About Naturopathic Medicine Page

Naturopathic medicine is a system of primary health care that combines traditional forms of medicine with a contemporary understanding of health and disease.  A naturopathic doctor’s (ND) intention is to address any obvious or subtle imbalances in one’s body, mind, and spirit.  NDs are committed to helping people of all ages suffering from chronic or acute illness and those who are seeking advice on health optimization and disease prevention as well as wellness care.

Services used in a naturopathic practice include:

• Acupuncture /Asian medicine
• Botanical medicine
• Clinical nutrition
• Homeopathic medicine
• Lifestyle counselling
• Laboratory assessment and diagnosis

Traditional Chinese Medicine/Acupuncture

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is a complete medical system that has diagnosed, treated and prevented illness for thousands of years and incorporates acupuncture, acupressure, diet, massage, and Chinese herbs and foods.  Acupuncture is a principal component of TCM.  It seeks to rebalance any physical or mental/emotional dysfunction through the use of very fine and relatively painless needles at strategic points on the body.

Botanical Medicine

Botanical medicine utilizes diverse plant substances from around the world for their powerful healing and nutritional value.  Contemporary research is ever-revealing the true understated value of botanicals in both their constituents and as whole plants.

Clinical Nutrition

Nutrition is the cornerstone of good health.  Some foods help you heal, while others damage your body and contribute to chronic illness.  A healthy diet - consisting of the right balance of vitamins, minerals, enzymes, fats, anti-oxidants, fiber and amino acids – is the most important tool for your body to manage stress and prevent and recover from illness.

Homeopathic Medicine

Homeopathic medicine is a natural, nontoxic therapeutic system of healing that assists in the inherent ability of the body to heal itself.  Homeopathic medicines or “remedies” use minute amounts of plant, mineral or animal substances to retune the body or mind.  The symptoms of disease are regarded as the body’s own defensive attempt to correct its imbalance, rather than as enemies to be defeated.

Lifestyle Counselling

Lifestyle habits, pattern behaviors and mental attitudes and emotional wellbeing are priorities in a wellness centre such as evolve.  Counselling in conjunction with other naturopathic therapies can provide support for those dealing with depression, fatigue, seasonal affective disorder (SAD), work-related stress, relationship issues, life transitions, and health problems, particularly chronic health problems.

Laboratory Assessment

NDs in BC have full laboratory capabilities and make use of the variety of testing methods in diagnosing health concerns.  Salivary hormone tests, food allergy tests and toxicity tests are commonly used in addition to conventional blood testing.