Naturopathic medicine is a primary care approach to health that focuses on prevention and promotes the use of natural therapies in order to assist the healing process. The goal of naturopathic medicine is to treat the root cause of illness, rather than simply treating or supressing symptoms. Naturopathic Doctor’s teach their patients to take responsibility for their health and provides them with the tools to develop a healthier lifestyle.
What We Offer
Therapies
Nutrition
What we put in our bodies will clearly effect the state of our health. NDs are trained to examine this relationship and will help to identify deficiencies or food allergies that could be affecting the current state of health. Providing your body with the right foods and supplementation will help to bring your body back into balance and help you to feel energized.
Botanical Medicine
The healing power of nature. Botanical medicine has been used for centuries and is the original medicine. Even today plants continue to be studied for their medicinal properties and many pharmaceutical medicines are originally derived from plants. Botanical medicine is used to aid the body to restore balance and maintain optimum health.
Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine
Dating back thousands of years, this medicine is based on the concept of yin and yang and balancing the flow of energy (“chi”) through meridian pathways. Asian medicine includes the use of acupuncture, Chinese herbs and dietary modification.
Homeopathy
Developed originally by Samuel Hahnemann in the eighteenth century, homeopathic medicine is based on the principle of “like cures like”. Minute doses of natural substances derived from plant, animal or mineral are used to treat a wide variety of conditions and stimulate the body’s ability to heal itself.
Lifestyle Counselling
The origin of many illnesses may often lie within the mental-emotional health. Naturopaths believe that both the physical and mental aspects of health are closely interconnected and equally important in approaches to treatment. NDs are trained to help patients make effective lifestyle choices and know when to refer to mental health professionals when more in-depth treatment is required.
Lab Services
Food Sensitivity Testing
In a food reaction, the immune system reacts by releasing cells called antibodies. Foods that cause antibodies to be released are called antigens or allergens. Download FST Fact SheetCONTINUE READING >>>
Adrenal Testing
Stress is pretty much unavoidable, which is why the body has processes in place to help manage it. The adrenal glands are small glands that sit on top of the kidneys and produce different hormones.
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Salivary Hormone Testing for Women
Interactions between the five hormones of the female panel (see right) are fundamental to health, which means hormone imbalance may negatively impact well-being. The following are some examples of how hormone imbalance can affect health:
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Salivary Hormone Testing for Men
Interactions between the four hormones of the male panel (see right) are fundamental to health, which means that hormone imbalance may have a negative effect on health. The following are examples of how hormone imbalance can affect health:
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Month-Long Hormone Assessment
The Month-Long Hormone Assessment (MLHA) measures estradiol and progesterone approximately every third day through the menstrual cycle (11 samples). The Month-Long Hormone Assessment also reports average testosterone, cortisol and DHEAS levels.
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DUTCH – Dried Urine Test for Comprehensive Hormones
This advanced hormone testing was developed to improve on available hormone testing options. DUTCH offers the most extensive profile of sex and adrenal hormones along with their metabolites.
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Conditions Treated
We treat a variety of conditions, whether you are dealing with some current health concerns or are looking to prevent illness, naturopathic medicine is beneficial. Below are some of the common conditions that we treat.
Fertility
There are a number of approaches that can be utilized to aid a women’s fertility. Looking at the history of your partner is also very important to ensure that his reproductive health is good. Acupuncture is often utilized as part of the treatment but every case is taken with an individualized approach.
Menopause
This can be a very volatile time in a women’s life. Fluctuating and declining hormone levels can lead to a number of symptoms associated with the condition. The use of herbs, homeopathic remedies, diet modification and nutritional supplementation can be very beneficial. Bio-identical hormones can also be utilized as a treatment approach, which are done in conjunction with a medical doctor. If you are interested in the use of bio-identical hormones please book your appointment at Monarch Laser and Wellness.
Digestive Complaints
IBS, Crohn’s disease, Colitis, GERD are just a few of the common digestive issues that can be treated with naturopathic medicine. Looking closely at the diet and food sensitivities help to guide the treatment approach.
Detoxification
Programs that enhance the body’s ability to breakdown and eliminate toxic chemicals from the body more efficiently is the main approach to detoxification. Various methods are taken to aid in improving the metabolic pathways in the liver that are involved with the conversion of toxic chemicals into relatively harmless metabolites that will be eliminated from the body. Diet modification and supplementation are the main approaches to the program.
Colds & Flu
Learning how your body works and supporting your immune system is the treatment approach used to prevent infections. Various modalities can be used to help improve your immune function.
New Patients
Armstrong Health offers services out of both the Foot Knee Back Total Health Clinic in Ancaster and Monarch Laser and Wellness Centre in Hamilton. If your main concern is Menopause and you are interested in using bio-identical hormones, please book your appointment at Monarch Laser and Wellness Centre.
What to Expect
On your first visit to the clinic your appointment can last up to 1.5hrs. You will be asked about your current health concerns, health history, diet, digestion, stress, sleep and a number of other questions related to your health. A general physical examination is also performed on the first visit and if any additional testing is necessary, it will also be discussed at this time. In most cases a follow-up appointment will be arranged 1-2 wks from the first appointment and you will be asked to keep a record of your diet during that week. On the second visit the treatment protocol is provided and could include diet recommendations, supplementation or other treatment options in order to help to bring your body back into balance.
Before your first visit there are intake forms that should be filled out. These forms will be used to help guide the first visit. Please download the appropriate forms below, fill them out and bring them to your first visit.