Treatment Services

Naturopathic Services

A naturopathic doctor or naturopath(ND) provides alternative therapy services that are complementary to conventional medicine. Naturopaths specialize in natural medicine and preventative health care, integrating scientific knowledge with traditional healing wisdom.

A naturopathic doctor considers your mind, body and spirit during treatment assessment, to maximize the body’s ability to heal itself.

NDs undergo rigorous training and education, not unlike a conventional medical doctor. After finishing an undergraduate degree, NDs must successfully complete a four-year full-time naturopathic medicine program, spending one year as a clinical intern.

In Ontario , a Naturopath must be licensed by the Board of Directors of Drugless Therapy-Naturopathy, a provincial regulatory body. Naturopathic doctors must also carry malpractice insurance.

Naturopathic doctors combine the art and science of healing through the use of natural therapies. NDs use safe, gentle, non-invasive therapies, which are drawn from some or all of the following disciplines:

Clinical Nutrition ~ dietary modification and supplementation to optimize health

Lifestyle Counselling ~ an exploration of the patient’s physical, mental, and emotional environments

Acupuncture/Asian Medicine ~ use of diet, plant-based remedies and acupuncture to treat and prevent disease

Botanical (Herbal) Medicine ~ use of plant-based remedies to promote patient healing

Homeopathic Medicine ~ minute doses of plant, animal and mineral substances used to stimulate patient healing

Physical Medicine ~ a variety of gentle hands-on techniques for the spine, joints and soft tissues, including hydrotherapy and massage

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Registered Massage Therapy

A registered massage therapist (RMT) provides services that have physiological effects on all the systems of the body: muscular, connective tissue, nervous, respiratory and gastrointestinal. Massage is a great way to assess soft tissue and joint health. Other benefits of massage therapy include relief of stress through increased relaxation, facilitation of motor coordination, regulation of sleep patterns and strengthening of the immune system.

A registered massage therapist uses an approach that emphasizes a combination of mind, body and soul, and takes into consideration external influences on a person’s life and health.

RMTs undergo training, both academic and clinical in a 2200 hour program at a recognized institute. In addition to a diploma, massage therapists must hold professional liability insurance and be a member of the Ontario Massage Therapy Association to be recognized as a Registered Massage Therapist.

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Reiki

The word Reiki (pronounced Ray-Key) is a Japanese kanji for universal life-force energy.

Reiki is a Japanese holistic, light-touch, energy-based modality. Working as a support mechanism to the body, Reiki re-establishes a normal energy flow of Qi (life force energy) throughout the system, which in turn can enhance and accelerate the body's innate healing ability. Through a series of hand positions either directly on or just above the body, the energy worker allows for the flow of energy through their body. The client’s body then draws off the amount of energy that is required.

The client, fully clothed, lies on the treatment table. The practitioner's hands remain in a stationary position, gently on or slightly above the body through several positions from head to toe. Some practitioners do not use the prescribed hand positions, preferring to use a more intuitive approach. There is no manipulation of the skin or tissue.

Reiki energy works in concert with all other forms of therapy. It is a wonderful complement to other treatments.

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Hot Stone Relaxation Technique

Small warmed basalt stones are used with oils to relax and create harmony and positive energy flow on all levels. The stones are placed in water and slightly heated before placement on the body allowing the muscles to relax. This technique is gentle and relaxing, in combination with the warmth of the room and the stones, this experience is uniquely nurturing. This technique can be used in conjunction with Reiki to create a perfectly wonderful experience.

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Bowen Therapy

Bowen (www.bowtech.com; www.bowenworkregistry.ca) is a gentle hands-on technique, developed by Tom Bowen in Australia, and is practiced in over 30 countries. Caralei Peters ND and Charlene Kush ND offer this service to our clients as Professional Bowenwork Practitioners.

The Bowen technique involves gentle moves over the muscle and other soft tissues to stimulate the body to heal itself. Healing can occur at several levels, i.e., physical, mental, emotional, chemical, and energetic. Three to five sessions are usually all that are required to stimulate healing and healing often lasts unless there is subsequent injury.

Bowen sessions can last fifteen minutes to one hour and usually involve the patient lying down on a table; however, Bowen can take place anywhere, e.g., in a chair, along side a sports field, at the scene of an accident etc.

Bowen therapy is completely safe and can be used on everyone, from newborns to elderly individuals. Bowen is quite safe and has very few contraindications.

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Doula Services

A doula is someone experienced in childbirth who provides continuous physical, emotional and informational support to the mother before, during and just after childbirth.

Studies have shown that when doulas attend births, labours are shorter with fewer complications, babies are healthier and they breastfeed more easily.

A doula provides objective information to a woman and her partner so that they are able to make informed decisions. A doula facilitates communication between a labouring woman, her partner, and clinical care providers (including both midwives and obstetricians). A doula helps the woman’s partner to participate in the labour at their own comfort level.

Laura Grant offers doula services to women and their partners who are patients of the clinic.

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Parenteral Therapy

Parenteral Therapy is the act of introducing vitamins, minerals and other biotherapeutic agents intravenously. When we are sick and our body is overwhelmed, we cannot absorb oral supplements or heal properly. Intravenous supplementation bipasses the digestive system, directly introducing natural therapeutic agents into the cells. This enhances and speeds recovery.

Parenteral therapy can be used for example to support the immune system, boost energy, repair tissue, and as a complementary cancer treatment. Caralei Peters ND is a certified Parenteral Therapist and offers this service to all patients in our clinic.

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Biopuncture

Biopuncture (i.e., injection therapy), offered by Caralei Peters, is a very effective way to administer ultralow, physiological doses of plants and minerals to heal muscles, joints, tissues and cells. Natural substances are injected directly into the upper layers of the skin that surround the affected area as well as acupuncture points. Biopuncture is an eloquent way of combining acupuncture, botanical medicine and homeopathy. You will want to consider biopuncture to speed healing of sport injuries, for osteoarthritis, herniated or bulging discs, neck or back pain, chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia, even allergies and hormone disturbances.

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CranioSacral Therapy

CranioSacral Therapy (CST) was pioneered and developed by osteopathic physician John E. Upledger following extensive scientific studies from 1975 to 1983 at Michigan State University.

CST is a gentle, hands-on method of evaluating and enhancing the functioning of a physiological body system called the craniosacral system - comprised of the membranes and cerebrospinal fluid that surround and protect the brain and spinal cord.

Using a soft touch generally no greater than 5 grams, or about the weight of a nickel, practitioners release restrictions in the craniosacral system to improve the functioning of the central nervous system.

By complementing the body's natural healing processes, CST is increasingly used as a preventive health measure for its ability to bolster resistance to disease, and is effective for a wide range of medical problems associated with pain and dysfunction, and safe for use on all ages.

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Diagnostic Services

Naturopathic Perspectives has functional laboratory services provided by Gamma-Dynacare. This enables us to perform comprehensive blood work; for example, complete blood count, glucose, cholesterol and pregnancy testing, as well as liver, iron and hormone panels. Our lab also permits us to do thorough urine and stool testing. In addition, we can administer Vitamin B12 and folic acid. Naturopathic tests include: Zinc tally, Indican, and Gastrotests. Please note: OHIP does not cover laboratory services requested by Naturopathic Doctors, therefore, patients are required to pay for these services.

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Supplements

Naturopathic Perspectives carries a limited selection of professional quality products that are not available through healthfood stores. These supplements are available only to the patients of Naturopathic Perspectives.

The following professional lines are available here:

Genestra nutritional supplements and tinctures, St. Francis botanical products, Golden Flower Chinese Herbal remedies, and a large selection of homeopathics.

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