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.

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 bio-identical forms may 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 bio-identical 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.

*Monitoring is required when hormones are prescribed so you will be given a recommended schedule for having labs repeated and follow-up appointments.

Lab Testing

A major part of an initial assessment will involve a look at your latest blood work. I’d love to get even more detailed information on hormone levels, vitamin and mineral status, as well as cholesterol, inflammatory markers, food allergies, and more. Here are a few specialty tests available:

CONVENTIONAL BLOOD TESTS: Just like the standard testing your MD would run. This includes tests like - cholesterol, thyroid panel, vitamin B12, iron, vitamin D, etc.

FOOD SENSITIVITY TESTING: A quick blood draw at the lab can help you identify food sensitivities that may be causing any number of health complaints.

SALIVARY OR URINE HORMONE TESTING: Salivary hormone testing is often more accurate than blood hormone testing since it shows tissue level and is recommended when considering topical hormone treatment. DUTCH or CHI testing shows hormone metabolites and gives me even more information about your hormone status. I will look for hormone imbalances in both women and men that can cause PMS, infertility, low sex drive, fatigue, depression, and mood swings.

STOOL ANALYSIS: To investigate chronic digestive symptoms such as persistent diarrhea, constipation, bloating, indigestion, irritable bowel syndrome, GERD, and malabsorption. Stool samples are used to objectively evaluate the status of beneficial and imbalanced bacteria, pathogenic bacteria, yeast, and parasites present in the intestinal tract.

SIBO BREATH TEST: To investigate the presence of Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth( (SIBO) which is one of the most common causes of IBS symptoms (diarrhea, constipation, bloating, burping, heartburn, etc.)

*An initial appointment is required before any testing can be run to make sure it is the most appropriate approach to address your health concerns.