A healthy lifestyle is priceless. Individuals who have had unfortunate run-ins with poor health often emphasize the peace of mind that accompanies news of improved medical status. Unfortunately, for reasons ranging from a lack of faith in conventional medicine to the hardships of navigating through Ontario’s strained medical system, many wait until it is too late before seeking medical assistance.
Shayla Lyons, a Toronto-based naturopath currently working as a Clinical Intern at Schad Naturopathic Clinic, is urging the community to explore naturopathy, an alternative form of medicine that has largely been overlooked.
“Unfortunately, in many cases, naturopaths are the last resort which makes the path to healing harder for sure,” said Lyons. “People usually tend to go to medical doctors first and then if they’re not getting answers or, like in many cases, if the doctor doesn’t know what’s wrong with them, then they come to us.”
Over the past few years, however, Lyons says that there has been a major shift in medicine with an increasing number of Canadians seeking naturopathic assistance due to Canada’s insufficient number of family doctors and nurse practitioners.
According to the Primary Care Needs survey by OurCare, about 6.5 million Canadian residents don’t have a family doctor or nurse practitioner that they can rely on for regular visits. In Ontario, this number is as much as 2.2 million people living without access to a family doctor.
With many family doctors either leaving the field or retiring, a large number of people are left with nothing but prayers after they sign up “for very long waitlists”. This problem, Lyons believes, is sparking an increased interest in naturopathic medicine–an increase in interest that she welcomes.
“I’m very passionate about this practice, because my main goal is to end suffering for people and to help them have a better quality of life,” said Lyons. “The naturopathic philosophy focuses on putting the power of their health back in each patient’s hands.”
Lyons says that she found her vocation in naturopathic medicine as early as the age of 15.
“My mom always had an inclination to use natural remedies and herbs to treat various issues we had growing up,” said Lyons.
Although this passion for natural medicine was nourished through years of observing her mother, Lyons’ eight-year long journey towards gaining a masters degree in the growing field began during a Career Day event in which her highschool class discovered the world of naturopathic medicine.
“I really fell in love with the concept of preventive medicine and a more holistic approach to healing,” she said.
But it wasn’t until Lyons experienced her own health problems during her undergrad at the University of Alberta–where she received a Bachelor of Science degree in Immunology and Infection–that her belief in naturopathic medicine was tested for the first time.
Struggling with a severe form of acne that had a stronghold on her life, the then undergrad student put her faith in the hands of a naturopath, a decision she believes was significant in her journey as a professional.
Deciding against treatments that require Accutane–a medication that comes with side effects including change in vision, hearing loss, liver injury, change in mood, and much more–Lyons opted instead for a holistic approach to good health which consisted mainly of a cleaner diet, herbs, and vitamins.
“It made me realize that this was in fact the right path for me,” said Lyons. “I’m a firm believer in [naturopathic medicine] because of my own experiences.”
Highlighting that there is still a big role in society for allopathic medicine–the conventional form of medicine–Lyons emphasizes that naturopaths are “here to be a complementary medicine” as well as to fill a void that conventional medicine is missing, “the prevention key”.
“Allopathic doctors adhere to preventing patients from dying; but I want to promote living,” she said. “I want to promote prevention strategies so that people don’t needlessly suffer. At the end of the day, it’s all about nutrition, diet, and lifestyle which sounds easier than it is, but it is fundamental to good health.”
With many, at one point of another, experiencing the fast-paced nature of Ontario’s clinics which often leaves one feeling uncared for, Lyons acknowledged that this hasty environment promotes the unethical practice of “pill pushing” rather than hearing and understanding the plights of each patient.
“Because they have a walk-in clinic full of people they have to see, allopathic doctors, unfortunately, aren’t given the time to really dive into the patient’s history, their diet, sleeping habits, and all other symptoms that help paint an accurate picture of what’s really going on.”
With training in a variety of practices such as acupuncture, chiropractic manipulation, traditional Chinese medicine, botanical medicine, homeopathy, hydrotherapy, phlebotomy, as well as B-12 injections, naturopaths, like Lyons, are equipped with a flexibility that enhances their ability to assist patients on a personal level.
They also provide diet, lifestyle, and nutritional counseling.
“So we’re seeing a huge shift because now [naturopaths] are becoming more primary care physicians,” said Lyons.
This, she believes, is because naturopaths are the “best practitioners at individualized medicine”.
“We look at the full body picture to fully understand how to treat that particular individual,” said Lyons. “We don’t do population medicine. With bloodwork, for example, we look at what’s normal for this [particular] patient, rather than what the average person’s levels should look like.”
Naturopathic doctors in Canada, although limited in their ability to prescribe certain medications based on jurisdiction, have their prescription licenses. They also receive extensive training in pharmaceuticals in order to ensure the safety of their patients.
“Lots of patients who come to see us are already on various pharmaceutical prescriptions,” said Lyons. “But we've been trained to know what these medications are, what they do, and their physiological and kinetic pathways. We understand the interactions with herbal supplementation or anything that a naturopath would prescribe.”
According to Lyons, many naturopaths also work in collaboration with nurse practitioners who, when necessary, prescribe pharmaceuticals on their behalf.
Although Lyons is hopeful that Canadians will more regularly seek naturopathic assistance early into their medical journey, she says that patients often visit Schad Naturopathic Clinic in search of a “quick fix”.
“There are patients I’ve encountered who were in and out of medical clinics for years and found a cure after just weeks with a naturopath, but when you decide to go the holistic route, it can also be a long-term journey,” she said. “Long-term, our goal is to find the root cause of medical issues.”
For more information on naturopathic medicine, contact Shayla Lyons.