Digestive Health: Acupuncture & Naturopathic Medicine Solutions
Introduction
Digestive health is a cornerstone of overall well-being. It’s the system that transforms the food we eat into the nutrients our bodies need. But when digestive issues arise, they can significantly impact our quality of life. This is where holistic approaches like acupuncture, naturopathic medicine, and other specialized treatments come into play.
The Importance of Digestive Health
The digestive system is a complex network that not only processes food but also influences various other bodily functions. An imbalance in digestive health can lead to symptoms like fatigue, mood swings, and even cognitive issues. Therefore, maintaining a healthy digestive system is crucial for overall health.
Common Digestive Health Concerns
Understanding the specific digestive issues you’re facing—be it IBS, GERD, or gastroparesis—can help in selecting the most appropriate treatment modalities for you. Common concerns include:
- IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome): Characterized by abdominal pain, bloating, and irregular bowel habits.
- GERD (Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease): Involves acid reflux and heartburn.
- Gastroparesis: A condition where the stomach can’t empty itself in the normal way, often found in diabetes patients.
- Celiac Disease: An autoimmune disorder where ingestion of gluten leads to damage in the small intestine.
- Crohn’s Disease: A type of inflammatory bowel disease that can affect any part of the gastrointestinal tract.
The Role Acupuncture plays in Digestive Health
Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese practice that involves inserting thin needles into specific points on the body. It’s a technique that has been increasingly recognized for its effectiveness in treating various digestive disorders.
How It Works
Acupuncture targets specific meridian points related to digestive health. By stimulating these points, it aims to balance the flow of energy or “Qi,” thereby improving digestive functions. This can be beneficial for conditions like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), bloating, and constipation.
Benefits
-
- Non-Invasive: Acupuncture is a non-invasive treatment that poses minimal risks.
- Complementary Therapy: It can be used alongside conventional treatments for enhanced effectiveness.
- Holistic Approach: Acupuncture considers the body as a whole, aiming to treat the root cause of the issue rather than just the symptoms.
Naturopathic Medicine for Proper Digestive Function
Naturopathic medicine is another holistic approach that focuses on natural remedies and lifestyle changes to improve health.
Natural Remedies
Herbs like peppermint and ginger have been shown to alleviate digestive symptoms. These natural remedies can be consumed in various forms, such as teas or supplements.
Nutritional Guidance
Diet plays a significant role in digestive health. Naturopathic doctors often provide personalized dietary plans to address individual digestive issues.
Stress Management
Stress is a known aggravator of digestive problems. Techniques like deep breathing and mindfulness can be part of a naturopathic approach to digestive health.
Herbal Medicine as a Supporting Tool
Herbal medicine employs plant-based remedies to treat various conditions. In the realm of digestive health, herbs like chamomile, fennel, and turmeric are often used to alleviate symptoms such as inflammation and indigestion.
Functional Medicine Accurate Diagnosis
Functional medicine takes a systems-oriented approach, looking at the underlying causes of disease rather than just treating symptoms. It often involves a deep dive into a patient’s history and lifestyle, followed by personalized treatment plans that may include nutritional changes and stress management techniques.
Massage Therapy to Improve Motility
Massage therapy can be particularly effective for digestive issues related to muscle tension and stress. Techniques like abdominal massage can stimulate the digestive organs, improve circulation, and facilitate better digestion.
Manual Osteopathy for Digestive Health
Manual osteopathy involves hands-on techniques to improve physiological function. For digestive health, it can help in relieving tension in the abdominal area, thereby improving digestive function.
Nutritional Consulting: Food as Medicine
Nutritional consulting focuses on diet modification to improve health. For digestive issues, this could mean identifying food intolerances or deficiencies and recommending a diet rich in fiber, probiotics, and essential nutrients.
Clinical Hypnotherapy to Harness the Power of your Mind
Clinical hypnotherapy uses guided relaxation and intense concentration to help individuals gain control over their digestive symptoms. It’s often used for conditions like IBS and has shown promise in various studies.
