Q & A Part 1

You asked, and I answered!  Here are some of the questions that were sent in to me:





Q: Why is it so expensive to see a Naturopathic Doctor?

A: I can completely understand this question - seeing an ND, especially for the first time is not cheap.  It's definitely an investment in one's health.  A lot of how we view expenses, however, are based on our perceptions and how we compare them to each other.  In Canada, we receive 'free' healthcare (technically not free as funded by our taxes, but it feels that way - we see an MD and don't have to pay anything to them upfront).  What could be cheaper than free?

So, compared to conventional care, the price tag on naturopathic care seems pretty steep.  There are several things that can put this into perspective, however.  How much do you pay your hairstylist, mechanic, plumber?  How much do you spend on your car per year?  What about that morning coffee - it adds up!  Comparatively, naturopathic care is quite similar in terms of cost when comparing to these other services.  Don't you think you should invest a little more in your health?  By placing an importance on it now, you may be able to avoid sickness, chronic disease, and expensive prescription medication (that many people have to pay for on their own) and instead be strong, vital, and full of energy into your elder years.  It will pay off in the long run!





Q: Why do I get sick again soon after I've been on antibiotics?

A: The answer to this question has to do with all of the friendly bacteria that the antibiotics are killing off.  Many of us don't really realize it, but a huge percentage of our immune system actually resides in our gut and the friendly bacteria play an important role in keeping us healthy and our immune systems functioning well.  When they are killed off, we become vulnerable to other viruses and bacteria.  This is why taking probiotics both during an antibiotic treatment and afterwards is so important.  Discuss with your ND what an effective dose will be for you.

Furthermore, antibiotics are great in some instances and can and have saved lives, but they don't really fix the problem of why you got sick in the first place - why is your immune system not functioning as it should be?  Are you eating something (or lots of things) that are bogging you down and may not be agreeing with you?  Are you overly stressed?  Are you toxic?  Are you simply burned out?  All of these things can influence how often we get sick, and as antibiotics don't address any of these factors, you're going to continue to get sick until you do something that does address them.




Q: Why are NDs so 'gaga' over probiotics?  What's wrong with yogurt?

A: This is a great question, and one that I get all the time in practice.  Although yogurt has some probiotics in it, it doesn't have many, and what it had at the time of processing and production is probably mostly gone by the time it finds itself on your spoon.  CFU - colony-forming units is the standard unit used to measure the amount of bacteria present in a given food or product.  Yogurts won't give you this value, but it's low - in the millions.  Most probiotic supplements, however, are in the billions - I regularly prescribe probiotics from 8 billion CFU up to around 100 billion CFU and they are quite effective.  Some people can obtain some benefits from yogurt, but often the amount of bacteria is so small that the effects won't be huge, lasting, or be seen at all for someone who is in need of a larger dose.

Also, it should be pointed out that many many yogurts out there are not foods that you regularly want to consume.  Artificially sweetened - avoid at all costs.  Regularly sweetened - not as bad, but have you read how many GRAMS of sugar you're actually consuming, per one of those little yogurt cups?  It's not low!  The best yogurt to eat is a plain, unsweetened yogurt - not many people have actually tried this kind, being so accustomed to the sweetened types (even vanilla without any fruit is very sweetened).




Q: I've heard that NDs hate prescription medications and take their patients off of them.  Is this true?

A: Not true (at least for me, I can't speak for every ND).  It is true that we're not the biggest fans of prescription medications.  Often, they're not treating the cause of the health concern and can sometimes make things worse in the long run.  They can 'bog down' the body and stress the liver, and not many people want to be on a medication (or many medications) for life.  Having said that, there are times that they are needed and effective.  I would never suggest that someone stop a medication that is serving them well - first of all, that's not something that I can do as an ND (altering of a prescription should be done by the doctor who prescribed it), and secondly, that would just be bad health advice.

What I do see, and what more commonly happens in my office is that people become healthier, their bodies work better on their own, more optimally doing the function that the medication is helping them out with.  This can often be seen subjectively as well as objectively in lab or other diagnostic and radiological tests.  If I see this happening, I refer them back to their MD so that he/she can reassess whether the patient needs to be on that medication or not.  Often, the MD will decide to take the patient off of the medication if it's no longer needed (with continued monitoring, of course).

So, yes, people who see NDs do often end up stopping some medications eventually, but this is entirely up to the patient's MD and the patient - NDs are just catalysts in these instances, propelling the patients towards better health.  They're not the decision makers.




