Naturopathy Winnipeg |
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Introducing Winnipeg Naturopathic Doctor Bena Lun, B.Sc., N.D.
Dr. Bena Lun, B.Sc., N.D. graduated from the University of Winnipeg with a Bachelor of Science in Biology and Biochemistry. Furthering a lifelong interest in health and healing, she pursued and graduated from the four-year Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine program at The Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine, located in Toronto, Ontario. During her training, she also completed a clinical rotation at Anishnawbe Health Toronto, focusing on naturopathic care in the Aboriginal community. Dr. Morden is a licensed Naturopathic Doctor, a member of the Canadian Association of Naturopathic Doctors and a part of the Manitoba Naturopathic Association.
She has an eclectic family practice, working with people experiencing a variety of health concerns. She has a passionate interest in women’s health, digestive disorders, hormonal imbalances and stress-related disorders. Through restorative medicines and treatments, Bena strives to help restore patients to a state of health and balance. She believes strongly in the natural healing power of the body and works on an individual basis to address a person’s unique health care needs.
What is Naturopathic Medicine?
Source: Canadian Association of Naturopathic Medicine (CAND)
Naturopathic Medicine is a distinct primary health care system that blends modern scientific knowledge with traditional and natural forms of medicine. Naturopathic Medicine is the art and science of disease diagnosis, treatment and prevention using natural therapies including botanical medicine, clinical nutrition, hydrotherapy, homeopathy, naturopathic manipulation, traditional Chinese medicine / acupuncture, and lifestyle counselling.
A Naturopathic Doctor is a primary care practitioner that seeks to restore and maintain optimum health in their patients by emphasizing nature’s inherent self-healing process. A Naturopathic Doctor views the individual as an integral whole including the physiological, structural, psychological, social, spiritual, environment and lifestyle factors affecting health. Symptoms of disease are seen as warning signals of improper functioning of the body and unfavourable lifestyle habits. Naturopathic Medicine emphasizes disease as a process rather than disease as an entity. The primary goal is to treat the underlying cause of the disease. This approach has proven successful in treating both chronic and acute conditions. Treatments are chosen based on the individual patient, not based on the generality of symptoms.
Naturopathic Doctors can also complement and enhance health care services provided by other health care professionals. They cooperate with other branches of medical science referring patients to other practitioners for diagnosis or treatment when appropriate. Naturopathic Doctors provide patients with a truly integrative form of health care.
In Canada, the naturopathic medical profession’s infrastructure includes accredited educational institutions, professional licensing, national standards of practice, participation in many federal health committee initiatives, and a commitment to state-of-the-art scientific research.
What can Naturopathy do for you?
Source: Canadian Association of Naturopathic Medicine (CAND)
Naturopathic Medicine treats all forms of health concerns -- from pediatric to geriatric, from irritating systems to chronic illness and from the physical to the psychological. It is the approach, philosophy and training of Naturopathic Doctors that sets it apart from other forms of health care.
There are typically three types of patients that seek naturopathic medical care:
- Patients that are looking for disease prevention and health promotion strategies. Individuals that recognize that health doesn't just happen by chance, that it is a life-long process that involves a clear understanding of the factors that affect health and how to deal with them on a daily basis. People looking for health promotion as a way of life is increasing tremendously all the time.
- Patients that have a range of symptoms that they have been unable to address on their own or with the help of other medical practitioners. With Naturopathic Medicine's broad understanding of health and the relationship between health, life and the environment Naturopathic Doctors are often able to offer patients a new perspective and provide safe and effective ways to restore health.
- Patients that have been diagnosed with an illness and are looking for alternative treatments. Naturopathic Medicine is very effective in improving quality of life for those with serious and life threatening illnesses. It is used extensively and effectively for those patients that are looking to combine conventional and naturopathic treatments with the aim of minimizing side effects to drugs, surgery or conventional treatments.
The naturopathic philosophy is to stimulate the healing power of the body and to treat the root cause of disease. For many patients, this difference in approach to health provides them with a new perspective and awareness. By addressing the root cause(s) of disease and through the appropriate use of natural therapies many patients with chronic illness have found tremendous benefits.
Conditions Treated with Naturopathic Medicine
- Acne
- ADD/ADHD
- Allergies
- Anxiety
- Arthritis
- Asthma
- Atherosclerosis
- Autoimmune Disorders
- Cancer
- Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
- Chronic Pain
- Colds
- Cystitis
- Depression
- Diabetes
- Digestive Disorders
- Ear Infections
- Eczema
- Endometriosis
- Fibrocystic Breasts
- Fibromyalgia
- Flu
- Headaches
- Heart Disease
- High Blood Pressure
- Infertility
- Insomnia
- Menopause
- Neurological Concerns
- Obesity
- Osteoporosis
- Period Discomfort
- PMS
- Prenatal Care
- Prostatitis
- Psoriasis
- Sore Throat
- Stress
Natural Therapies
Source: Canadian Association of Naturopathic Medicine (CAND)
The range of modalities allows Naturopathic Doctors to develop treatment plans that address not only the physical aspect of a person, but also the mental and emotional aspects. The naturopathic therapies are all based on the same principles, they all assist the body's healing response, and they are often more effective when combined.