Energy Medicine for Digestive Health Balance
Energy medicine, such as Reiki, aims to balance the body’s energy fields. While more research is needed, some individuals report improvement in digestive symptoms after undergoing energy healing sessions.
Tying it all Together
Digestive health is integral to our overall well-being, affecting everything from our daily comfort to our long-term health. From acupuncture and naturopathic medicine to more specialized treatments like manual osteopathy and clinical hypnotherapy, a range of options exists to help you achieve optimal digestive health.
Holistic treatments for digestive health can vary significantly in their approach and effectiveness. While acupuncture focuses on balancing energy flow, functional medicine aims to address the root causes of digestive issues. Nutritional consulting, on the other hand, emphasizes dietary changes. Understanding the underlying issues you’re facing can help you choose the most appropriate treatment.
Herbal remedies can often be used alongside conventional treatments, but it’s crucial to consult with healthcare providers to avoid potential interactions. Some herbs can interfere with medications or exacerbate certain conditions.
Stress is a known aggravator of many digestive issues, including IBS and GERD. Stress management techniques like deep breathing, mindfulness, and even clinical hypnotherapy can be effective components of a holistic treatment plan for digestive health.
Holistic nutritional consulting can provide personalized dietary plans based on your specific digestive issues. This could involve identifying food intolerances, recommending probiotic-rich foods, or creating a high-fiber diet plan.
Specialists on our Team:
Dr.Ac Lalonde 🇬🇧
“As a clinician and leader, I see myself not only as a caregiver but also as a teacher—empowering patients with the knowledge and tools they need to take charge of their health. By educating and guiding them, I can help transform their lives far beyond the treatment room, creating lasting wellness that they can carry with them. – Dr. Tammy Lalonde”
Caring for people is my true passion and one of life’s greatest callings. With years of experience as both a Paramedic and Acupuncturist, I’ve supported patients through obvious and invisible injuries alike. I’ve been there during moments of deep crisis—whether delivering babies in cars parked roadside, providing care at 30,000 feet aboard a domestic flight, or flying emergency medevacs over the Arabian desert. Through these experiences, I’ve learned not only how to care for those in urgent need but also how to recognize the long-term impact that lifestyle, diet, and fitness can have on overall health.
As my career has evolved, so has my focus. I now concentrate on helping more people earlier, preventing minor concerns from escalating into more complex and costly illnesses. A key part of this shift is my role in leading our Hormone Health program, which empowers patients to address hormonal imbalances that affect energy, mood, and overall well-being. This program has far-reaching impacts, not only improving individual lives but also strengthening the health of entire communities. By helping people regain balance, we’re preventing chronic diseases and fostering long-term wellness. Through a combination of my background in emergency medicine and women’s health, I offer a unique, integrative approach. I draw on the strengths of oriental medicine, along with the expertise of top practitioners, to deliver care that restores balance to the body, mind, and spirit.
My academic journey has allowed me to seamlessly blend oriental medicine with Western healthcare, creating a holistic approach to patient care. My expertise lies in navigating high-stress, complex situations, and I have a deep passion for managing care and treating conditions such as anxiety, depression, and PTSD—especially among Armed Forces and Emergency Services personnel. In addition to my extensive background, I have advanced training in Bio-Identical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT) through Worldlink Medical, which enhances my ability to help patients achieve hormonal balance and long-term wellness. With a long-standing career spanning North America and the Middle East, I have been privileged to serve as a respected clinician, clinical educator, and fire and emergency medical dispatcher. I hold active licensure and registration with the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM), the College of Acupuncturists of Alberta (CAA), the California Acupuncture Board, and the Alberta Herbalists Association (AHA). Additionally, I have served as a Board Director with the Alberta Pain Society and am a current member of the CAA Competence Committee.
Education:
- Doctorate of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine (DACM), American College of Traditional Chinese Medicine
- Master of Science (MS) – Traditional Chinese Medicine, American College of Traditional Chinese Medicine
- Master of Science (MS) – Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine, cum laude, South Baylo University
- Bachelor of Science (BS) – Holistic Science, South Baylo University
- Diploma – Emergency Medical Technician (Paramedic), Augustana University
Licensure
- RAc – Registered Acupuncturist of the College of Acupuncturists of Alberta (CAA)
- RH – Registered Herbalist of the Alberta Herbalists Association (AHA)
- LAc – Licensed Acupuncturist of the California Acupuncture Board
- Dipl.Ac – Diplomate of Acupuncture of the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM)
Dr.Ac Lalonde 🇬🇧
CEO, Acupuncture, Herbalism
“As a clinician and leader, I see myself not only...
