In British Columbia, licensed Naturopathic Doctors (NDs) offer primary health care with a focus on disease prevention through individualized, patient-centered approaches. Initial consultations involve a comprehensive review of health history and standard diagnostic tests, including an in-depth assessment of personal health risks such as diet, exercise, and stress.

NDs prioritize disease prevention, nutritional advice, and the use of natural health products. Unlike conventional care, NDs address underlying causes of disease rather than just symptoms. Patient education on risks, consideration of contraindications/synergistic actions with medications and supplements, and promoting self-responsibility for health are integral to the ND-patient relationship.

Patient-centered care extends to wellness across physical, mental, emotional, genetic, environmental, and social factors. NDs employ evidence-based therapeutic options, including botanical medicines, traditional Chinese medicine techniques like acupuncture, and physical medicine to correct stress or trauma-induced misalignments in muscles and the skeletal system.

Many BC-based naturopathic doctors hold additional college-certified training in pharmaceutical prescriptions, immunization for those aged five and older, IV and injection therapies, as well as physical medicine procedures.