Q: It seems like natural treatments take a long time to see any effects whereas medical treatments have effects right away.  I can't deal with my symptoms anymore and can't wait that long for them to get better.  Why should I go the natural route instead of the conventional route?

A: Thank you for your question - this is one that I'm sure most everyone is thinking but not typically asked.  It's true, the conventional route may give you symptom relief - it's a quick fix.  It doesn't always work though - how often do you hear of people (or maybe have experienced this yourself) going back again and again to their doctor to get their prescription adjusted, or get new medications added to their current ones to address unwanted side effects of their first medication, or to get new medications when they need something stronger because their body isn't responding anymore.  This is all too common, and eventually, there are no more medications to add and conventional medicine literally runs out of options.  What do you do at that point?

Many people turn to alternative options.  What I recommend is for people to not wait until they get to that point.  Instead, seek out the alternatives first.  Yes, natural medicines take longer to work, but that's because they are treating the cause.  They're not a band-aid, quick-fix treatment.  They're working to re-balance and heal your body.  You have to remember, you didn't get this way overnight - it probably took years and years to develop whatever symptoms or health conditions you are currently experiencing.  You can't expect it all to go away in the blink of an eye.  If our bodies sucked, it would probably take just as many years of healing as you've had of disease to get you back to good health.  Luckily, our bodies are pretty awesome and are quite adept at self-healing as long as they're given the right tools and kept away from those things that are detrimental to them.  This is what naturopathic medicine is all about.  It aims to have lasting effects - a true cure!  It is harder work, but doesn't everything that's really worth it in life take hard work and determination?


That's it for now!  If you didn't see your question in this blog entry, look for it in Q & A Part 2.

Thanks again for sending in your questions.  I'd be happy to answer more - please send any others to corenaturopathics@gmail.com

So you've caught a cold...

What to do?

You have three options.


1. Don't do anything.  Let it run its course.

This is an okay option, but really, who wants to just be sick?  In our fast-paced, highly demanding culture, most of us don't have time to be sick.  We want to get better, and we want it now!  Also, this option can lead to bigger and "badder" things down the road - laryngitis, bronchitis, pneumonia...those are not good things to have, and they just require even more of our time.





2. Take some over-the counter cold medication.

This is the overwhelmingly common route.  Unfortunately, it's the worst out of the three.

My Asian Medicine professor back at CCNM always said, "Over the counter cold and flu medications lower your fever, dry up your nose, and stop your cough.  You just took away three of your body's natural defenses against cold and flu bugs."

And it's 100% true.

Let's take a look at  a common cold and flu product:

Nighttime formula INGREDIENTS

Active Ingredients (in each 15 ml tablespoon) (Purpose)

Acetaminophen 325 mg (Pain reliever/fever reducer)

Dextromethorphan HBr 15 mg (Cough suppressant)

Doxylamine succinate 6.25 mg (Antihistamine)

DAYtime formula INGREDIENTS

Active Ingredients (in each 15 ml tablespoon) (Purpose)

Acetaminophen 325 mg (Pain reliever/fever reducer)

Dextromethorphan HBr 10 mg (Cough suppressant)

Phenylephrine HCl 5 mg (Nasal decongestant)

Acetaminophen: analgesic (pain reliever) and antipyretic (fever reducer).  When we're sick, our bodies crank up the heat to kill the viruses and/or bacteria that are invading them.  Why do we want to turn this off?

Dextromethorphan: antitussive (cough suppressant).  We generally don't cough for no reason.  There's usually something irritating the lungs or the throat when we cough.  When we have a cold, that's usually mucous.  It's gross, but cough it up, you get better, cough goes away.  Don't cough it up, and it putrefies and often creates the perfect breeding ground for a secondary infection like bronchitis or pneumonia.

Doxylamine succinate: sedating antihistamine and belongs to a class of medications known as anticholinergics.  What these substances do is decrease mucous production in the nose and throat (which can actually make sore throats feel worse), dry the mouth, decrease sweating, urination, and bowel movements.  For a body that's trying to get rid of infected cells and the waste products of the immune system's attack on the virus/bacteria, this is pretty detrimental.  Furthermore, mucous in smaller amounts is a protective barrier for the body's "mucous membranes", hence the name.  Reduced urination can also increase the risk of urinary tract infections, especially in women - that's the last thing you want if you already have a cold!

