Each of the members of our healthcare team is committed to the concept of whole body health.  In working together we will strive to:

• Re-establish the basis for health
• Stimulate natural healing processes
• Nourish weakened systems

Your treatment plan is individualized using a combination of supportive and corrective therapies from the world of botanical and homeopathic medicines, biotherapeutic remedies and gemmotherapies, supplementary nutrients, acupuncture, and hydrotherapy. Coaching people through diet and lifestyle modifications that support the overall goal is an important part of our approach to good health.

Botanical Medicine

Plant based medicines have been used in many cultures for many hundreds of years. Historically, botanical and pharmacological medicines were closely aligned. Sadly, they grew apart as science worked to isolate single active constituents for formulating synthetic drugs. Lost was the synergy, wisdom and gentle effectiveness of whole plant medicine.

Naturopathic Doctors have maintained and reclaimed the wisdom of whole botanical medicine. At the Waterdown Clinic, we are proud of our extensive botanical dispensary that allows us to customize formulations specifically suited to you.

Homeopathy

Homeopathy can be used in the treatment of any health condition. Homeopathic medicine involves the use of specially prepared plant, animal or mineral remedies that stimulate self-healing. It is based on the principle that a substance that could cause particular symptoms in a pharmacological dose can stimulate the body to heal those same symptoms when administered in miniscule dilutions.

Homeopathy is flexible in its applications and is used in both acute and chronic care.

Biotherapy and Gemmotherapy

Biotherapy- a key treatment modality in our practice- is the use of specialized remedies including UNDA numbered compounds, Gemmotherapies, low dilution single homeopathics and/or botanicals. These gentle but powerful treatments are referred to as “drainage” remedies. The concept of drainage refers to the process of detoxifying the body by opening the natural routes of elimination (emunctories) and discharging the toxic accumulations.

When these natural routes of elimination are not active and functioning well unnatural accumulation of toxins occurs in the tissues. These accumulations interfere with normal physiology, and when normal physiology is compromised long enough, pathology will develop. Today, our toxic burden is complicated by toxins in the food we eat, the water we drink and the air we breathe and the stress we experience.

The accumulation of toxins in any tissue, is a factor in both acute and chronic illness and creates blockages to treatment.

Once the proper elimination of toxins is improved, our normal enzyme systems are free to function more optimally providing an improvement in not only tissue function, but overall sense of wellbeing.

Acupuncture

Acupuncture is a 2000-year-old system that is used to balance the flow of energy (qi) in the body. It is a valuable tool in most every case.

Qi flows in channels or meridians throughout the body. Improper flow, excess or deficiency of qi leads to pain. Needling specific points along the channels restores the free flow of qi. Western medicine has also recognized acupuncture for its ability to produce endorphins and enkephalins, the body’s natural pain-killers.

The World Health Organization has compiled a list of other conditions that can be helped by acupuncture:  sinusitis, bronchitis, asthma, dental pain, diarrhea, constipation, ulcers, headaches, sciatica, nervous system disorders, tennis elbow, back pain and osteoarthritis.
Acupunture has also proven very useful in quitting smoking and other addictions.

Clinical Nutrition

Naturopathic doctors are well-trained in the field of clinical nutrition and nutritional biochemistry. This is important to maintain the delicate biochemical balance that exists in your body. The foods you eat, and the lifestyle choices you make, and nutrients you supplement all impact this balance.

We are committed to helping you modify your diet to be supportive of your overall health care goals. We support these modifications with ongoing discussion, encouragement, practical tips and recipies.

If you do need nutritional supplements, we are able to recommend specific formulations and therapeutic dosages for maximum effectiveness.

Hydrotherapy

Hydrotherapy is a powerful foundation of Naturopathic Medicine. As the name suggests, hydrotherapy is the use of water in various forms - ice, cold and hot water, steam, baths, poultices and wraps.

The founders of Naturopathic Medicine used primarily hydrotherapy and diet to cure disease. While we no longer have the luxury of such simple strategies to cure, hydrotherapy remains an invaluable tool in encouraging the body’s own healing resources.

The healing properties of water come from its ability to increase circulation of blood and lymph, mobilize and eliminate toxins, tonify tissues and organs.  It is also used as a carrier for inhalation of infusions of therapeutic herbs and essential oils.

Lifestyle Counselling

Many physical, emotional, psychological, nutritional and environmental factors have a direct impact of your health. Often we don’t realize how detrimental cumulative stress, emotional states, unrestful sleep, irregular eating habits, shift work, poor food choices including skipping meals, air-water-noise and light pollution, allergens in your home, emotional toxicity, lack of regular activity and FUN, or simply the wrong kind of activity for your constitution can be. More and more we know, irrefutably, how good health is affected by your lifestyle choices.

As part of an overall plan for the restoration of your health is to help you identify areas that require attention, and without judgment coach you to implement lifestyle changes essential to improve your health.

Massage Therapy

The practice of massage therapy is the assessment of the soft tissue and joints of the body and the treatment and prevention of physical dysfunction and pain of the soft tissue and joints by manipulation to develop, maintain, rehabilitate or augment physical function, or relieve pain.
(Massage Therapy Act, 1991)