Naturopathic Medicine is a complementary addition to your current health care system. We work in collaboration with YOU and any other health care providers you may have on your roster. Naturopathy looks at the human body as a whole working system, and believes collaboration is key to optimal health.
Naturopathy differentiates itself from the general health care system by identifying and healing the root cause of a given health problem as opposed to focusing on the most prevalent or recent symptom. Naturopathic Doctors use a natural and scientific approach to improving biochemical and physiological imbalances. They are trained in common medical diagnoses as well as their eastern medicine equivalents. Along with treating specific conditions, they also emphasize illness prevention as well as a healthy diet and lifestyle. Naturopaths pride themselves on individualized care and understand that what may work for one individual may not work for another. The most important person in an appointment is YOU, a Naturopathic Doctor is simply there to help guide you through your healing journey.
To become a Naturopathic Doctor (ND), an individual must complete an undergraduate program with the required prerequisites. That individual must then complete a 4 year program at an Accredited Naturopathic College, of which there are only 2 in Canada. The Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine delivers more than 3,000 hours of in-classroom training and 1,200 hours of clinical experience in biomedical sciences, clinical medicine, clinical nutrition, Traditional Asian Medicine, acupuncture, botanical medicine, physical medicine, physical exams and labs. After finishing their 8+ years educational journey, a Naturopathic Doctor finalizes the process by writing a series of board exams. All Naturopathic Doctors are required to continue their education throughout their career.
The title "Naturopathic Doctor" is a legal safeguard, reserved exclusively for those who have completed 8+ years of extensive education, rigorous testing, and essential licensing. In British Columbia, all Naturopathic Practitioners are formally and exclusively licensed under the College of Complementary Health Professionals of BC (CCHPBC). Designations like "Natural Health Practitioner" or "Alternative Health Practitioner" have no regulatory oversight and lack the essential formal training required for ensuring safe, effective care.
We strongly recommend that you inquire and validate the education, training, and licensing of any practitioner in the realm of natural medicine. The uninformed advice of these untrained individuals poses serious health risks, even when utilizing natural health products. Our unwavering commitment is to protect our community's well-being, ensuring you receive care that aligns with the highest standards of safety and effectiveness.
Notably, there are only five Naturopathic Doctors Registered with CCHPBC in North Eastern British Columbia. Among them, two practice at Oak Naturopathic Clinic in Dawson Creek (Dr. Ayla and Dr. Elena), while the remaining three are based at clinics in Fort St. John (Dr. Amanda, Dr Miyah and Dr Kim).
Naturopathic Doctors in BC are trained in a broad scope of medicine, and with additional certifications, can offer a wide range of services beyond what many expect from naturopathic care. At Oak Clinic, both Dr. Ayla and Dr. Elena have pursued advanced training to provide comprehensive, integrative care under one roof.
Our doctors are licensed and trained to offer the following:
Naturopathic medicine is a good fit for anyone who has already been diagnosed, is seeking a second opinion, hasn't seen a practitioner in years, or simply feels like something is off but hasn't been able to get clear answers. You don't need to be unwell to benefit, many of our patients come to us for preventive care or health optimization.
At the base of every health plan is diet and lifestyle change, goals you and your doctor will build together to ensure they're realistic and sustainable. From there, your treatment plan is individualized to you and may include targeted supplementation, botanical medicine, physical therapies, or pharmaceutical support. When appropriate, we also take a collaborative approach and refer to other providers, your MD, physiotherapist, chiropractor, or acupuncturist, because we believe the best outcomes come from working as a team.
That said, naturopathic medicine tends to be particularly well-suited for those dealing with:
If you've ever left a medical appointment feeling like there wasn't enough time to get to the root of what's going on, naturopathic medicine was designed with exactly that in mind. Our appointments are thorough, individualized, and built around you.
As Naturopathic Doctors, services and testing are partially or fully covered by many extended health plans. Please check with your plan administrator.
Dr. Ayla is a full-time Naturopathic Doctor, seeing patients Monday through Thursday. She runs a general clinic but does focus her time on digestive and hormone concerns.
Dr. Elena is a full-time Naturopathic Doctor. While she operates a general clinic, her expertise and primary areas of focus are mental health, digestion, hormonal health, and cardiovascular disease.
