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FAQ

Can You Treat _________?

Our clinical focus is on treating health concerns in women such as low energy, perimenopause/menopause, PMS, and  stress & anxiety. While naturopathic medicine and acupuncture can be applied to most acute and all chronic health problems, the special focus allows the delivery of high-quality natural healthcare options attuned to the needs of our patients.

How Often Will My Appointments Be?

It depends. The frequency of visits depends on many factors including the individual, severity of symptoms, type of treatments pursued, level of support needed/wanted, ability to implement recommendations, etc. As a general rule of thumb, visits in the beginning are more frequent and decrease over time. A typical schedule may look like this: after the 1st visit, the 2nd visit may be 1-4 weeks later, at 4 weeks then every 8 weeks until your health goals are attained. After this point, patients usually schedule appointments seasonally (4x/year) to update their personalized health strategy.

Do You Treat Infants and Children?

We are currently accepting new patients 13 years old and up, and are happy to refer pediatric patients to a naturopathic doctor colleague.

What is the Difference Between Naturopathic Medicine and Conventional Medicine?

The fundamental difference is in the principles of naturopathic medicine. From these principles flow our many differences in the way we provide you with healthcare and the treatment options we offer.

Your visit time is scheduled solely for you so your wait will be very brief (if you must wait at all). During your visits, you will find that there is ample time to discuss your health concerns. You will be asked for a detailed account of your health story to enable us to get to the root of the problem. You will receive a full explanation of your assessment and treatment plan. You will be given support, clarity and encouragement to achieve your health goals.

We are huge advocates for having a healthcare team. This means that a naturopathic doctor/acupuncturist are not replacements for anyone on your healthcare team, but rather supportive additional members that can help you meet your health goals.

Is Naturopathic Medicine Covered by OHIP?

Naturopathic medicine is not covered by OHIP at the current time. However, most extended benefit plans provided cover naturopathic medicine. If you are unsure, contact your health insurance provider to review your benefits package.

Do My Acupuncture Benefits Apply to Acupuncture Treatments with You?

If you have acupuncture coverage, yes, though you will want to check with your insurance provider about how it will affect your benefit usage. Some insurance providers lump naturopathic and acupuncture in with other services and some separate these categories. Please note: Dr. Tara Guzzo, N.D., R.Ac. is both a registered naturopathic doctor and registered acupuncturist in Ontario.

What Forms of Payment are Accepted?

You may pay by cash, debit, Visa, Mastercard, or e-transfer. All patients are required to pay at the time of service. You will be provided with a receipt with all of the necessary information for your health insurance company. For reimbursement, submit the receipt to your health insurance company. Although we do not accept direct billing as a form of payment, we offer complimentary e-claims submission to your insurer on your behalf.  Please complete the e-claims form sent to you prior to your initial appointment.

Can You Order Lab Testing?

Yes, lab testing can be ordered for iron, thyroid, vitamin D, vitamin B12, cholesterol, and many more. OHIP does not cover these tests if they are ordered by a naturopathic doctor, however, many insurers do.

Do You Prescribe a Lot of Supplements?

The short answer is no. The long answer is that we strive to understand you as an individual and recommend only what’s applicable to help you achieve your goals.

The truth is there are dozens and possibly hundreds of potential supplements that may be good for you as a human being, however, there’s a need to be more specific than that: what’s best for you, right now with your current symptoms based on the level of health you want, considering any vulnerable body systems and chronic disease risks.

Our philosophy is that with a thorough investigation of your health challenges, it becomes clear what’s needed to achieve the desired therapeutic effect and prevent known chronic disease you may be at risk for. Ultimately, we have a discussion about the pros, cons and alternatives to any proposed treatment and the you always have the final decision about what you feel is the best for you.

Do I Have to Buy Supplements from Your Office?

No. In our office, we recommend a combination of retail (can be bought at health food/grocery stores) and physician’s line products (can be bought from a naturopath). You are free to purchase your supplements anywhere you please. In-office, we stock certain products and our online store has a vast array of products – these options are available for patient convenience. You may only purchase supplements in our office or our online store if you are a current patient in our practice.

How are Naturopathic Doctors Educated and Trained?

Students have completed a Bachelor’s degree prior to admission into one of the accredited naturopathic colleges in North America. The applicant’s educational background must include courses in biology, chemistry, organic chemistry, psychology and humanities. After a detailed application, interview and admission granted, the student sets out on their four-year journey of naturopathic medicine study.

The four-year intensive program includes more than 1,200 hours of clinical experience and over 3,000 hours of classroom training. The main areas of study are biomedical sciences, clinical sciences, naturopathic therapeutics. Upon graduation from an accredited naturopathic college, the student must complete North American registration examinations (NPLEX) as well as board examinations for the province or state in which the graduate will practice. When the student succeeds in passing both sets of exams, they must register with their state or province in order to practice naturopathic medicine.

Naturopathic Medicine is a regulated health care profession in Ontario and has been since 1925. To ensure the naturopathic doctor you are seeing is registered to practice in Ontario, please visit the registry or call 416.583.6010.