Naturopathic Medicine

By integrating traditional natural therapies with the latest scientific research, our doctors offer an effective and unique treatment plan at one of our Calgary Naturopathic Clinics. This helps patients achieve the level of health and wellness that allows them to get the most out of life. As specialists in injection therapies our Calgary Naturopathic Doctors have completed extensive training in the management of musculoskeletal injuries and chronic pain syndromes.

• Nutritional Support/Counseling
• Food Sensitivity Testing
• Meridian Stress Assessment

Our mental health affects how we think, feel and act. It is central to our wellbeing. Unfortunately, mental and emotional problems are often left untreated. Please complete the following questionnaires to understand where you stand when it comes to stress, mood and sleep.

Stress

Stress is the plague of modern life. Many aspects of our everyday life are very stressful. Financial concerns, uncertainty, change, our attitudes and perspectives, health and emotional problems are all major sources of stress. Of course, the COVID-19 pandemic has been a major source of stress and fear in the last year.

Our body responds to stress by triggering our “fight or flight” response. This response is mediated by stress hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol and allows us to react quickly to danger. Problems arise when high levels of stress become chronic. Faced with chronic stress we eventually exhaust our resources and end up facing exhaustion and burnout.

Chronic stress increases the risk of depression, headaches, heartburn, frequent infections, gastrointestinal problems, heart disease, hypertension, diabetes and sexual difficulties. Stress leads to more anxiety, irritability, overeating and substance use.

There are many effective ways of dealing with stress. If stress is affecting your sleep, mood or interpersonal relationships, take steps to bring back balance to your life, make an appointment with one of our health professionals.

Anxiety

Anxiety is a chronic feeling of excessive worry, fear and apprehension. It is a normal response to stress but it does not go away in the absence of a stressor. Anxiety is a survival strategy, a built-in warming system meant to protect us from danger. Some anxiety can be helpful, it can help avoid accidents and perform better. It also allows us to give careful considerations to a variety of outcomes.

The problem is that living in constant fear and worry takes its toll on mental health. When we are anxious and stressed, the body releases stress hormones. Unfortunately long term exposure to those hormones is detrimental to our health. Stress hormones increase the likeliness of becoming obese, increase blood pressure, reduce productivity, and increase the risk of gastrointestinal problems, headaches, depression, irritability and insomnia.

Anxiety disorders are some of the most common health disorders. There are typically chronic problems and usually get worse without treatment. Anxiety can become overwhelming leading to impairments in social and occupational roles.

The good news is that anxiety is highly treatable. Unfortunately anxiety problems are under recognized and undertreated in primary care. Whenever anxiety leads to distress or other complications in daily life, treatment is required.

If anxiety is sabotaging your life, do not wait – contact us immediately to regain control. Simple interventions can substantially improve your quality of life.

Insomnia

If you are unable to fall asleep or stay asleep, you suffer from insomnia.

Insomnia is a very common problem with studies from 2014-2015 reporting that 23.8% of Canadians older than 18 had problems falling or staying asleep for more than a year. Sleep problems have worsened in the last few years. There has been a staggering 42% increase in symptoms of night time insomnia in the last 6-7 years.i Poor sleep erodes mental health and predisposes to depression, anxiety and a poor quality of life. Insomnia also affects our physical health increasing the risks of obesity, heart disease and stroke. Lack of sleep and fatigue also significantly increases the risk of accidents.

The economic burden of insomnia in Canada is estimated to be more than $5000 per person per year. Most of this cost is a result of lost productivity and missed workdays.

We should all be able to get the sleep we need. Unfortunately, sleep problems often go untreated – yet insomnia is highly treatable. If you do not sleep well and feel tired from the moment you wake up, please make an appointment before insomnia leads to mental health problems.