Clinical Nutrition
Nutrition and the therapeutic use of foods is a cornerstone of Naturopathic Medicine. Food intolerances, deficiencies, dietary imbalances or nutritional excesses have been associated with many medical conditions. A Naturopathic Doctor is trained to understand the impact that your diet is having on your health. With appropriate dietary modification and nutritional supplements health concerns can be treated with fewer complications and side effects.
Botanical Medicine
Medicinal plants have been, and will continue to be a valuable part of health care. These plants and plant substances are highly effective and safe in the right dosage and when used correctly with other herbs and treatments. Herbs can be prepared in many forms - teas, tinctures or capsules. Naturopathic Doctors are extensively trained in both the art and science of botanical medicine. Naturopathic Doctors are currently the only health care providers in Canada to be licensed for the use of botanical medicine.
Homeopathic Medicine
This powerful system of medicine is more than 200 years old and is widely accepted in many countries. Homeopathic remedies are made from specific dilutions of plant, animal and mineral substances. When carefully matched to the patient they are able to affect the body's "vital force" and to stimulate the body's innate healing forces on both the physical and emotional levels, with few side effects. Some conditions that do not respond well to conventional medicine respond effectively to homeopathy.
Traditional Chinese Medicine / Acupuncture
The key principle that defines and connects all of Chinese medicine is that of Chi, or vital energy. The chi of all organs must be in balance, neither too active nor too dormant, for a person to be healthy. The chi of the body's organs and systems are all connected in meridians or channels that lie just under the skin. A Naturopathic Doctor will use Eastern herbs and acupuncture to assist the body in regulating the Chi and achieving balance. Acupuncture is the use of very thin needles which are inserted into specific meridian points. The practice of acupuncture has been around for over two thousand years and has proven to be very effective especially for pain relief and chronic illness.
Physical Medicine
Physical medicine offers treatment for many different health concerns. Treatments can include soft tissue work (including therapeutic massage), naturopathic manipulation of muscle, bone or the spine, hydrotherapy techniques, gentle electrical impulses, ultrasound, diathermy, and exercise therapy.
Prevention and Lifestyle Counselling
Mental attitudes and emotional states are important elements in healing and disease. Addressing all aspects of a person's life, identifying and addressing the impact that stress and life events have on a patient's health is an important aspect of naturopathic treatment. Naturopathic Doctors are trained to counsel on diet, lifestyle, specific stressors, exercise and occupational or environmental hazards as an integral part of the naturopathic treatment program.
Diagnostic and Assessments
Source: Canadian Association of Naturopathic Medicine (CAND)
Naturopathic Doctors use conventional and naturopathic diagnostic tools for assessing health concerns and determining the most appropriate 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.
Chinese Tongue and Pulse Diagnosis
Traditional Chinese Medicine provides additional insight and information about a individual's health status. Through tongue and pulse diagnosis, a Naturopathic Doctor is able to understand a person's health status on many different levels.
Comprehensive Laboratory Testing
Laboratory testing, including urine analysis, blood work and saliva testing, is an essential aspect of a complete medical assessment. 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.
Naturopathic Training
Source: Canadian Association of Naturopathic Medicine (CAND)
To obtain a naturopathic medical credential (ND) that qualifies the recipient to sit for licensing examination students must have the following:
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Prerequisites including three years of pre-medical sciences at a University with a cumulative grade point average 3.00 on a four point scale. Prerequisite courses: biology, biochemistry, chemistry, organic chemistry, introductory psychology and humanities. |
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Successfully complete a 4-year-full time program in an accredited school of Naturopathic Medicine that includes more than 4,500 hours of classroom training and 1,500 hours of supervised clinical experience. |
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Pass NPLEX board exams that are written after the 2nd year and 4th year of study. NPLEX is the standard examination used by all licensing jurisdictions for Naturopathic doctors in North America. |
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Meet the Continuing Medical Education (CME) credits as required by the provincial regulatory boards on an ongoing basis. |
Areas of Training
Naturopathic Doctors undergo training similar to medical doctors plus they include the naturopathic disciplines. The four areas of training in the four year, full-time Naturopathic Medicine curriculum are:
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Basic Sciences - This area of study includes anatomy, physiology, histology, microbiology, biochemistry, immunology, pharmacology and pathology. |
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Clinical Disciplines - Diagnostic medicine areas of study are physical and clinical diagnosis, differential and laboratory diagnosis, radiology, naturopathic assessment and orthopaedics. |
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Naturopathic Disciplines - There are six major disciplines that define the areas of naturopathic practice. Each discipline is a distinct area of practice and includes both diagnostic principles and practices as well as therapeutic skills and techniques. They include: clinical nutrition, botanical medicine, traditional Chinese medicine and acupuncture, homeopathic medicine, hydrotherapy, naturopathic manipulation and lifestyle counseling. |
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Clinical Experience - All students must complete 1,500 hours of clinical requirements and demonstrate proficiency in all aspects of Naturopathic Medicine prior to graduation. |
Insurance Coverage and Naturopathic Medicine in Winnipeg and Manitoba
Unfortunately, the Manitoba Health Services commission does not currently cover naturopathic services. However, as many private insurance health plans (Manulife, Sunlife, Blue Cross extended, etc.) cover a large portion of naturopathic visits, we encourage you to check with your broker to ensure that your policy includes coverage of naturopathic services and treatments.
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