Dr.Ac Winton 🇬🇧
Helping people comes naturally to Michelle! As a highly skilled Acupuncturist, Massage Therapist, and Advanced Care Paramedic she is widely recognized for developing unique care plans which draw on her knowledge and therapeutic touch gained across each of these specialized disciplines. Having over twenty years of combined expertise in caring for her patients, Michelle has had a front row seat to observe how stress and emotion affect the mind and body. Complementing her acupuncture services at Red Leaf Wellness, Michelle offers a variety of therapeutic and relaxation massage therapies, including pregnancy massage, myofascial release and myofascial cupping.
Michelle began her health career as a massage therapist, graduating the 2200hr Massage Program at Macewan University in 2001. Being active in competitive sport in her youth, Michelle understood the benefits of massage on sport performance, recovery and injury prevention. She subsequently branched into emergency care and became an Advanced Care Paramedic where she was able to offer a calming presence in stressful, emergent situations. Michelle has always believed that soft skills, an extra moment spent with family, or a hand to hold on the way to the hospital, can be as healing as the specific medical interventions themselves. Working as a Paramedic Michelle saw, and began to question, how it is that people differ in disease and the aging process and why the same drug benefited one person, but not the other. Her lifelong learning journey had her begin to look for these answers in the time-tested practice of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and Acupuncture, thus kicking off another quest for knowledge at MacEwan University’s Acupuncture Program.
Education:
- Diploma – Acupuncture, Macewan University
- Diploma – Emergency Medical Technician (Paramedic), Augustana University
- Honors standings
- Certificate – Massage Therapy Grant MacEwan College
Licensure:
- RAc, College of Acupuncturists of Alberta (CAA)
- RMT, National Health Practitioners of Canada (NHPC)
- ACP, Alberta College of Paramedics
Dr.Ac Winton 🇬🇧
Acupuncture, Massage
Helping people comes naturally to Michelle! As a highly skilled...
Manuela Hofer 🇬🇧 🇩🇪
Manuela provides a sanctuary for her clients, a place where they can relax and rejuvenate. As a dedicated somatic practitioner, she believes in the body’s inherent wisdom and intelligence. Her compassionate approach and healing touch set the stage for relaxation, vitality, and energy flow. She is committed to optimizing your health in the most effective ways possible.
The therapeutic techniques Manuela specializes in—Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapy, Massage Therapy, and Qigong—emphasize the interconnectedness of our physical, mental, and emotional states. Through her gentle Craniosacral touch, she helps to release long-standing tensions and restrictions. She places a special focus on balancing the central nervous system, enabling your body to achieve a state of rest, recovery, and optimal functioning.
Having recently graduated from the 2200-hour Massage Therapy Program at Reflexacademy in Sherwood Park, Manuela has broadened her range of services. She now offers Massage Therapy as a standalone treatment or in combination with Craniosacral Therapy. Her nurturing touch and massage skills work to dissolve muscle tightness and tension, restoring your energy and vitality to a harmonious state.
Beyond her hands-on treatments, Manuela offers additional resources to support your well-being. She consistently provides body meditations, exercises, and practical tips to help you maintain your health between sessions. Her extensive background in somatic techniques, which focus on the internal experience of movement and bodily awareness, equips her with invaluable tools to help you manage day-to-day stress and self-regulate both body and mind.
Schedule an appointment with Manuela to experience a range of benefits: from stress and anxiety reduction, pain and muscle stiffness alleviation, to enhanced relaxation and improvements in digestive, respiratory, and joint health, as well as circulation, energy flow, and immune system function. Her treatments aim to deepen your connection with your body, leaving you feeling peaceful and revitalized.
