Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is naturopathic medicine, anyway?
In short, it’s awesome. My fave. I’ll tell you all about it right here.
2. What is the Metabolism Plan?
It’s just the best nutrition program ever by Lyn-Genet Recitas. Find out about my experience with it here.
3. Can you help me with…
The cool thing about being a naturopathic doctor is that I’m trained as a general practitioner, so in a word yes, I can generally help you with what ever is going on. However, I have particular experience and success treating people with their:
- stress, anxiety, insomnia,
- skin issues
- digestive problems
- reproductive and hormonal imbalances
4. How did you get into this line of work?
At age 10 I declared my desire to be a pediatrician. I wanted to help kids get better so they could have tons of fun. However, through my own health challenges as a teen I became disenchanted with the conventional medical system. I was shuffled out of doctor’s offices with prescriptions meant to fill the empty hole I was feeling for not being heard.
The reality was, I wanted to help people in a meaningful way. At 18 I discovered a perfect-fit alternative, something that would combine all my skills and loves. I knew my life (and possibly yours) would never be the same.
In university I studied the human body in overdrive; I majored in Kinesiology and minored in Contemporary Dance. After uni I spent four MORE years studying Naturopathic Medicine. Check out my full story and professional bio here.
And, now I’m a Naturopathic Doctor, in Nanaimo, BC. I do a bunch of naturopathic and conventional medical gobbledee-gook, but only because I’m committed to world peace.
I believe healthy, happy people doing what they love contribute to a more peaceful world.
5. Where did you study?
I like to consider myself a student of life, but it took quite a bit of formal training to get those fancy letters after my name. I studied for 4 years at the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine, after completing my undergrad degree at Simon Fraser University, majoring in Kinesiology and minoring in Contemporary Dance.
6. What makes you good at what you do?
Lets back up, a lot. There are three things that I’ve been really good at since I was kid, which make my job come naturally.
1. Solving puzzles:
I have resourceful brain built for finding solutions. I do this every day. With every patient, in every visit. We put the individual pieces together. Sometimes it’s tricky, but it’s certainly never boring. Helping people unpackage the cause of their symptoms is like Christmas morning to me.
2. Being a safe space (for people to share their stuff):
I have a knack for helping people feel at ease. People tell me things they “have never told anyone before.” Even strangers! On the bus! I consider this to be one of my super powers.
3. Doing my own silly thing:
I believe we’ve all got a unique path to our optimal health and happiness. Health care can’t be a one-size-fits all solution. I help my patients find their own way. You gotta do your own thing.
I certainly do mine. In spite of my fancy title, I’m a down right goof, and I love to laugh. Your journey to health doesn’t have to be so serious. In fact, it’s my life’s mission to make it more FUN.
4. Dancing:
I know I said 3 things, but number 4 is a bonus and really key. Dancing runs in my blood and won’t ever change. My extensive dance training helps me understand other people’s bodies on a deeper level. Plus, movement is such an important part of our physical and emotional health. For that reason, you may find me doing kicks and spins around the office when you’re here. Go with it. It’s all just part of the experience.
7. Is naturopathic medicine covered under BC’s Medical Services Plan?
Nopers. And there’s a pretty great reason for it. (I’ll explain.)
In the early ’90s, naturopathic doctors were under MSP, and truth be told, they got paid a nominal fee per patient visit. To make a livable living, the docs had to maximize the number of patients they saw in a day. That limited the amount of time they had available for each patient.
As a result, they weren’t able to offer the type of care that we NDs pride ourselves on. That’s why my predecessors opted OUT of MSP. We bill privately, but we get to spend tons of time with YOU, our valued and unique patient. Often extended health insurance plans will cover the entire or a portion of the visit fee. Check it out with your provider.
8. I hear naturopathic doctors in BC can prescribe medications. Doesn’t that disagree with your philosophy?
Au contraire. My mission is to help people be healthy and happy, and my philosophy is to use the safest, most effective treatment.
There’s time and a place for everything. Some of my patients, despite our best intentions to do things naturally, only respond to certain medications. If their lives are better with a certain med, so be it. We can use the natural stuff to support their physiology and prevent side effects. We will continue to dig a little deeper to find the root cause of what’s going on. The drugs – whether nutritional, herbal, or pharmaceutical – buy time and make people more comfortable while we search for that understanding.
9. I just met you at a party. Can you look at this rash on my butt?
No. And I’ll tell you why.
A) I’m off the clock.
B) That rash could mean a lot of things. To properly assess and address it, we need to sit down and talk about the factors in your life or lifestyle that may be contributing to it. You deserve my undivided attention to get to the ‘bottom’ of it.
C) Even if I did look at it, I can’t legally provide advice without taking you on as a patient, which I can’t do now (see answer A).
10. Where did you grow up and what brought you to Nanaimo?
Vancouver. Love.
11. Why did you call your clinic Tonic Naturopathic?
The name of the clinic is:
A) Partly related to its purpose – my intention is for the clinic and it’s practitioners to tonify and reinvigorate your body, mind and/or spirit
B) And partly punny – my name is spelled unusually. Tonia. With an O and an I. To help people with the phonetics I’ll often introduce myself as “Tonia as in Tonic.”
12. Have you actually been asked all of these questions?
Yes. Various forms of #10 have made for a few interesting dinner parties.
So that’s me. And you.