There are a few aspects of a good immune system that we all know about: getting fewer colds and sore throats and resolving them quickly; absence of allergies and asthma; healing well from cuts and other injuries. Still other immune-related issues correspond to auto-immunity which is common in the area of thyroid and jo…

If you are an allergy sufferer, you may not be looking forward to spring or summer. As a naturopathic doctor, I often see patients with a range of allergies seeking more nature-based options. There are a few simple yet useful tools to have in your spring survival kit that may help reduce the intensity of your spring hi…

There are hundreds of medical studies being carried out on the role of vitamin D, the sunshine vitamin, on your health. Many are showing interesting associations. As a naturopathic doctor, I have found that vitamin D is one of the particularly important nutrients since the body converts it into an active hormone that i…

You know smoking is profoundly detrimental to your health. Often you wonder why you can’t seem to quit the habit. Some say it ‘calms the nerves’ while others say it helps with their weight, or is part of their social scene, or it’s what they grew up with. Ultimately, it’s a personal choice and when you are ready, below…

There are four seasons and winter is often the toughest on your mind and mood. The connotations are usually negative: bitter cold, dry skin, back pain from show shoveling, multiple layers of clothing, colds and flu, trudging to work or around town. Winter is also associated with darkness and some people are susceptible…

As you get older, it is natural to expect changes in your body. One clear example is what are known as ‘age spots,’ or ‘liver spots’ – flat, darkened spots that tend to show most on UV-light exposed areas of the body. Typically it affects your face, arms, hands and the tops of your feet. They commonly show up in your 4…

Sex drive or libido is a natural feeling that adults experience. There are times however when libido wanes and it becomes difficult to engage in intimate relations with your partner. It is distressing for both partners but there are some effective naturopathic solutions that you can incorporate to promote a more consis…

Your digestive tract is an interesting place. It is a very long passageway from your mouth to your anus, totaling 30 feet in length. There’s a lot of movement that happens along the way: chomping of teeth to tear and grind your food; the stomach churning and squishing and the intestines, absorbing nutrients and water f…

When my patients ask me about losing weight, they already know that the basics are to eat better and exercise more. Unfortunately for most, this ends up becoming a short term project and the weight either doesn’t come off or comes back on. There are some common problems that I have seen which prevent people from losing…

It is an automatic association, when it’s cold outside most symptoms tend to feel worse. You all know people who can predict a storm coming hours before it happens, just by ‘feeling’ it in their joints ahead of time. Whether it is your arthritis, your headaches, or your mood, it’s a common sentiment and experience that…