About CANDJ

Aims & Scope

The CAND Journal (CANDJ) is the official publication of the Canadian Association of Naturopathic Doctors (CAND), the first and only national association representing the naturopathic medical profession in Canada. As the leading authority, advocate, and trusted voice representing naturopathic doctors across the country, the CAND is dedicated to advancing the profession. All CAND members are either graduates or students of accredited post-graduate level, naturopathic medical programs. The CAND plays a pivotal role in advocating on behalf of the naturopathic profession federally, supporting scientific research, and advocating for the regulation of all healthcare professionals to ensure public safety.

CANDJ’s mission is to connect the evidence-informed practices of the naturopathic profession to members, naturopathic students, health care practitioners, interested parties, collaborators, government and the public. We encourage submissions on a wide variety of topics in naturopathic medicine, including whole systems approaches, traditional, complementary and integrative medicine (TCIM), community health, planetary health, and health equity.

As a general naturopathic medical journal, we welcome original research, including randomized controlled trials (RCTs), systematic reviews, observational and case studies. We also welcome commentaries, practice perspectives, editorials on current topics in naturopathic medicine, and letters to the editor. While the main audience for CANDJ is naturopathic doctors, we encourage submissions from qualified contributors, including researchers, traditional Indigenous healers, and traditional, complementary and integrative medicine (TCIM) practitioners, who have the expertise to contribute meaningfully to the body of literature in this area.

Manuscripts submitted to CANDJ will receive prompt, high-quality peer review and editorial support on our indexed platform. We have a wide pool of Canadian and internationally-based reviewers who share our mission of advancing the knowledge base for our profession and for the general public about what constitutes naturopathic medicine’s best practices.

Note that CANDJ is the new title for the CAND Vital Link journal, which was introduced as a print publication in 1993, and officially changed titles in September 2021.

Publisher

Canadian Association of Naturopathic Doctors
150 Elgin Street, 8th Floor
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K2P 1L4

Tel: 416-496-8633
Toll-free: 1-800-551-4381
Email: candj@cand.ca
www.cand.ca

Peer Review Policies

All submissions are initially assessed by the Editor-in-Chief to determine suitability for the Journal. If the manuscript meets the aims and scope of the Journal and is judged to be suitable for possible publication, it will be sent to two or more independent reviewers to assess the scientific quality of the paper. The Editor-in-Chief is responsible for the final decision regarding acceptance or rejection of articles. All manuscripts undergo this process with the following exceptions, which do not undergo our standard review process:

  • Editorials, Guest Editorials, Commentaries, and Letters to the Editor, are based on the decision of the Editor-in-Chief, who may ask experts on the merit of their contents.
  • Manuscripts authored by the Editor-in-Chief, with the exception of Editorials, will be assigned to at least two independent outside reviewers. Decisions will be made by other Editorial Board Members who do not have a conflict of interest with the author.

CANDJ uses a double-anonymous review process. The identities of authors and reviewers are kept confidential from one another. The manuscript under review is not revealed to anyone other than the reviewers and Editorial Staff. Reviewers are required to maintain confidentiality about the manuscripts they review. In cases where potential bias may arise, reviewers must recuse themselves from evaluating the manuscript and promptly disclose any competing interests to the Editor. Reviewer reports are treated as confidential documents and are not made publicly available alongside the final article.

Authors should expect to receive an initial Editorial decision on their manuscript within 2–8 weeks of submission. If revision of the manuscript is required, the authors must submit within three weeks of the request.

Refer to the Journal’s peer review process in the Author Guidelines for more information.

Peer Review Policy for Special Issues

The peer review process for special issues follows the same rigorous standards as regular submissions. While the Guest Editor may suggest potential reviewers for each submission, they do not directly oversee the review process. Instead, the Editor-in-Chief manages the peer review, upholds ethical publishing standards, and ensures a smooth editorial workflow. The Guest Editor may provide a recommendation for publication; however, the final decision rests with the Editor-in-Chief. If a Guest Editor is an author of a submitted paper or has a conflict of interest, the Editor-in-Chief will oversee the entire review process for those submissions.

We encourage all authors who submit their work to special issues to be aware of our author guidelines, including our editorial policies and peer review process, to ensure the highest standards of academic rigor and integrity. CANDJ’s commitment to excellence remains consistent across both special and regular issues.

Publication Frequency

CANDJ is published four times per year (March, June, September, and December) plus periodic supplements.

Archiving

CANDJ utilizes the PKP Preservation Network (PKP PN) to digitally preserve its contents. The LOCKSS program offers decentralized and distributed preservation, seamless perpetual access, and preservation of the authentic original version of the content. The PKP PN ensures that contents of CANDJ can be preserved for long-term access.

Indexing

CANDJ is indexed/covered by the following services:

  • Google Scholar
  • Crossref – all articles are assigned a DOI (digital object identifiers), which enhances article discoverability and makes our content easier to cite, link and access
  • EBSCO Discovery Service
  • EBSCOhost
    • Academic Search Ultimate

Ownership and Management of the Journal

The Journal is owned by the Canadian Association of Naturopathic Doctors, which provides strategic direction and ensures financial sustainability. The editorial board, led by the Editor-in-Chief, independently manages the journal’s content, peer review process, and publication standards. While the organization supports the journal’s overall mission, editorial decisions remain independent to uphold academic integrity and scholarly excellence.

Business Model and Revenue Sources

CANDJ receives primary financial support from the CAND, which covers operational expenses, editorial processes, and publication costs. This funding ensures the journal’s commitment to high-quality scholarly publishing, while maintaining transparency and editorial independence. To supplement association funding, CANDJ permits online advertising through banner advertisements on the journal’s website (see Advertising Policy).

The Journal may accept sponsorships from academic institutions, research organizations, and industry partners. All sponsorships must align with the journal’s mission and values, as well as maintain its editorial independence.

CANDJ ensures that all revenue-generating activities do not compromise editorial integrity or influence editorial decisions.

Disclaimer

The ideas and opinions expressed in CANDJ are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect those of the Canadian Association of Naturopathic Doctors (CAND) nor its Board of Directors, the Editors, or SG Publishing Inc. The CAND and its Board of Directors, the Editors, and SG Publishing Inc. disclaim any responsibility or liability for such material.