Phenylephrine HCl: alpha1-adrenergic receptor agonist (used primarily as a decongestant).  This medication works by decreasing the blood flow to the blood vessels of the nose and sinuses, which leads to decreased mucosal swelling in the nose.  Again, you just need to think about why this symptom is happening in the first place to determine whether this medication is detrimental or not.  Plus, these decongestants are a prime example of everyone's favourite physics law: For every action there's a reaction.  Upon stopping this drug, many people experience rebound swelling of the nasal and sinus mucosa that can sometimes be worse than it was to begin with!

This post was only supposed to be about the pharmaceutical ingredients and their detrimental effects on healing from colds and flus, however, I can't not mention the "other stuff" that you're getting with these medications.  

Night Formula Inactive Ingredients

Soothing Cherry: acesulfame potassium, alcohol, citric acid, FD&C Blue No. 1, FD&C Red No. 40, flavor, high fructose corn syrup, polyethylene glycol, propylene glycol, purified water, saccharin sodium, sodium citrate

Day Formula Inactive Ingredients

Carboxymethylcellulose sodium, citric acid, disodium EDTA, FD&C Yellow No. 6, flavor, glycerin, propylene glycol, purified water, saccharin sodium, sodium benzoate, sodium chloride, sodium citrate, sorbitol, sucralose

Acesulfame potassium, saccharin sodium, sucralose: artificial sweeteners = poison

High fructose corn syrup: one of the worst forms of sugar you can consume and linked to virtually every chronic disease that is prevalent in Western society

FD&C Blue No. 1, FD&C Red No. 40, FD&C Yellow No. 6: toxic and linked to behavioural problems and hyperactivity in children.  Many are also banned in various countries

Polyethylene glycol: petroleum-based compound often contaminated with ethylene oxide and 1,4-dioxane (The International Agency for Research on Cancer classifies ethylene oxide as a known human carcinogen and 1,4-dioxane as a possible human carcinogen).

Propylene glycol: found in automatic brake and hydraulic fluid, industrial antifreeze, cosmetic products, stain removers, fabric softener, degreaser, adhesives, wallpaper stripper...you get the point, not something you really want to consume (even if it's in smaller concentrations).  The form used in cosmetics is known to be a skin irritant and can cause liver abnormalities and kidney damage.

Sodium benzoate: a preservative, known to be neurotoxic to aquatic animals and is toxic/lethal to humans in high doses, endocrine disruption and toxic to the liver at higher doses.  Most worrisome is when it combines with vitamin C (ascorbic acid) or citric acid (look above and you'll see citric acid in both the day and night formulations).  This combination creates benzene, a known carcinogen!

So, as you can see, even the "inactive" ingredients are trouble!  Definitely not something you want to ingest at any time, but especially not when you're fighting off a cold.

Finally, I'll get to your last option when you have a cold:

3. Take something natural!

If you're reading this article, I'm sure you've probably already come to this conclusion, too.  By taking something natural, you are treating the cause: the infection.  You're also working with the body, instead of against it.  You will most likely be sick for a shorter duration (or avoid getting sick altogether if you catch it early enough!) and drastically reduce your chances of developing any secondary infections like bronchitis or pneumonia.

You may be thinking, that's all fine and dandy, but what do I take?  You want to look for herbs with the following actions (adapted from Medical Herbalism by Hoffman):

Antimicrobial: help the body to destroy or resist pathogens, either by directly interacting with a pathogen or via the herb's interaction with the immune response.  These are useful in virtually all types of infections.  Herbs such as garlic, echinacea, and goldenseal fall into this category.

Anticatarrhal: these work by making mucous less viscous so that it's easier for the body to remove and are useful in ear, nose, and throat infections.  Herbs such as yarrow and goldenrod fall into this category.

Demulcent: rich in mucilage and can soothe and protect irritated or inflamed internal tissue.  These can be very soothing to sore throats due to infection or coughing, without adversely affecting the immune response.  Herbs such as marshmallow, slippery elm, and cornsilk fall into this category.

Expectorant: herbs that facilitate or accelerate the removal of bronchial secretions from the bronchi and trachea.  These don't stop the cough, they work with the body to make it work more efficiently!  There are expectorant herbs suited to dry, irritating coughs as well as those better suited to wet, productive coughs.  Herbs such as elecampane, sundew, horehound, and coltsfoot fall into this category.

