NATUROPATHIC HEALTH SERVICES

I support patients with cancer by applying evidence-based, individualized, whole-person care, using naturopathic medicine. These therapies can be beneficial at each stage of the disease, from cancer prevention, through all types of conventional treatment including chemotherapy and radiation therapy, into active survival and palliative care. Integrative Cancer Care is complementary with conventional care provided by oncologists, and always welcomes a collaborative approach.

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I consider each person’s unique needs and offer individualized treatment recommendations based on lab assessments, physical examinations, a full medical history, and review of current health challenges. The naturopathic therapeutic toolbox for cancer care is comprehensive and involves modification in diet and lifestyle as well as herbal and supplemental regimes, and acupuncture. In the future, intravenous infusion therapy might be added to our cancer care toolbox.

Some potential benefits of integrative cancer care:

Reduced side-effects and improved tolerance of conventional treatment

• Improved quality of life, including by increasing energy, reducing pain, and improving appetite

• Improved efficacy of conventional treatment

• Reduced risk of cancer recurrence

• Education and support for patients and their family

Your diet is a fundamental component of the journey toward optimal health and well-being across all aspects of physical, emotional, spiritual, and intellectual health. The high prevalence of chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer, Alzheimer’s disease and arthritis which affect over half of the North American adult population, in many cases may be preventable with healthier dietary choices. Some examples of naturopathic clinical nutrition services.

• Nutritional Assessment

• Diet Analysis

• Clinical and Specialized Diet Therapy

• Individualized meal planning

• Macro- and Micronutrient therapy

Herbal medicine is the study of natural drugs obtained from plants and the use of medicinal plants, which are a basis of traditional medicine. Practicing herbal medicine is absolutely evidence-based and there are research supporting their safety and effectiveness in treating or preventing a variety of different chronic diseases. Herbal supplements come in all forms: dried, chopped, powdered, capsule, or tincture.

There are some chronic conditions including gastrointestinal diseases and food sensitivity, hormone imbalances and endocrine health, which are commonly managed through Naturopathic doctors.  Sometimes basic blood work just isn’t giving us the entire picture and we do further investigations applying modern technology to dig deeper into someone's health concerns. Some examples of these tests include food sensitivity testing, gut microbiome testing, comprehensive stool analysis, comprehensive hormones and much more.

It is kind of treatment that infuses nutrients, blood products or medications directly into the vein. IV therapy can be used for chronic fatigue, boosting immune system, antioxidant effect and in case of nutrient deficiency. In cancer care, it can be used to improve quality of life, reduce fatigue, and improve treatment outcomes.  

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There are different products including Vitamin C, Myers Formula, Immune Support Formula, Nutritional Support Formula, Myers Formula + Amino Acids, and Cancer Support Formula (Myers Formula + Amino Acids + GSH push) and Glutathione.

Our body’s hormones control most of our basic bodily functions. They serve as an internal communication system throughout the body. They coordinate different functions from digestion and growth to our appetite, metabolism, immune function, mood, and libido. So, when our hormones are out of balance, it can have a big impact on our health.

Naturopathic doctors prescribe Bio-identical hormones (estrogen, progesterone, testosterone and thyroid hormone) which are manmade hormones derived from plant estrogens that are chemically identical to those the human body produces with more benefits and less side effects compared to synthetic hormones.

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has evolved over thousands of years. Practitioners use various psychological and physical approaches (such as acupuncture and tai chi) as well as herbal products to address health problems. Acupuncture is a technique in which, we stimulate specific points on the body, by inserting thin needles through the skin. As one of its function, studies suggest that acupuncture and cupping stimulates the release of the body’s natural painkillers and affects areas in the brain involved in processing pain. Acupuncture is recommended for chronic pain, neurological diseases, reducing anxiety, promoting mood and help balancing hormones.

Mental emotional concerns have been considered as one of the main root causes of different chronic diseases. Naturopathic approaches to mental health involve using natural medicines to help patients manage mental health conditions including depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorder, as well as applying different relaxing techniques such as yoga, meditation, mindfulness, gratitude journaling and breathing strategies to manage stress. Naturopathic therapies can help improve the effectiveness of medications used to treat these disorders and can also support patients in weaning off anti-depressants when appropriate. Naturopathic care of mental health also includes treatment of autistic spectrum disorders such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and autism.

Lifestyle Counseling is an important part of my practice as a Naturopathic doctor. In fact, it represents the basis of care that I provide to my patients—for me, it’s all about creating positive change. It allows me to understand you in the context of your life in order to put together the pieces to get you feeling better. While medications, herbs and supplements are extra modalities that help your body heal, true results are related to changes in diet habits, physical activity, stress levels and lifestyle. Following your comprehensive health intake, we begin the crucial lifestyle counselling portion that helps you follow your prescriptions, make positive changes and set your individualized treatment plan in motion.

A vaginal examination may seem intimidating, especially if it’s for the first time. But they’re necessary for a healthy and happy vagina. We take the time to ensure you are comfortable and understand the process to feel more comfortable. Their role is to assess or diagnose certain gynecological conditions to manage vaginal health.

Regular pap tests with follow-up for abnormal changes can prevent most cancer of the cervix.

Pap tests are done to find changes on your cervix. Sometimes these abnormal changes can become pre-cancerous, so pap tests help find potential concerns before they have a chance to develop further. During this test, cells are taken from your cervix and sent to a lab for assessment, where in most cases, the cells are normal.

Vaginal swab tests are also known as a Vaginitis test. Vaginitis represents a variety of disorders that cause infection or inflammation of the vagina. Causes of vaginitis can include bacteria, yeast infections or viruses. This swab test helps your doctor diagnose vaginal infections that could be causing vaginitis.