NATUROPATHIC MODALITIES
Clinical Nutrition
Naturopathic Doctors truly believe in food as medicine. The relationship between nutrition and wellness, or between inadequate nutrition and disease, is well-documented. Individualized diets and nutritional supplements are recommended to address deficiencies, treat disease processes, and promote health. The benefits may include increased energy, weight loss, improved gastrointestinal function, enhanced immunity, and more!
Botanical Medicine
Botanical medicine, also known as herbal medicine, is a form of medicine that is plant-based. It involves the use of herbal teas, tinctures, capsules, and other forms of herbal preparations to assist in recovery from injury and disease. Botanicals have been used safely for generations and are the chemical basis for many synthetic pharmaceuticals. The active constituents of plants can be extracted and used to gently heal the body without the added side-effects of traditional pharmaceuticals.
Acupuncture
Asian medicine includes the use of acupuncture, Eastern herbs, and dietary changes to eliminate disease and the balance body. Acupuncture refers to the insertion of sterilized disposable needles through the skin into underlying tissues at specific points on the body.
Acupuncture is based on Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) concepts that describe illness as disharmony in the body. The Naturopath uses case history and physical finding to arrive at a TCM diagnosis. Placement of needles in strategic areas is used to alleviate and correct any imbalances.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO)* this form of treatment is effective for treating various conditions. Acupuncture can help alleviate muscles tension and joint pain. People with headaches and/or migraines often seek acupuncture as it can be very effective in alleviating the symptoms. There is also a great deal of clinical evidence supporting its use for hormonal imbalances and can help to promote fertility, regulate menstrual cycles, and alleviate symptoms of menopause.
* Please note that acupuncture treatments performed by Dr. Eberhard CANNOT be billed under your acupuncture coverage as acupuncture is part of her ND training. Acupuncture treatments are billed under Naturopathic coverage and treatments range between 30-60 minutes in length.
*https://www.acupuncture.org.uk/public-content/public-traditional-acupuncture/4026-who-list-of-conditions.html
Physical Medicine
Physical medicine refers to the use of hands-on techniques, such as soft tissue and spinal manipulation, as well as electro-stimulation acupuncture for the purpose of treating musculoskeletal and neurological problems. Home-care stretches and exercises are also prescribed as indicated.
Lifestyle Counselling
Lifestyle counselling involves identifying risk factors and making recommendations to help optimize one’s physical, mental, and emotional health. Naturopathic practice includes the integrated use of counselling stress management techniques when indicated.
Bio-identical Hormone Replacement Therapy & Natural Desiccated Thyroid
Bio-identical hormones are the same structures as our natural hormones vs the synthetic forms that can be used conventionally. The goal of treatment is to restore deficiencies in hormones and to correct imbalances that may be present. Topical use of hormones is not associated with the same risks as oral use and bioidentical forms have a better safety profile than their synthetic counterparts.
Most commonly women going through perimenopause or menopause utilize these hormones to manage their symptoms and improve their quality of life. However, hormones can be helpful in managing PMS and menstrual issues as well in younger women. Topical bioidentical estrogens and progesterone can be prescribed by certain NDs in Ontario including Dr. Tiffany Eberhard.
Low functioning thyroid or hypothyroidism is generally treated with medication containing T4 (a thyroid hormone). The T4 is then converted within the body to its active form T3. Despite medication some people do not find relief of their symptoms using T4 only. Natural Desiccated Thyroid contains both T4 and T3. Dr. Tiffany Eberhard has completed additional training and is certified to prescribe natural desiccated thyroid to help support thyroid function in patients who aren't tolerating their current thyroid medication or who are seeking out a natural option for thyroid treatment.