As you can see, these actions are a lot more in line with nature and the body's natural immune response than the pharmaceuticals listed above.  If you feel a cold coming on or already have one, see your ND to send those bugs packing so you can get back to normal, quicker!

The information in this blog is designed for educational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for informed medical advice or care. You should not use this information to diagnose or treat any health problems or illnesses without consulting your doctor. Please consult a doctor with any questions or concerns you might have.

It’s that time of year again...

It is ragweed season, when many of us are mildly to severely afflicted with runny noses, itchy eyes, and sneezing.  Also for many, conventional antihistamines are not very effective.  Luckily, they are not our only option.  There are many other things that can be done to both control symptoms, but more importantly treat the root cause of the allergies and prevent them from happening in the first place:

Drink lemon water – Fresh lemon in water is very cleansing for the body, and because allergies are a sign of an overburdened liver, anything that stimulates liver cleansing will be beneficial.

Avoid processed food – These foods are full of chemicals and preservatives, which will only put more demands on the liver.  Eliminate or reduce your intake to reduce allergies.

Avoid food sensitivities – We all have them, to some degree.  These are not anaphylactic allergies, but chronic, delayed-response sensitivities to common foods such as wheat, dairy, soy, eggs, and others.  Continued ingestion of foods to which we are sensitive can cause immune system dysfunction.

Good bacteria – found in fermented foods as well as probiotic supplements, these guys help to balance the immune system are can be helpful in reducing allergies.

Neti pot – This natural treatment became popular after it appeared on Oprah.  It’s a saline nasal flush and has been found to be a mild and effective way to treat seasonal allergies by the International Archives of Allergy & Immunology.

Quercetin – This is a compound called a bioflavonoid that is derived from plants which acts as a natural antihistamine.  It can be found in citrus fruits, onions, apples, parsley, tea, tomatoes, broccoli, and lettuce, so eat up!  It can also be taken in supplemental form for those who can’t achieve high enough levels through diet alone.

Herbs – There are many traditional herbs that are useful in not only preventing the release of histamine but also in balancing the body and cleansing out any toxic burden that may be promoting allergies.  These are best taken under the guidance of a licensed professional.

Acupuncture – This ancient treatment has been used for thousands of years to treat many health concerns and diseases, including allergies.  In Chinese Medicine, allergies can be attributed to imbalances in several organs, and a Naturopathic Doctor or Acupuncturist experienced in traditional Chinese Medicine can create an individualized treatment uniquely tailored to each person’s unique predispositions and imbalances.

Sour Cream & Onion Kale Chips

After many requests, I've decided to share my recipe for sour cream and onion kale chips!  They're really not hard to make, and everyone that has tried them has seemed to love them!

To make the seasoning:

3/4 cup of raw cashews (or raw hemp seeds for more of a tart taste) - soak these in water overnight
2 tbsp. lemon juice
2 tbsp. raw apple cider vinegar (raw - ie. in the black bottle, with "mother" is a must)
1 tsp. salt
1 green onion, rough chop (green & white parts)
1-2 tbsp. of water to blend (use as little as possible, but enough to make the seasoning smooth & creamy)

Combine all ingredients in blender until smooth and creamy

Kale preparation:

Wash kale
Tear off pieces (how big - that's up to you!  How big would you like your chips to be?) into a big bowl
Add seasoning to kale and try to mix them up good and coat the kale chips as thoroughly as possible

Making em' crispy:

Spread seasoning-covered kale out on lined dehydrator trays or parchment-lined baking trays

Dehydrate at 105F for approx. 24 hours (you can try them throughout that time to see just how crispy you like them and can most definitely take them out before 24 hours if they are crispy enough for you!)

Alternatively, you can "oven dehydrate" on the lowest oven temperature with the door cracked open an inch or so for 1.5-2 hours, or until crispy.

We have a dehydrator, and find dehydrated kale chips to be preferable to oven cooked ones not only for the taste/consistency, but also because you're preserving all the raw goodness of the kale!

They will keep in an airtight container for a week or two (although I've never seen them stick around that long - always eaten sooner!)

And that's it!

Happy kalechipmaking!!

Ch-Ch-Ch-Chia!

Who remembers chia pets?  Turns out, chia seeds are good for more than growing cute little vegetative animals - they're super healthy!

Scientifically known as Salvia hispanica, chia is native to central & southern Mexico and Guatemala.  It was cultivated by the Aztecs and at one time, it was actually more valuable than gold!

