I have been practicing as a Naturopathic Doctor in Calgary since 2006, and since that time I have treated a variety of health conditions. In this blog, I want to talk about the Health Conditions I most commonly see.

I see many patients dealing with health concerns that don’t seem to have a simple answer. Patients that are constantly tired, experiencing poor digestion, imbalanced hormones, anxiety and poor sleep, or living with pain that just doesn’t seem to go away.

Many of my patients have seen their family doctor and had testing done and everything comes back normal, but they still just don’t feel like themselves. Some patients have a medical diagnosis and want support with that diagnosis.

These are just some of the reasons people come to see me at my Calgary naturopathic medicine practice.

As a Naturopathic Doctor, I look at the whole person—not just the diagnosis or the individual symptom. I want to understand what is happening in your body, what may be contributing to your symptoms, and what we can do to support your health.

Every patient is different, so your treatment plan should be individualized to you.

 

What health conditions can a Naturopathic Doctor help with?

In my NW Calgary practice, I work with patients experiencing a wide variety of health concerns, including:

• Digestive problems
• Hormonal and women’s health concerns
• Fatigue and low energy
• Stress and anxiety
• Sleep difficulties
• Chronic pain
• Arthritis
• Fibromyalgia
• Headaches and migraines
• Skin conditions
• Allergies and respiratory concerns
• Cardiovascular and metabolic concerns
• Thyroid concerns
• Menopause and perimenopause
• PMS and menstrual concerns
• Endometriosis
• And many other health concerns

My website has individual blogs covering many of these conditions, including constipation, acid reflux, hormonal acne, PMS, endometriosis, arthritis, frozen shoulder and carpal tunnel syndrome.

Let’s dive a little deeper into some of these categories of health!

 

Digestive health

Digestive problems are one of the most common reasons patients come to see me.

I often see:

• Bloating
• Gas
• Constipation
• Diarrhea
• Heartburn or acid reflux
• Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
• Food sensitivities
• Abdominal discomfort
• Changes in digestion
• Inflammatory bowel conditions such as Crohn’s and Ulcerative Colitis

Sometimes people have lived with digestive symptoms for years and have simply come to accept them as normal.

But things like bloating, constipation, reflux or frequent digestive discomfort shouldn’t be ignored and thought of as common or normal.

When I work with a patient who has digestive concerns, I want to understand the whole picture, and I want to understand what is causing these symptoms.

I will look at my patient’s diet, digestion, bowel habits, stress, sleep, medications, and other factors that may be relevant to the individuals symptom picture. Depending on the patients symptoms, additional testing may also be appropriate. For some patients, this may include comprehensive stool testing or food sensitivity testing.

Digestion affects a patient’s energy, hormones, skin, immune system, cravings, and weight, so it is a very important pillar of health to optimize!

 

Women’s Health and Hormonal Concerns

Hormonal changes can affect almost every aspect of a woman’s health.

I work with women experiencing concerns such as:

• PMS
• Menstrual cramps
• Heavy or irregular periods
• Perimenopause
• Menopause
• Endometriosis
• Fibroids
• Hormonal acne
• Hormonal changes associated with stress
• Difficulty with weight management
• Low energy
• Sleep changes

Hormonal symptoms can sometimes be frustrating because they don’t always occur in isolation and can be difficult to pinpoint. Sometimes these symptoms are subtle and easy to ignore but sometimes they significantly affect quality of life.

Depending on my patient’s health history and symptoms, hormone testing may also be appropriate. I use Dutch hormone testing in certain patients when more detailed information about hormone and stress-related patterns may be helpful.

 

Perimenopause and Menopause

Perimenopause and menopause are times of significant hormonal change. A lot of patients feel that they were unprepared for these changes, and although more women are open about their struggles, this can still be a very difficult and confusing period of life. This is especially true when women are juggling stressful careers, children, aging parents, and running a household.

Many women are surprised by how many different symptoms can appear during this stage of life.

