THERAPIES (SERVICES OFFERED)

Naturopathic doctors’ use a variety of therapies in their treatment plans to address the physical, mental and emotional aspects of a person.  All naturopathic therapies are based on the same principles:

1. Fi rst Do No Harm ( Primum Non Nocere): we use therapies that are non-invasive.
2. The Healing Power of Nature ( Vis Mediatrix Naturae): the body has an inherent ability to establish, maintain and restore health. Our role is to facilitate and augment this process, by identifying and removing obstacles to health.
3. Identify and Treat the Cause ( Tolle Causam): underlying causes of disease must be discovered and treated before a person can recover completely from illness. Causes may be multi-factorial, such as nutrition and lifestyle factors or can occur on a mental-emotional level.
4. Treat the Whole Person ( Tolle Totum): disease involves a complex interaction of physical, spiritual, emotional, genetic, environmental, social, and other factors. We must treat the whole person by considering all of these factors.
5. The Physician as Teacher ( Docere): our major role is to educate and encourage the patient to take responsibility for their health.  We are catalysts for healthful change, empowering and motivating the patient to assume responsibility.
6. Prevention of Disease:  we assess risk factors and hereditary susceptibility to disease and makes appropriate interventions, as well as the promotion of good lifestyle habits.

CLINICAL NUTRITION 

Naturopathic philosophy is rooted in the belief that nutrition is the cornerstone of good health. Some foods help you heal, while others damage your body and contribute to chronic illness.  Many medical conditions such as diabetes, irritable bowel disease, and eczema have been associated with food allergies and sensitivities, nutrient deficiencies, and dietary imbalances.  With appropriate dietary modifications or specialized diets, as well as nutritional supplementation, many health concerns can be treated and improved.   

BOTANICAL MEDICINE 

Many plants are powerful medicines that are safe and effective when used in the right dosage in combination with other herbs and treatments.  Naturopathic doctors are currently the only health care providers in Canada to be licensed in the use of botanical medicine, and are extensively trained on the potential side-effects and interactions with pharmaceutical prescriptions.  Herbs are used in many different forms, including teas, tinctures or capsules. 

LIFESTYLE COUNSELLING

To obtain optimal health, the whole person must be considered. 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 and integral part of the naturopathic treatment program. Naturopathic doctors are trained to counsel on various lifestyle factors, including sleep hygiene, managing stress, smoking and exercise. 

HOMEOPATHY 

Homeopathic medicine was originally developed in the 18th century by the German physician Samuel Hahnemann, and is widely used throughout the world. Based on the principle of "like cures like", minute amounts of plant, animal or mineral substances are used at a cellular level to stimulate the body's self-healing abilities. Homeopathic remedies are very safe to use, and Naturopathic doctors are trained to insure the proper remedy selection(s), potency and dosing.  Homeopathic remedies are particularly effective for depression, anxiety, allergies and hayfever, colds, flus and infections, gynecological issues, skin conditions and digestive problems.  

TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINE AND ACUPUNCTURE

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is a complete medical system that has diagnosed, treated, and prevented illness for over two thousand years. Acupuncture is growing in acceptance and practice in Western countries and has proven through clinical trials to be very effective, especially for pain relief, infertility and other gynecological issues, as well as various chronic health issues. 

The key principle that defines and connects all of Chinese medicine is Qi, or vital energy. The Qi of all organs must be in balance, neither too active nor too inactive, for a person to be healthy. A Naturopathic Doctor will use acupuncture to assist the body to achieve a balanced Qi. The body's organs and systems are all connected in meridians or channels that lie just under the skin. Acupuncture involves the insertion of very fine needles into specific meridian points, each of which has a specific "function" by which it balances the energy, or Qi, of the body. Acupuncture needles used at our clinic are all sterile and disposable.  Typically, a person must undergo a minimum of 6-8 weekly or bi-weekly sessions to see improvement in a chronic condition. 

ASSESSMENT TOOLS 

New Patient Forms – Adult 

New Patient Forms – Child 

Diet Diary 

Health Appraisal Questionnaire 

Candida Questionnaire 

Vitamin and Mineral Appraisal 

Menopause Type Questionnaire 

Anti-Aging Quiz 

Detoxification Quiz 

How Stressed Are You? 

Risk Factors for Breast Cancer 

DIAGNOSTIC TESTING 

ABO Blood Typing 

According to Dr. Peter D'Adamo, in his book Eat Right for Your Type, each one of us have a unique dietary requirement specifically based on our blood type ( i.e. Type A, B, O, or AB). 

Adrenal Function Test 

The adrenal glands are the organs that are secrete “fight or flight” hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline. Healthy adrenal functioning helps to provide us with energy and helps us to cope with day to day stressors. A urine test is used to assess the glands' state of health. 

Bacterial, Parasite and Yeast Stool Analysis 

Stool culture and analysis is used to identify the presence of beneficial flora and imbalanced flora, combined with the detection of infectious pathogens, such as bacteria, parasites or yeast, and is an important step in improving digestive functioning and overall health.  

Cardiovascular Disease Risk Assessment 

This test provides state of the art assessment of cardiovascular risk and response to treatment. The detection of cardiovascular disease risk increases from 55%, with standard lipid profiles, to greater than 85% with this test. Inclusion of risk factors such as homocysteine, hs C-reactive protein, and fibrinogen provides effective means to assess methylation impairments, inflammation, and hemostatic factors that relate strongly to cardiovascular disease.  

Colon Toxicity Test 

Improperly digested food particles can ferment and putrefy in the colon. The toxic bi-products from the rotting food are absorbed by the body and eliminated by the kidneys. A urine sample can reveal the level of toxicity in the colon. 

Genomics 

These genomic profiles evaluate genetic variations, called single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), in genes to uncover potential genetic susceptibility to cardiovascular disease, inflammation, estrogen-related diseases, impaired detoxification, immune deficiency and osteoporosis.  

Heavy Metal Toxicity 

Toxic elements may be 200-300 times more highly concentrated in hair than in blood or urine. Therefore, hair is the tissue of choice for detection of recent exposure to elements such as arsenic, aluminum, cadmium, lead, antimony, and mercury. As well, the CDC acknowledges the value of hair mercury levels as a maternal and infant marker for exposure to neurotoxic methylmercury from fish.  

Urine toxic element analysis is an invaluable tool for the confirmation of toxic element burden and monitoring of detoxification or chelation therapy.  

Laboratory Testing 

For those patients that either require special lab tests or prefer to have their tests done by a Naturopathic Doctor, there is a wide range of generalized lab testing available, including urine and blood tests for nutrient deficiencies, cholesterol panel, and thyroid panel, to name a few. 

  Saliva Hormone Testing 

With saliva, it is possible to get a good measure of the amount of hormone actually available to the tissues – termed ‘bioavailability’. This is because hormones must pass through tissue to get into saliva. Hormones in blood are often bound to proteins and may or may not be available to tissues. Consequently, blood and serum levels of hormones may not give the best picture of how hormones are behaving at the tissue level. Saliva samples are collected and analyzed for various hormones such as estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, cortisol and DHEAS.