Its common name, chia, is derived from the Nahuatl word, chian, which means oily.  This makes sense, as one of the biggest health benefits of chia seeds are derived from the amount of omega-3 fatty acids that they contain.  They are the richest natural plant source of omega-3's, containing 5g per serving (a serving is 28g), which is more than double the amount in a serving of salmon.  They drawback is that the type of omega-3's that it contains is alpha-linolenic acid (ALA).  ALA can be modestly converted to DHA and EPA, the metabolically active forms of omega-3's.

The benefits don't end there!  Chia seeds are jam-packed full of fibre.  At 11g per serving, that's approximately 40% of the average person's daily requirements.  Not only does the fibre help with digestion and weight loss (chia is very filling), but it's also useful in chronic health conditions including obesity, high cholesterol, and diabetes.

They are also nutrient-dense.  A serving of chia seeds is equivalent to 3 oz of whole milk in terms of calcium and 103 g of spinach in terms of iron (6x more iron!).  As iron can be a nutrient that's often a bit more difficult for vegans and vegetarians to get and to maintain adequate blood levels, chia seeds are a popular iron source for them.  Chia seeds are also a great source of phosphorus, manganese, potassium, zinc, and copper in addition to those mentioned above.

With 4g of protein per serving (equivalent to 44g of kidney beans) and loads of antioxidants (equal to 15g of blueberries), there's not much that chia seeds can't provide - they're a very nutritious, well-rounded whole food.

What's the best way to incorporate chia seeds into my diet?

 Chia seeds are great sprinkled on cereal, yogurt, or added to smoothies.  Many people like to let them soak for a bit to soften the seeds and make them less crunchy.

They can be purchased as is, however, there are also some companies that have started adding chia seeds to their product formulations.  Look out for them in heath food stores or in the organic section of your grocery store!

Social Media

Just in case you were wondering where I am on the web!

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I look forward to connecting with you all!

Yours in good health,

Dr. Jenna McNamee, ND

A bit about me...

Before I get going with the articles, I figured I should introduce myself a little better!  In case you're wondering, here's a little bit more info about me!

My Bio

"Dr. McNamee graduated first in her class of 120 students at the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine (CCNM), receiving her Naturopathic Doctor (N.D.) degree as well as the Governor’s Award of Excellence for her accomplishments. She is licensed to practice Naturopathic Medicine in Ontario and is currently a member of the Canadian Association of Naturopathic Doctors (CAND).

Throughout Dr. McNamee’s four years at CCNM, she received in-depth training in medical sciences, diagnosis, physical examinations and naturopathic modalities. During her final year, she saw patients on a full-time basis at the Robert Schad Naturopathic Clinic. Additionally, she completed a clinical rotation with Dr. Arvin Jenab ND., at the Queen West Community Health Centre, a free naturopathic clinic catering to low-income residents of the Queen West area in Toronto.

During Dr. McNamee’s formative years at CCNM, she had the opportunity to observe many naturopathic doctors in clinical practice, including Dr. Sandra Miranda, BSc, ND, and Dr. Joseph Kellerstein, DC, ND, FCAH, CCH. She had the privilege of working closely with Dr. Danny Wu, CMD., Dr. AC., PhD. for an extended period of time, expanding her knowledge in traditional Chinese medicine and acupuncture.

She completed her four-year undergraduate degree at McMaster University in the Bachelor of Health Sciences Honours Program, the only one of its kind in Ontario which draws upon a full range of clinical departments. She maintained her position on the Dean’s Honour List throughout her time there and received the McMaster President’s Award during her first year. She had the privilege of working with Dr. Arya M. Sharma, MD/PhD, FRCPC, Professor of Medicine & Canada Research Chair for Cardiovascular Obesity Research and Management in her last two years and was the runner-up in the Canadian Obesity Network Thesis Competition in 2007."

More information about my undergraduate program: http://fhs.mcmaster.ca/bhsc/
More information about the Naturopathic Medicine program: http://www.ccnm.edu/

And to finish off this blog post, I figured I'd add a couple of fun facts and common questions that I get asked!

Ten Fun Facts About Me!

1. How did you get interested in naturopathic medicine?

My parents were always into natural remedies for common conditions (colds, flus, etc.) and always attempted to use them prior to going the pharmaceutical route (although sadly I was definitely on my fair share of antibiotics growing up).  So, I had exposure to natural medicines from a young age.

