NATUROPATHIC MEDICINE
About
Naturopathic Medicine is a distinctively natural approach to health and healing that recognizes the integrity of the whole person. It truly complements conventional Medicine by addressing the underlying cause of disease.
While Naturopathic Medicine can directly address and treat the symptoms of illness, it really does more by removing any blocks to your health and supporting your body in its own healing and by providing the healthiest way of being. Naturopathic Medicine incorporates many healing modalities and tools, including:
lifestyle modification,
counseling,
health education,
nutritional intervention,
mineral supplementation,
homeopathy
herbal medicine.
Therapies
Preventative Lifestyle Modification – This involves doing a comprehensive assessment and creating a health plan including lifestyle factors including diet, exercise, self-care and stress management.
Nutrition – Using Diet Analysis and food sensitivity, and allergy testing to find and organize the most effective and manageable nutrition plan.
Botanical Medicine – Naturopathic Physicians or NDs are trained herbalists and know the scientific and historical uses of plants. NDs also have specialized training in the safety and potential interactions of those plants with prescription medications.
Homeopathic Medicine – Homeopathy is a distinct discipline and uses specifically chosen and prepared natural substances to stimulate the body’s natural healing ability. This can be used for acute conditions (earache, teething
or diarrhea) or for more general complaints.
Mineral Supplementation – Using therapeutic doses of various vitamins or minerals to support body systems and promote optimal functioning.
Counselling – Using various counselling techniques to discover and address emotional or spiritual blocks to wellness.
Testing – NDs are trained in using and interpreting conventional laboratory testing, though current legislation limits our testing through BC laboratories. Labs can be ordered by Naturopathic Physicians; however the cost is not covered by Medicare, and patients need to pay out of pocket. We also use laboratory testing through various private labs in Canada and the US, including food sensitivity tests, stool microbiology testing, methylation and genomics tests and many more. Dr. Kellie can also perform a skin prick environmental allergy test and can prescribe sublingual desensitization.
Meet Dr.Kellie
Dr. Kellie Ferguson (she/her) is a Naturopathic Physician (ND) licensed in British Columbia.
Dr. Kellie became interested in this type of medicine while working on her Bachelor’s degree in Microbiology at the University of Victoria. She learned about it through her Naturopthic Physician, Dr. Lisa Connoly, and she quickly realized she had found her passion. She chose to do her training at Bastyr University in Seattle because it offered science-based training but still stayed true to the natural and whole person focus.
Dr.Kellie graduated and finished her licensing exams in 2005 and her prescription certification in 2010. She now practices Naturopathic family
medicine, with a focus in nutrition and botanical medicine. Dr. Kellie has a special interest in pediatric and women’s health, as well as mood and digestive support.
Dr. Kellie worked through her Biomedical Autism training in 2008. She has worked with the Greater Victoria Libraries, the Victoria Brain injury Society and has done talks in Women’s and Men’s Health, Preconception, Brain injury and Diet Support, ADHD and Pediatric Nutrition.