You may notice changes in:

• Sleep
• Energy
• Mood
• Weight
• Menstrual cycles
• Temperature regulation
• Libido
• Stress tolerance

You don’t have to assume that you simply have to “put up with it.”

The goal is to help you understand the changes occurring in your body and develop an individualized approach to support you through this stage of life.

 

Fatigue and Low Energy

“Why am I so tired all the time?”

This is a question I hear often in my practice, and sometimes there is an obvious answer, but most of the time there are multiple factors contributing.

This is a symptom that can have so many different causes, that I really need to query deeper into a patients lifestyle. I look at diet, sleep, stress, blood sugar regulation, lifestyle and so much more, in addition to running bloodwork to rule out any nutritional deficiencies that could be contributing.

 

Stress, Anxiety and Sleep

Our bodies don’t separate physical health from emotional health.

Stress can affect sleep, digestion, energy, hormones and mood. And when you’re not sleeping well, everything else can feel more difficult.

I work with patients experiencing:

• Anxiety
• Depression
• Chronic stress
• Feeling overwhelmed
• Burnout
• Poor sleep, including difficulty falling asleep and staying asleep, and waking tired

 I want to understand what your body and mind are experiencing and help you develop practical strategies that fit into your life.

Lifestyle counselling and stress management are important components of my naturopathic approach.

 

Chronic Pain, Muscle Tension and Injuries

 

Living with pain can affect much more than your physical body.

Pain can interfere with:

• Sleep
• Exercise
• Work
• Mood
• Relationships
• Energy
• Overall quality of life

I work with patients experiencing a variety of pain and musculoskeletal concerns, including arthritis, fibromyalgia, headaches, migraines, muscle tension, frozen shoulder, carpal tunnel syndrome and other injuries.

 

Headaches and Migraines

Headaches and migraines are incredibly disruptive to my patient’s busy lifestyles.

When I work with someone experiencing recurring headaches or migraines, I don’t only want to suppress the pain. I want to look at what is causing these recurrent headaches and migraines.

I also look at:

• Stress
• Sleep
• Nutrition
• Hydration
• Hormonal changes
• Muscle tension
• Food sensitivities
• Lifestyle factors

Depending on the individual, Acupuncture and Bowen Therapy may also be considered as part of an individualized treatment plan.

 

Skin Conditions

Your skin can provide clues about you overall health including your digestion, your hormones, and your liver health.

I work with patients experiencing concerns such as:

• Acne and hormonal acne
• Eczema
• Psoriasis
• Rosacea
• Dry skin
• Rashes and hives

Although treating my patients skin is top priority because it can affect one’s self confidence, I always want to look deeper. I often do food sensitivity testing here along with individually tailored supplements and herbs.

 

Cardiovascular and Metabolic Health

Naturopathic medicine can also provide supportive care for patients working on cardiovascular and metabolic health.

This may include concerns such as:

• High blood pressure
• High cholesterol including elevated Lipoprotein A and Apo B
• Low normal HDL levels
• Blood sugar concerns including Diabetes
• Weight management
• Family history of Cardiovascular events

Nutrition, exercise, stress, sleep and other lifestyle factors can all play important roles in cardiovascular and metabolic health. Prevention is also a huge focus here even for patients that don’t have anything diagnosed, as these health concerns are so common.

 

As you can see, I have treated quite a variety of health conditions in my Naturopathic Medicine practice. The key is to look deeper into each patient’s individual health history and concerns and develop an individualized treatment plan to support that patient. Sometimes other symptoms are uncovered in our discussions, and most of the time these symptoms are connected to each other, and point to root causes of what is going on.

 

If you have any questions about if Naturopathic Medicine is right for you, please don’t hesitate to contact me at my NW Calgary practice!

 

Dr. Ramona Charikar BScH, ND

Naturopathic Vitality Acupuncture and Wellness Clinic

205-5403 Crowchild Trail NW

Calgary, AB

(403) 719-2594