Education:Â
- Somatic Movement Therapist (SMT), Moving On Center, Oakland, USA
- Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapist (BCST), BodyIntelligence, Canada
- Qigong Instructor Certification (ASS Institute, Germany)
- Training in Continuum Movement (USA)
- Massage Therapy at Reflexacademy Sherwood Park, AB, Canada 2200hrs
Licensure:Â
- Natural Health Practitioner Canada / NHPC (RMT)
Fluency: 🇬🇧 – English | 🇩🇪 – German
Manuela Hofer 🇬🇧 🇩🇪
Massage, Craniosacral, Qigong
Manuela provides a sanctuary for her clients, a place where...
Dr. McCarthy 🇬🇧
Dr. Lorraine McCarthy is a Naturopathic Doctor who has been serving the communities of Ottawa and Edmonton since her graduation from the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine in 2004. Her extensive background in Naturopathic Medicine has paved the way for diverse opportunities, including her involvement in the regulation of natural health products at Health Canada and her roles as a health advisor and physiology instructor at the Guanacaste Waldorf School in Costa Rica. Her current residence is in Rio Terrace, situated in the west end of Edmonton, where she lives with her husband and three children.
Dr. McCarthy’s utmost dedication lies in fostering the health and well-being of families. As a mother herself, she deeply understands the profound concern parents hold for the health of their children, and she shares the common desire of many parents to seek natural remedies and approaches. Dr. McCarthy also acknowledges the responsibility many individuals feel in providing care for their aging parents, which fuels her commitment to advocating for complementary health practices for seniors. Her extensive experience in administering Naturopathic Medicine to patients, as well as addressing the health issues of her own family, positions Dr. McCarthy to offer invaluable counsel and support.
Expanding beyond family health, Dr. McCarthy’s expertise extends to addressing a diverse range of health matters for individuals of all ages. Her particular areas of interest and proficiency encompass:
- Offering solutions for behavioural concerns in children
- Assisting seniors in achieving improved aging, increased energy, and overall well-being
- Implementing biotherapeutic drainage to reduce individuals’ toxic load
- Providing treatment for digestive ailments
- Utilizing the Bowen Technique to facilitate healing for pain and various injuries, including concussions
Dr. McCarthy’s legacy as a dedicated advocate for holistic wellness and an accomplished Naturopathic Doctor ensures that her patients receive comprehensive support and guidance towards optimal health.
Education:Â
- Naturopathic Doctor, Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine
Licensure:Â
- Registered Naturopathic Doctor, College of Naturopathic Doctors of Alberta
Dr. McCarthy 🇬🇧
Naturopathic Doctor
Dr. Lorraine McCarthy is a Naturopathic Doctor who has been...
Dr.Ac Kossowan 🇬🇧 🇫🇷
Dr. Jason Kossowan is a dedicated and licensed Doctor of Acupuncture with the College of Acupuncturists of Alberta, and a distinguished graduate of the Acupuncture program at MacEwan University. Jason’s path to healthcare began with his passion for Chinese martial arts, especially tai chi, which he has practiced since 2005. His journey in martial arts led to a profound appreciation for Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and a desire to integrate these classical techniques into solutions for modern health challenges.
Jason is particularly drawn to the treatment of cardiovascular and neurological conditions, as well as sports medicine, where he combines precision with a deep respect for the body’s natural healing processes. His approach is integrative and patient-centered, focusing on meaningful outcomes and a collaborative model of care that bridges Eastern and Western perspectives.
At Red Leaf Wellness, Jason is committed to creating a therapeutic experience that respects the body’s innate wisdom and adaptability. He actively engages patients through tailored treatment plans that address their unique needs, while also exploring the broader health benefits of TCM practices.
Outside the clinic, you can find Jason refining his tai chi practice or enjoying a board game—especially the cooperative ones that bring people together.
Education
- Diploma of Acupuncture, MacEwan University
Certifications/Licensure
- Registered Acupuncturist – College of Acupuncturists of Alberta (CAA)
Dr.Ac Kossowan 🇬🇧 🇫🇷
Acupuncture
Dr. Jason Kossowan is a dedicated and licensed Doctor of...
