking and adding puréed versions to their favorite foods such as applesauce, mashed potatoes or squash. Puréed greens in soups is also a good way to encourage more greens. As palates begin to appreciate the flavor, greens can simply be sprinkled on top or finely chopped and mix in. Parsley, which is a wonderful source of vitamin K, calcium, and vitamin A, is a great green to try this with.

Salads - one large salad a day helps to boost your family's intake of vegetables. Adding sliced fruit, berries, avocado, nuts, seeds, and a tasty homemade dressing will increase the flavor and the chances that everyone will clean the veggies off their plates! One of our favorite dressings is rich and creamy:

1-2 garlic cloves
1 teaspoon whole grain mustard
1/2 teaspoon turmeric
2 tablespoons each chopped fresh parsley and chives
1/4 cup minced red onion
1 teaspoon raw honey or local maple syrup
2-4 tablespoons cold pressed extra virgin olive oil or coconut oil melted (add 2 then increase to thin if needed)
1-2 tablespoons of lemon or lime juice

Place in high powered blender and blend until smooth and creamy. Add a bit of water if needs thinning.

Roast - roasting most veggies brings out the sweetness, so if veggies are a challenge in general for your family, try roasting. Roasting greens makes them crispy and can be a great treat. Again it's all about texture!

Choose a tougher green like kale. Preheat oven to 400F and pop in cookie sheet while it heats. Wash greens and toss with a bit of olive oil, just enough to coat. Use herbs and spices that you like - kelp for saltiness, chili powder for a bit of heat, garlic powder, etc. Spread leaves evenly over pan (they should sizzle on the hot pan). Put in oven for 10 minutes, turning once halfway thru. Remove from heat and enjoy!


Although greens are being highlighted here, all veggies have major health benefits and deserve a starring role in every meal. Chemicals and nutrients in plant foods have been shown to boost immune function, reduce inflammation, slow aging, promote healthy weight, improve appearance of skin, ensure optimal bowel health, prevent cancer, and protect against osteoporosis.

It has been well proven that as fruit and vegetable intake increases in the diet, chronic disease and premature deaths decline.

How empowering! What an amazing influence we can have on the quality of our own lives as well as those of our children.

With all this being said, sometimes both adults and children can resist what is good for them. Especially with children, exposure is key. Even if they don't eat what's on their plate, be sure to put small portions in front of them consistently. After a few times, they are bound to sneak a taste. Keep in mind, children look to their role models for cues - be sure you try a taste every time to encourage the same behavior.

For more delicious green recipes, visit www.nourishingmeals.com

The Impact of Stress on Parenting

More and more I am amazed (and overwhelmed!) by the responsibility of being a parent. I am constantly asking myself "Am I doing the right thing?", "Is she getting enough veggies, enough exercise, enough fresh air?"

I've come to realize it all boils down to this: the better I am at taking care of myself and managing my stress, the better care I am able to give as a parent.

Stress doesn't just influence one person but trickles into the family - and because children are like sponges - intensely aware of our emotions, actions, and words - they also feel our stress. This can manifest in various ways including temper and anger issues, attention deficits, hyperactivity, sleep disturbances, head and tummy aches.

There are several powerful ways in which we can manage stress and reduce the negative impact it has on our lives and those around us.

Nutrition plays an essential role in stress management. Unfortunately, when under high levels of stress, it can be more challenging to make healthy food choices. This can be the result of a feeling that there isn't enough time, which leads to quick, often unhealthy food choices or even skipping meals. Stress triggers a hormonal response in the body, releasing high levels of cortisol that cause us to crave foods high in fat, sugar, and salt. Stress can also lead to mindless eating, a major risk for overeating and poor food choices. 

Being aware of these tendencies and finding ways to incorporate healthy foods as part of your lifestyle, even during times of stress, will benefit everyone in the household.

Having the proper nutrients gives our bodies resilience and resistance to the negative impacts of stress. A few foods and herbs that are particularly helpful include:

Foods rich in B vitamins

- B vitamins support the nervous and immune systems and have a positive, supportive influence on the adrenals (stress glands). They can be found in foods such as grass-fed/free range meats, oats, brazil nuts, avocados, beans, and kefir.

Foods rich in omega 3

- Stress causes inflammation and omega 3s have potent anti-inflammatory action; they are also important for brain health and immune function and have a positive impact on mood. Foods high in omega 3 include:  sardines, wild salmon, flaxoil, flaxseeds, and walnuts.

Calming, sleep supportive herbs

- Stress can influence sleep, and less sleep makes it harder to cope with stress - a vicious cycle. Supporting sleep and reducing tension with herbs is a safe and effective way to reduce the effects of stress. When you need a healthy nightcap, consider brewing a strong cup of any of the following combinations:

Chamomile and Lemon Balm - help to calm anger and irritability. Great for tantrums in kids and parents.

Scullcap and Oats - wonderful for nervous exhaustion and muscle tension.

Valerian and Catnip - a combo with sedative action that is great for people with insomnia who also express stress in their digestive systems, such as cramps or diarrhea.

Linden and Passionflower - also sedative and work well in combination for stress related insomnia in people that also experience headaches or high blood pressure.

Aside from nutrition, finding ways to actively release stress can make a huge impact on what you are bringing into the home. Reiki, massage therapy, yoga, and meditation are all very effective ways of reducing stress. Finding the therapy that works for you, and using it often (during periods of high and low stress), will help induce a sense of calm that will carry through into your interactions with your family.

Introducing children to these modalities at any age is extremely beneficial. Children are often open, receptive, and responsive to holistic therapies and giving a child tools to manage their stress is one of the greatest gifts you can offer.

For more information on stress management thru nutrition and reiki, please visit Dr. Blake and Reiki Master/RMT, Andree Surette Poirier, at The Parent Palooza on Sunday, April 14 from 9-3:30 at Mathieu Martin High School in Dieppe.