As I entered my teens, my dad started seeing an acupuncturist and traditional Chinese herbalist (the same one that I ended up working with and shadowing many years down the road!).  Funny enough, as teens often do, I balked at these strange treatments and often made fun of the smelly teas that my dad brought home!  Ironically, my current practice is very much based in acupuncture and I do prescribe not so nice and/or smelly treatments sometimes too!

During this time, my aunt became ill with lung cancer.  While she was in the hospital, my dad brought her herbal teas from the Chinese herbalist daily.  Unfortunately, she didn't start the treatment until a very late stage in her disease and ended up passing away.  It was, however, my first exposure to using natural medicines for something more serious than the common cold.  Although it didn't work in this case, it did get the wheels turning.

Despite all of these exposures, I still wanted to be a conventional MD.  I had ever since I was thirteen years old and I didn't think anything would change that.  I was heavily involved in the sciences in high school and studied health sciences in university, still on my path towards becoming an MD.  It wasn't until the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine (CCNM) did a presentation at McMaster during my second year there, which I attended, that my path started to change.  It wasn't an immediate shift - I didn't really consider becoming an ND until about a year after the presentation.  

I began to research naturopathic medicine in more depth as well as conventional medicine, weighing the pros and cons of both.  I became increasingly frustrated with conventional medicine and it's limitations - namely a heavy reliance of pharmaceuticals and restraints of lengths of visits and time available to spend with patients.  I began to realize that in the majority of cases, drugs weren't curing diseases - they were simply masking and covering up symptoms so they weren't as bothersome anymore.  That wasn't good enough for me.  I wanted to do more than that, and I believed that it was possible to do more than that.

In my final two years, the courses that I took reflected this shift.  I studied nutrition and heavily focused on natural medicine in courses that allowed me the flexibility to study what interested me.  In my last year I applied to CCNM, and the rest is history!

2. Is it true that you initially rejected your acceptance to CCNM?

Sadly, yes!  It seems preposterous now and wildly stupid, but made sense at the time.  I still wasn't 100% committed to becoming an ND at the time when I applied.  I'd put so much effort (blood, sweat, and tears) into becoming an MD - it was my dream for almost half my life at this point.  I'd sacrificed a summer writing the MCAT and tortured myself with a year of organic chemistry.  To just give that all up and get off that path was really a hard decision even though, at this point, my belief in conventional medicine had greatly diminished.  It was difficult to let go.

I had applied to CCNM in January 2007 and received an acceptance letter back later that month (if I remember correctly).  Because of the caliber of my application, I was accepted even without an interview (rare)!  I clearly remember opening that acceptance letter while sitting on the couch.  It seemed too easy - where was the challenge?  I tossed it aside onto the table and laughed.  I didn't respond to it.  I even received a phone call from CCNM a couple of months later (as I was clearing my apartment out in Hamilton getting ready to move back home after graduation) and basically told them thanks but no thanks.  Thank God I soon (within a month or so of that call) realized my mistake and promptly contacted CCNM, desperately hoping that they'd take me back.  Luckily, they did and I started at CCNM in September 2007.

I eventually realized that naturopathic medicine's challenge wasn't getting in but it was the program itself.  I've been told by quite a few MD students that the ND program seems so much harder than theirs, most likely because of the fact that we have to study pretty much everything they do as well as multiple other complete systems of medicine (traditional Chinese medicine, botanical medicine, homeopathic medicine, clinical nutrition).  It was tough, and very challenging, which only made it all that much more worthwhile and rewarding once completed :)

3. What were your first exposures to working within the healthcare industry?

I first volunteered at Lakeridge Health Oshawa in the fracture clinic - I checked patients in, showed them to their rooms and coordinated the schedule and waiting room for that day.  In the summer after I graduated from high school, I was privileged to volunteer in the surgical suite.  I was a fascinating experience for me as I was always intrigued by surgery and all it entails.  I continued volunteering at the McMaster University Medical Centre in a variety of different settings throughout my undergrad.  Each position was enlightening and definitely a learning experience which I feel have contributed to my understanding of patients' experiences within the medical system.

4. Is it true that you didn't find out that you won the Governor's Award of Excellence until your graduation day?

Yes, that's right!  In true CCNM fashion, I wasn't notified at all about this award (I actually didn't even know that it existed!).  As I was lined up outside of convocation hall with my classmates, my boyfriend came to find me and said, "You didn't tell me that you won an award!"  He'd thought that I was keeping it a surprise from him and my family, he didn't know that I had no idea about it!  Needless to say, I was shocked.  Thankfully, I found out from him beforehand and didn't just find out when they called my name!  If that had happened, I REALLY would've been shocked, and I'm not sure that I would've made it to the stage without collapsing!!

