Naturopathic doctors are trained in various techniques and have the skill set to treat different concerns and conditions with a combination of therapies Dr. Driedger will use her clinical judgment to formulate a treatment plan specific to your needs and goals using any combination of the following services and therapies.
Intravenous Nutrient Therapy
Intravenous (IV) Nutrient Therapy delivers high doses of vitamins and minerals directly into the bloodstream, bypassing the digestive system and allowing for higher bioavailability of nutrients into the body. This is and can be especially beneficial for those with a compromised digestive system that might not be absorbing nutrients properly from food. With heightened access to nutrients the body can experience improved energy, a stronger immune system, improved detoxification, improved sleep and faster recovery from sport.
Sports Medicine
Dr. Driedger's number one passion is sports medicine, she grew up playing competitive sports and endured her fair share of injuries introducing her to physiotherapy at a young age. She has a foundation and background working as a kinesiologist before becoming an ND and further training to include treatments for both acute and chronic pain. The techniques she uses include trigger point release, soft tissue mobilizations, naturopathic manipulations/ adjustments, cupping and active release to reduce healing time, inflammation and recurrence of injury.
Prolotherapy
Prolotherapy is a nonsurgical proliferative regenerative injection therapy that strengthens and repairs the connective tissue structures around the joint of discomfort and instability. By increasing the stability, pain is often reduced or eliminated completely. The goal of therapy is to create and promote normal fibrous tissue regeneration of ligaments, tendons and joint capsules by injecting a solution that has the capacity to produce these tissues. As the new tissue forms, the hypermobile joint stabilizes through tightened connective tissue reinforcement. Dr. Driedger is currently licensed to perform these injections on peripheral joints which can be useful for anyone suffering from repeated dislocations and ligament tears.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture is the act of inserting very thin needles into the skin in predetermined specific locations along meridian lines of the body. In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) the meridian lines correspond to different organ systems each representing different aspects of health. The goal of traditional acupuncture practice is to stimulate the Qi, the term given for the energy and life-force that flows along the meridian channels. Aside from stimulating the Qi acupuncture can be beneficial for:
- Pain reduction
- Relaxation
- Increased energy
- Hormone balancing
- Botanical Medicine
Staying true to the principles of naturopathic medicine and the healing power of nature, botanical medicine is the practice and art of using plants and their extracts to support the body through its healing process. The beauty of this form of medicine is that it can be completely customized to each individual and their health needs when blending on site in the clinic dispensary using dry herbs in tea form or the liquid extractions of tinctures.
Nutrition & Diet
Food is our foundation, every chemical process and reaction in the body from energy production to tissue repair and regeneration depends on the nutrients we get from our food. Knowing that then, it is essential to consider how the foods you consume are affecting and contributing to your health. As a general rule when our body is deficient in or has a sensitivity to certain foods it can and will react in a wide variety of ways presenting with diverse symptoms from fatigue, insomnia, acne or skin and hair conditions, bloating and digestive concerns as well as mood disturbances, recurrent illness and prolonged recovery form illness and injury to name just a few.
There are countless diets and lifestyles around food, it can be daunting to navigate and find what works for your body. I believe that there is no one diet that is fit for everyone, like the rest of our medicine the foods that one body needs might be drastically different from the next. Eat well, feel well I truly believe this, as Hippocrates said “Let food be thy medicine”.
Lab Testing & Diagnosis
The ability to track and test what is happening in the body through laboratory and diagnostic testing can be a useful tool to monitor the progress of certain conditions. Dr. Driedger is able to refer for any LifeLab testing and offers an array of in-house testing including:
- Food sensitivity testing
- Hormone testing
- Urinalysis
- Stool analysis
Prescriptive Authority
Dr. Driedger is licensed and certified in the province of British Columbia to prescribe pharmaceuticals. She will use her clinical judgment and reasoning to determine whether using pharmaceuticals alone, or in combination with natural health products and modalities is indicated and safe for her patients.
Botanical Medicine
Staying true to the principles of Naturopathic medicine and the healing power of nature, botanical medicine is the art and science of using plants and their extracts to support the body. Plants have an innate ability to heal, whether we choose to use individual constituents or combine whole plants. Herbs will be chosen and formulated for your specific health needs.