With the current severe shortage of family physicians in this province, particularly in northern British Columbia, it is time for naturopathic medicine to be fully embraced.
With 30 years of practice experience in Prince George, I wanted to comment on your recent article on naturopathic medicine, the province’s drug toxicity crisis, and the benefits naturopathic medicine can provide to vulnerable populations such as those with opioid use disorder. think.
Given that British Columbia has nearly 700 naturopathic physicians who are able to prescribe and serve patients daily across British Columbia in primary care roles, this approach, in my opinion, It should be used not only by people suffering from disabilities, but also by the following people: Models of care in the current primary care crisis.
“Harm reduction” offers some benefits through the use of “clean drugs,” but also includes lifestyle counseling, botanical medicine (which has been used for hundreds of years), nutritional therapy, etc. to help people suffering from these diagnoses. , there are many other things to consider. These include support to deal with past trauma and psychotherapy, to name a few. Naturopathic medicine provides a highly comprehensive, evidence-based medical approach that can serve as both primary and adjunctive therapy, depending on the needs of each individual patient. Using “drug therapy” alone will not solve the root cause of these diseases.
Naturopathic medicine has been fully embraced by the Department of Health, Department of Mental Health, and Department of Addictions, with state health officials providing more meaningful ways to use naturopathic treatments and principles, including natural remedies, as well as treatment for opioid use disorder. It’s time to incorporate it. Doctors are being chosen as a viable option at a time when there is currently a severe shortage of family physicians in the province, particularly in northern British Columbia.
There is no need to bring in doctors and nurses from other countries. We need to make better use of the medical professionals who already live in B.C. This includes not only naturopathic doctors, but also the approximately 10,000 medical professionals who have lost their jobs defending constitutional rights, your rights, and your personal choice to accept or refuse medical treatment. It will be. This is another story that needs to be told!
Dr. Robert Van Horlick
prince george
