MODALITIES & TREATMENTS
ACUPUNCTURE & TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINE
Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) describes the healing power of nature and the relationships between our health and environment through its healing system which applies Yin and Yang as the harmonious integration of the body, mind, and spirit with nature.
Treatments include acupuncture, environmental and herbal medicine, mental health, and nutrition.
The theory and practice of Traditional Chinese Medicine is rooted in 5000 years of history. A persons signs and symptoms act as identifiers of an imbalance of Qi, or a person’s internal energy, and its flow through each organ system. Rebalancing the flow of Qi results in not only symptomatic improvement but also in long-lasting physical and mental health.
Acupuncture can also be used to increase blood circulation to particular areas of the body, to help promote healing, and reduce pain, as well as to help release muscle tension.
COMMON COMPLAINTS TREATED WITH ACUPUNCTURE:
Anxiety, depression, digestive complaints, fertility, headaches, joint pain, menstrual symptoms, sleep disorders, & TMJ.
BIO-IDENTICAL HORMONES
Bio-identical hormone therapy is the practice of using hormones that are structurally identical to those that are found naturally in our body. They are considered to be safe, effective, and well tolerated. Some sources of these hormones also provide additional supportive nutrients that help the hormone producing gland in the body function more effectively (i.e., desiccated thyroid).
COMMON CONDITIONS TREATED WITH BIO-IDENTICAL HORMONES:
Endometriosis, hypothyroidism, fertility, osteoporosis, peri-menopause, polycystic ovarian syndrome, menopause, & uterine fibroids.
COMMON SYMPTOMS PATIENTS PRESENT WITH THAT ARE SEEKING BIO-IDENTICAL HORMONES:
Acne, hot flashes, fatigue, infertility, low bone density, painful periods, poor body temperature regulation, unwanted hair growth, & weight gain.
Naturopathic doctors in Ontario must complete an additional pharmaceutical and prescribing program and examination to prescribe bio-identical hormones.
BOTANICAL MEDICINE
Botanical medicine, aka herbalism or phytotherapy, is the use of plants to treat illness. Each plant is unique and has its own medicinal properties.
Botanicals are considered to be the first “drugs” used to treat ailments, and approximately 40% of modern pharmaceuticals are derived from synthetic derivatives or isolations of the component of the plant responsible for its medicinal action. This isolation of ingredients is one reason why pharmaceuticals have a higher risk of unwanted side effects. The components found within plants work synergistically to naturally counteract these side effects and also to potentiate the positive effect of the plant.
Plants may also be combined to create formulations to provide a holistic treatment to health complaints.
Botanical medicine can be used internally via tinctures, teas, capsules, tablets, smoke, as well as topically.
COMMON COMPLAINTS TREATED WITH BOTANICAL MEDICINE:
Acne, adrenal fatigue, arthritis, cold & flu, detoxification, diabetes, fatigue, fatty liver, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, hyper/hypothyroidism, immune balancing, indigestion, PMS, sleep disorders, & wound healing.
CANNABIS
Humans have interacted with cannabis for medicinal, recreational, and entheogenic purposes for over 5000 years. Our bodies have co-evolved with this medicine, seen by the presence of the endocannabinoid system in the human body, which is one of the most physiologic systems involve in establishing and maintaining health.
Each cannabis strain has a unique make up of cannabinoids including THC, CBD, CBG, and CBN, and terpenes. It is the interaction of these particular cannabinoids and terpenes with each individual that elicits distinct outcomes.
Cannabis medicine can be used topically and internally similarly to other botanicals, via inhalation, tincture, teas, capsules, sublingual.
COMMON COMPLAINTS TREATED WITH CANNABIS:
anxiety, cramps, creative blockages, depression, inflammation, insomnia, muscle cramps and spams, pain, PMS, PTSD, social anxiety, spasticity, stress, suppressed appetite.
CLINICAL NUTRITION
Healthy nutrition is the cornerstone of good health. The basic functioning and optimal health of the body is dependant on food, by extracting and utilizing its nutritional content. Nutritional needs are individualized, and therefore dietary requirements are individual as well. Nutrition is complicated by consumption of unhealthy foods that can cause inflammation or accumulation of toxins, or foods that are depleted of nutrients which leads to deficiencies in vitamins and minerals. This can result in symptoms including fatigue, headaches, poor cognitive function (foggy brain, poor concentration), depression, bloating, suboptimal immunity and weight gain.
Nutritional treatment may be as simple as creating an individualized dietary programs, or may be combined with additional prescription of specific nutrients or nutritional supplements.
COMMON APPLICATIONS OF CLINICAL NUTRITION:
Anti-aging, arthritis, athletic performance, bloating, cancer care, diabetes, environmental sustainability, exercise recovery, fatigue, gout, heartburn, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, osteoporosis, prevention, vegetarian of vegan dietary optimization, & weight loss.
IV & PARENTERAL THERAPY
Parenteral therapy is a treatment that is administered in routes other than the digestive tract (i.e., injections subcutaneously & intramuscularly, intrasternal or intravenous injection), which provides increased absorption and therefore utilization by the body.
Intravenous or IV therapy enables more efficient delivery of nutrients directly into the bloodstream and allows for higher concentrations of certain vitamins and minerals. It is particularly useful for individuals that have compromised digestive tracts and poor absorption of nutrients as it bypasses the digestive tract completely.
Cocktails are individualized blends of nutrients including vitamins, minerals, and amino acids, in a base of saline or sterile water. Ingredients are based on patient complaints, and is combined with clinical knowledge of their general health (i.e., genetic predispositions for nutritional deficiencies and disease risk, lab work reflecting suboptimal nutritional levels, family history).
COMMON INJECTIONS:
B12, Vitamin D
IV THERAPY INGREDIENTS:
Amino acids (Essential Amino Acids: Leucine, Isoleucine, Lysine, Valine, Phenylalanine, Histidine, Threonine, Methionine, Tryptophan. Nonessential Amino Acids: Alanine, Arginine, Glycine, Proline, Serine, Tyrosine.), Vitamin B Complex, B5, B6, B12, biotin, Vitamin C, calcium, chromium, glutathione, hydrochloric acid, magnesium, selenium, zinc.
COMMON APPLICATIONS OF IV THERAPY:
Anti-aging, adrenal fatigue, anxiety, athletic performance, cancer care, cold & flu, dehydration, detoxification, exercise recovery, fatigue, fertility, general health promotion, immune support, inflammatory bowel disease, irritable bowel syndrome, poor sleep quality/quantity, suboptimal cognitive function & vegetarian/vegan diets.
LIFESTYLE MEDICINE
Lifestyle medicine is the recognition of lifestyle factors (i.e., poor ability to cope with stress, sedentary lifestyle) and correlating them to how they impact health. Behaviours can have a profound affect on even a cellular and genetic level. Modifying lifestyle factors to minimize negative impact and promote optimal health, and integrating these into day-to-day activities is the cornerstone to sustainable long-term wellness.
EXAMPLES OF LIFESTYLE MEDICINE
Meditation to relieve stress, exercise to “turn off” genes that promote fat storage, deep belly breathing to calm the nervous system down and promote healing, walking/running/skipping to promote bone density, & sleep hygiene to improve sleep quality.