5. Is it true that you grew up only a couple of minutes away from where you're now practicing?

Yes, also true!  From the age of five to nineteen, I lived in the Rossland/Waverly area of Oshawa.  I now practice in the Rossland/Simcoe area of Oshawa, which is just a few minutes away!  I even attended Adelaide McLaughlin Public School and R.S. McLaughlin Collegiate for both elementary and high school, which are even closer to my practice!  I never would've thought that I'd be working in the neighbourhood in which I grew up, but that's just the way it worked out and what I suppose life has planned for me right now.  I'm really happy to be back in Oshawa after being away at school for eight years and to be giving back to and serving my hometown.

6. What are your interests OUTSIDE of naturopathic medicine?

Good question!  Sometimes, it's easy to become consumed by your career, and instead of just having naturopathic medicine as a career, it can come to define who you are (which isn't good).

I've always been into music - I played alto saxophone from grade 7-12 and actively participated in the concert and jazz bands throughout my schooling and attended music camp (I guess you can say that I was somewhat of a band geek!).  I've also been into trampoline for a long time!  In addition to having one in my backyard for fun, I competed at the provincial level while I was in high school with Anti-Gravity Trampoline (http://www.anti-gravity.ca/).  Sadly, once I left for university the competitive days were over, but I still love to jump just for fun!  I also love rollerblading and biking in the summer.

Writing is an enjoyable hobby for me (I just completed my first novel!) and I absolutely LOVE roller coasters!  You can bet I'm going to be riding the new Leviathan coaster at Wonderland multiple times this summer :P  There are some groups that put together coaster trips where you can visit a bunch of parks and get early riding time on the best coasters - I'd love to do that one day.  I also love to travel and hope to visit lots of places in my lifetime!

7. What's your dream job/scenario (as an ND)?

I've always said that if I ever came into a huge amount of money I'd love to have a massive naturopathic medical clinic that offers naturopathic care and treatments free of charge.  There are so many people who could benefit from naturopathic medicine but many of them can't afford it.  I offer free fifteen minute meet the doctor consults, and it just breaks my heart when I see such a need and a willingness from the patient to pursue this type of medicine but without the funds that would enable them to do so.

8. Do you have a favourite naturopathic modality that you tend to rely on more than others?

Not really.  I truly believe in highly customized and individualized treatments, and therefore will choose what modalities are best suited for each patient.  This is dependent on a multitude of factors and does change over time as well.  Having said that, I do have a certain affinity for clinical nutrition (especially diet as that is often at the root of many health conditions), botanical/herbal medicine, and traditional Chinese medicine and acupuncture.  I currently don't practice naturopathic bodywork or spinal manipulation as I work in a clinic with chiropractors and massage therapists who are much more specialized in those modalities!

9. Do you have any siblings?

Yes, I have one younger brother, Jeffrey, and one younger sister, Rachael (I'm the oldest)!

10. Do you have any kids?

No, not at the moment!  I'd love to have kids one day though.  For now, I'm happy with my two beautiful nieces, Venessa and Claire.

And that's it!  Thanks for reading.  I hope you learned a little more about me :)

If you have any more questions, please send them my way (corenaturopathics@gmail.com) and I'd be happy to answer them.

Welcome!

Hi everyone!

Welcome to the BRAND NEW Core Naturopathics Blog & News Page!

It is my hope that this page will prove very useful and helpful to all interested in naturopathic medicine and natural health and healing.

I hope to post any new and exciting updates about the clinic, as well as frequent articles and health tips & tricks, all written by yours truly :-)

I will also be updating this blog with our videos, which will contain topics and info such as services and treatments provided, interesting facts regarding nutrients, herbs, homeopathics, natural health products, etc., clinic tours, as well as delicious and healthy recipes and cooking tutorials!

I'd love for this blog to be as interactive as possible, so please feel free to leave me comments or email me at corenaturopathics@gmail.com to leave any feedback - I'd really like to hear from you!

If there's any topic, treatment, or health issue that you've been wondering about or would like more info about, please let me know!  I'm always looking for suggestions for new articles and videos and would love your help!

Well, thanks for reading, and I look forward to interacting with you all very soon!

Yours in good health,

Dr. Jenna McNamee, ND