About Isis van
I believe in empowering you to make your own health decisions, based on the best available information and your individual needs and wishes. I offer many tools and many years of experience to help you to do this.
A primary goal of treatment is to address the underlying cause(s) of illness and to avoid treatments that might complicate or worsen any existing disease process.
There are several foundational aspects of health. The first is genetics. We can't do a lot to change genetics, but we can influence how they are expressed. This is very much related to how you live your life. Your attitudes, stressors, activities, nutrition and exposures to toxins and other harmful elements all influence how healthy you are.
Naturopathic medicine is versatile and can be used to address most acute and chronic issues. Some common complaints that people ask me to help them with include: allergies; digestive problems; fatigue; sleep disturbances; immune disorders including autoimmune and cancer; hormonal issues including PMS, menopause and fertility; joint disorders, blood sugar regulation, weight issues and diabetes; cardiovascular disease including high blood pressure, high cholesterol and metabolic syndrome.
There are many treatment options available to you. Basic therapies include nutritional and botanical medicine, homeopathy, physical medicine, injections and intravenous therapies, and wellness counselling. Additionally I am certified in acupuncture. With the recent return of prescriptive authority to my profession, as an authorized NDs I can now write prescriptions for a wide range of medications including bio-identical hormones.
I enjoy the opportunity to work with people of all age groups and welcome people from diverse backgrounds and circumstances.
I received my post graduate degree in Naturopathic Medicine from Bastyr University in 1995, where I also worked as a research assistant developing a database on complementary cancer treatments, and completed a yearlong wellness counselling specialty. I have been practicing in New Westminster since then. In addition to private practice, as the charter dean of clinical education I designed, implemented and supervised the clinical education program, through to full international accreditation status, at the local naturopathic college from 2002 to 2009. I have also served on both my provincial and national naturopathic association boards.
Naturopathic Doctors (NDs) are fully trained as primary care physicians. This means that NDs evaluate, diagnose and treat disease in human beings. As well, we are trained to recognize and promote wellness and health. Naturopathic training involves four years of post-secondary training and includes courses in the basic medical sciences such as pathology, anatomy physiology, biochemistry, laboratory science etc., as well as extensive training in botanical medicine, therapeutic nutrition, homeopathy and physical medicine. NDs are trained to work with conventional health care providers, and to recognize and refer as necessary. NDs are regulated by the College of Naturopathic Physicians of BC, under the Health Professions Act.
Naturopathic Medicine is useful for preventive medicine and health maintenance, as well as to treat disease. Virtually all chronic and most acute conditions can benefit from treatment by Naturopathic Medicine. Medical emergencies are referred to the local hospital. Many people are already under conventional care, and Naturopathic Doctors are trained to work as a team with other health care providers to provide the best possible care for our patients. A few conditions which are commonly treated with Naturopathic Medicine include fatigue and related conditions, ADD/ADHD, infertility, depression and other mood disorders, skin diseases, allergies, digestive problems, colds and flus, hormonal imbalances, sleep disorders, headaches, asthma, weight issues, menopausal disorders, cancer treatment and prevention, sports and other injuries, and detoxification/cleansing.
Naturopathic Principles
1. The healing power of nature
2. First do no harm
3. Treat the whole person
4. Doctor as teacher
5. Find the cause
