Treatment plans may include diet and nutrition, botanical medicine, homeopathy, drainage remedies, gemmotherapy, acupuncture, and lifestyle/self care recommendations. Laboratory tests for hormone levels, food sensitivities, toxic metals, nutritional deficiencies, kidney and liver function, stool analysis for abnormal flora and digestive insufficiency, and blood chemistry are also recommended if necessary.

Specialized diagnostic testing is offered via certified accredited laboratories in Canada and the U.S. Blood tests through Life Labs are also available. All tests have separate additional fees, and are offered only to patients.

Clinical Nutrition

Excellent nutrition is a cornerstone of good health. Since your body is literally made of the food you put in your mouth, the importance of a healthy diet cannot be overstated. What and how one eats often plays a large role in aggravating many health problems. Each person's nutritional, lifestyle and dietary needs are individually assessed in order to create a suitable diet plan that will reduce symptoms and promote health. When it is appropriate, I will prescribe additional nutrients that may be necessary to correct deficiencies and aid the body's natural processes of healing at a cellular level.

Food Allergy/Sensitivity Testing

Foods like peanuts, eggs, and shellfish can cause allergies in susceptible individuals. The allergic reactions are immediate and can be diagnosed with a skin scratch test from an allergist. But there are also hidden food allergies or sensitivities that are sometimes difficult to diagnose since they can be delayed in onset, from hours to days after eating a particular food. Not surprisingly, with the changes in farming methods such as increased pesticide use, additives, preservatives, genetic modification, as well as internal changes in our immune systems due to medication use, unnatural diets, stress, lifestyle etc, there is an increased sensitivity to many of the common foods we eat.

Symptoms of food sensitivities can include

• Fatigue, headaches, migraines, high blood pressure,
• skin conditions, acne, eczema
• irritable bowel syndrome,
• joint pain/arthritis
• ADD/ADHD, food cravings, obesity,
• recurrent infections, asthma, sinus and nasal congestion

There is a simple blood spot test that can be performed at home by the patient. The standard test checks 96 foods, but vegetarian, herbs and spices, and individual allergens are also available.

For more information please see Rocky Mountain Analytical: http://www.rmalab.com/index.php?id=18

Stress Management

Research over the last 20 years has clearly shown that stress contributes to a significant percentage of all major illnesses, including the number one cause of death in North America, cardiovascular disease. Skin disorders, a weakened immune system, autoimmune disease, asthma, endocrine disease, emotional disorders, and even some cancers have been clearly linked to stress. This is basically due to the effect of stress hormones on the body. According to a report by the US Department of Health and Human Services, about 75% of all visits to a doctor are for stress-related and stress-induced illnesses.

This is why a naturopathic treatment plan often includes stress management and support, and will address the underlying factors (such as diet, lifestyle, nutrient deficiencies) that are contributing to your ability to handle stress. Hormonal testing and symptom analysis will determine how stress has affected your body, and treatment will consist of various methods to bring your hormones and neurotransmitters back into balance. Women who are stressed may experience an imbalance in their female hormones. For these patients, I would include therapies to address PMS, irregular cycles and related issues.

Botanical Medicine

Recently, the World Health Organization estimated that 80% of people worldwide rely on herbal medicines for some part of their primary health care. In Germany, about 600 - 700 plant-based medicines are available and are prescribed by some 70% of German physicians. In North America, however, mainstream doctors have no herbal medical training, and there is much resistance within the pharmaceutical industry.

Used correctly, herbs can help treat a variety of conditions and have far fewer side effects than conventional medications. But because they are unregulated, herbal products are often mislabeled, contain insignificant doses and may contain additives and contaminants that are not listed on the label.

Fortunately, naturopaths, herbalists and others are well trained in the correct use of herbal medicine, and there is ongoing research around the world into the effectiveness of plant based medicines to treat many health conditions.

Biotherapeutic Drainage

Biotherapeutic drainage was invented in Europe where preventive and natural medicines are widely used for maintaining health and well-being. Its primary role is to assist the body's organ systems to eliminate toxins at a cellular level. The effects of physical, emotional, and environmental stressors are pollutants that gradually accumulate within our bodies. This results in suboptimal physiological functioning, which can then lead to chronic disease. Biotherapeutic drainage utilizes individual homeopathic preparations, which are gentle and deep-acting, and affect very specific target tissues and organs.

What Drainage Remedies do

• Open the body's main pathways of detoxification, called the Primary Emmunctories: the Liver, Gastrointestinal system, the Lungs, and the Kidneys. This is like opening the doors of your body to allow toxins a way out
• Move accumulated toxins out of cells into the extracellular space (the space between cells)
• Encourage the further movement of toxins from the extracellular space out of the body through one of the "open doors" or primary emmunctories
• Promote healing of damaged systems and restore proper functioning to sluggish or overactive systems so that the body may be restored to a state of balance and health

Isn't this the same thing as "Detox?"

No "Detox" or "detoxification" refers to moving stored toxins out of the extracellular spaces of the liver and the colon. It does not address the intracellular toxins accumulated through-out the body. Only drainage can remove toxins that your cells have placed in permanent storage. Detox" does also not involve tonification of your weakened systems, whereas drainage can be used to improve functioning of weak systems in the body. This is critical for recovery from chronic illnesses.

What are "toxins" and how can toxins cause disease?

