Naturopathic Medicine
Naturopathic medicine is primary care medicine that treats the underlying cause of disease; it is the art and science of supporting the natural healing processes of the patient and removing any obstacles to those processes when possible. It is the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of physical, mental and emotional conditions; and it is the promotion of well-being using therapeutics that primarily support or enhance a patient’s overall health.
In BC, naturopathic doctors (NDs) are licensed to provide primary health care: Health care that emphasizes disease prevention by providing an individualized, patient-centered focus on healthy living, natural health products and therapies, diet, appropriate diagnostic testing and, when appropriate, integrating conventional medical care with complementary care.
Naturopathic doctors complete an estimated 1500 hours in basic biomedical sciences, 1900 hours of standard medical therapeutics (e.g., pharmacology, family medicine, internal medicine, etc.) and extensive training in naturopathic treatments. Naturopathic doctors pass both provincial and international exams prior to receiving licensure. Many naturopathic doctors in BC have additional college-certified training in pharmaceutical prescriptions, medical aesthetics, IV and injection therapies, and physical medicine procedures such as prolotherapy.
At Hydrate Wellness we offer all of these.
Naturopathic doctors in BC receive a minimum of three years pre-medical training at a university then complete four years post-graduate training at an accredited naturopathic medical school. 
Virtually all acute and chronic conditions may benefit from treatment by naturopathic physicians. Medical emergencies are referred to the local hospital.
Seeing an ND for the first time may be similar to seeing an MD—all primary care providers review health history and request standard diagnostic tests—but a consultation with an ND also encompasses a thorough assessment of personal health risks, including diet, exercise and stress. We may also recommend more functional diagnostic testing that goes beyond your basic lab testing.
ND’s spend more time with their patients to gain full understanding of the needs for their patients. At Hydrate, your initial consultation with the Doctor is scheduled for 1 hour.
What to expect on your first ND visit
diagnostic and functional testing:LIFE LABS
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ALLERGY TESTING
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FOOD AND ENVIRONMENTAL
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SIBO
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DUTCH HORMONE TESTING
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MICRONUTRIENT TEST
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STOOL ANALYSIS
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LIFE LABS • ALLERGY TESTING • FOOD AND ENVIRONMENTAL • SIBO • DUTCH HORMONE TESTING • MICRONUTRIENT TEST • STOOL ANALYSIS •
REGENERATIVE and PAIN MANAGEMENT THERAPIES -
Prolotherapy is an injection technique for treating chronic pain around the joints, tendons, bursae, and ligaments of the neck, back and extremities. A high concentration of dextrose (a gentle, yet natural irritant), sterile saline and anesthetic is injected into and around the stabilizing structures of joints to help strengthen the supporting structures.
How it Works: It causes a temporary low grade inflammation at the injection site activating fibroblasts. It increases platelet derived growth factor expression and other signaling mechanisms that stimulates repair. Fibroblasts are stimulated which matures collagen and reinforces connective tissues.
Inflammation caused by prolotherapy raises growth factors to continue or start tissue repair which had been prematurely aborted or never started. It can strengthen and reinforce tendons and ligaments and in total causes a decrease in painful signals arising from the nerves in the lax ligamentsWho is it for? Any joint with ligament laxity and tendon pain. Locations that have shown the most benefit include ankle, knee, elbow, low back, SI joint.
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Is the injection of prolotherapy solutions followed by ozone intra-articularly to amplify the healing response of the joint. It is also an effective antimicrobial which aids in preventing any infection from the injections.
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Botox and other neuromodulators can be used to effectively help with pain syndromes such as migraines, headaches and temporal-mandibular joint dysfunction.
Naturopathic Dispensary
Our in-house dispensary carries professional line nutraceuticals and skin care as a convenience for our patients’ needs. We often suggest certain formulations that have had clinical efficacy for particular conditions; retail health food store options are also recommended if that is preferred. For products that are not available at the clinic or if the patient requires them delivered to their home, Hydrate Wellness has options for online dispensary purchasing to make treatment compliance easier to attain.
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Hydrate Wellness is committed to offering the highest quality vitamins, minerals, botanical and nutraceuticals in our clinic dispensary. We carry professional line products such as NFH and Cytomatrix, who are committed Canadian companies that focus on education and unparalleled quality formulas and ingredients.
The professional dispensary items are for current patients only and not for retail sale.
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Our online dispensary is for patients who require supplement refills but are unable to make it into the clinic and can request to have a fullscript account where they can order the medicines they need. They will be delivered directly to your home.
Fullscript Portal -
Patients who have been prescribed Alumier skin care can order online the products they need once they have completed a skin care visit and have an account made for Alumier ordering. They will be delivered directly to your home.