"Toxins" are simply any substances that cause malfunctioning of the body. They can reduce your energy and cause pain and disease. Toxins come in many forms:

• Environmental, such as pesticides, herbicides and petrochemicals that enter through diet, air and skin
• Biological toxins, such as byproducts of Candida (yeast), bacteria or viruses living in your body
• Heavy metals such as lead, mercury and arsenic, etc.
• Your own hormones and natural metabolic wastes such as carbon dioxide and uric acid can also become toxins if they accumulate in excessive amounts or if your liver and kidneys have difficulty processing them
• Toxins can also refer to the patterns of response that your brain cells have been imprinted with, ie. Responding with anxiety to a stressful situation
• Drainage can help your body to process and remove these toxins. Reducing your toxic burden can lead to reduced pain, increased energy, improved digestion, elimination of allergies, and increased mental functioning. It can reverse many conditions, restoring your body to balance and health

Conditions responsive to Drainage

• Hormonal imbalances such as a thyroid disorders, menopause, adrenal fatigue, premenstrual syndrome and menstrual disorders
• Nervous system conditions such as anxiety, insomnia, depression, excessive nervousness, degenerative diseases
• Chemical sensitivity
• Digestive disorders
• Chronic pain conditions such as Fibromyalgia or Arthritis
• Chronic debilitating conditions such as Multiple sclerosis
• Autoimmune conditions such as Lupus, Rheumatoid arthritis, Grave's disease, kidney disease
• Chronic Fatigue States
• Chronic Candida (yeast) or viral infections
• Allergies
• Migraine headaches
• Asthma
• Chronic skin disorders, such as Eczema and Psoriasis
• High cholesterol or other metabolic products accumulating in the body
• Anyone who wants to do preventive medicine to maintain their health and vitality
• and many other conditions

Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine

Acupuncture is one of the main treatments of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), a program that also includes diet, exercise, botanical medicine and lifestyle modifications. It is at least 4,700 years old, and consists of the insertion of very fine needles into specific points along the body. The points lie along meridians or channels. These channels carry different forms of "energy" or Qi that should be flowing smoothly throughout the body.

According to the principles of TCM, illness results when the flow of Qi in the body is impeded. The practitioner then uses symptoms, pulse and tongue diagnosis to determine whether Qi is deficient, stagnant, or otherwise out of balance. Points are then chosen to correct the problem.

West Meets East

Recently, modern science has been able to validate the existence of these channels, and provide some clues as to how acupuncture works from a western perspective: acupuncture points have been found to correspond to the high electrical conductance points on the body and vice versa. They also have a higher temperature, metabolic rate, and carbon dioxide release. When points are stimulated, western research has found that various hormones, endorphins, neurotransmitters and other substances are released. Computer imaging has also found that there is an activation of many regions within the brain during acupuncture.

Many health conditions have been shown to be responsive to acupuncture. Suitability will be assessed on an individual basis.

Homeopathy

Homeopathy is a philosophy and a system that is based on the idea that body, mind, and emotions are not separate but are fully integrated. This system was first introduced by a German physician, Dr. Samuel Hahnemann, over 200 years ago. While homeopathy is less recognized in North America, it has a long and established history of mainstream use in much of Europe and particularly India. In the practice of homeopathy, physicians use very dilute substances derived from plants, animals and minerals to address a range of acute and chronic conditions. Finding the appropriate homeopathic remedy depends upon gaining a full understanding of the patient as a whole person. This means that it is essential to take note of the physical, mental and emotional symptoms of each person before deciding on a correct remedy. The most fundamental principle of a homeopathic prescription is to choose a remedy that stimulates the body's own healing processes.

Homeopathy restores the body to homeostasis, or healthy balance, which is considered its natural state. The symptoms of a disease are regarded as the body's own defensive attempt to correct its imbalance, rather than as enemies to be defeated. Homeopathic remedies are designed to stimulate this internal curative process rather than suppress the symptoms.

Supportive Cancer Care

Treatment programs for cancer prevention and remission are available, as well as for those who would like to improve quality of life and reduce the side effects of conventional cancer treatment. Most naturopathic modalities are utilized in these programs.

Detoxification

Detoxification programs are available for those patients who would like a short term program to cleanse their bodies of toxins that have accumulated through our modern day reality: pollutants, chemicals and other synthetic substances are now found in most of us. Programs are designed based on the individual patient, to help clear toxins through the organs which need it most: colon, liver, kidneys, lymphatic system, and skin.

Tests Offered

Specialized diagnostic testing is offered via certified accredited laboratories in Canada and the U.S. Blood tests through Life Labs are also available. All tests have separate additional fees, and are offered only to patients.

This list is not extensive, if there is a test not listed that you are interested in, please enquire at your next appointment.

Hormone Tests

• Female Hormone Panel
• Male Hormone Panel
• Adrenal Function (stress hormone) Panel
• Thyroid Panel

Allergy Tests

• Food Allergy IgG Test (96 common foods, vegetarian, herbs & spices also available)
• IgG Mini-Inhalants Test (16 common inhalants)

Hair Analysis Tests

• Hair Element Analysis (45 essential and toxic elements)

Urinalysis (urine sample) Tests

• Urinary Thyroid Hormone Assessment
• Urine Amino Acids - measures protein balance, nutritional deficiencies, kidney and liver function etc.
• DNA Oxidative Damage - A highly sensitive and specific biomarker of DNA oxidative damage or stress
• Urine Toxic & Essential Elements
• Hepatic Detoxification Profil
• Intestinal Permeability - a non-invasive test of intestinal barrier and malabsorption problems, ie. Leaky gut

Fecal Tests

• Comprehensive Stool Analysis - for digestion, absorption, and the balance of bacteria and yeast
• Fecal Metals - Assesses exposure to toxic elements and heavy metals such as mercury and lead
• Comprehensive Parasitology (includes Candida)