Naturopathic Doctor in Vancouver, B.C.
A naturopathic doctor in Vancouver, B.C. assesses the root causes behind your symptoms and builds a personalized plan using clinical nutrition, lifestyle medicine, lab testing, botanical medicine and natural therapies. At Killarney Health, naturopathic care is led by Dr. Gehana Shankar, ND, with a clinical focus on fertility, PCOS, hormone health and women's health, at our East Vancouver clinic on East 49th Avenue.
What Is Naturopathic Medicine?
Naturopathic medicine is a regulated, whole-body approach to health care that looks for the patterns underneath your symptoms rather than treating each symptom in isolation. Instead of asking only what is wrong, a naturopathic doctor asks why it is happening, what is driving it, and what has to change for it to resolve.
At Killarney Health we use a whole-body, evidence-informed approach to understand the patterns influencing your health and translate them into a clear, personalized treatment plan. Our care integrates clinical nutrition, lifestyle medicine, lab testing, botanical medicine and natural therapies.
What a Naturopathic Doctor Helps With
Patients come to our East Vancouver clinic for naturopathic medicine to address:
If you have been told your bloodwork is normal but you still do not feel well, naturopathic medicine is often the next step. Fatigue, irregular cycles, bloating, low mood, poor sleep, brain fog and stubborn weight change frequently have upstream drivers that a detailed intake and targeted testing can reveal.
How Naturopathic Care Works at Killarney Health
Your first visit. Your initial appointment is a full intake. We review your health history, current symptoms, cycle history, medications and supplements, previous lab results, sleep, stress, digestion and nutrition. This is the longest appointment you will have with us, and it is where most of the clinical insight comes from.
Testing where it is useful. Lab testing is ordered only where it will change the plan. This may include hormone panels, thyroid markers, iron studies, blood sugar and metabolic markers, or nutrient status, depending on your presentation.
Your treatment plan. You leave with a written plan you understand. Depending on your case this may combine clinical nutrition, targeted supplementation, botanical medicine, lifestyle and sleep strategies, and referral to acupuncture, massage therapy or holistic nutrition within our clinic.
Follow-up and adjustment. Hormonal, fertility and digestive concerns follow your body's own timelines, so progress is reviewed and the plan adjusted over a series of visits rather than settled in one.
Naturopathic Medicine Alongside Your Medical Care
Naturopathic care is designed to work with the rest of your health team, not in place of it. Many of our patients are also working with a family physician, an obstetrician, or a fertility clinic. We encourage you to bring your current medications, supplements and recent test results to your first appointment so your plan accounts for all of it.
In British Columbia, naturopathic doctors are regulated health professionals registered with the College of Complementary Health Professionals of BC, the regulator that also oversees registered massage therapists, registered acupuncturists and chiropractors, and which protects the titles naturopathic doctor, naturopathic physician and naturopath. Naturopathic doctors complete accredited naturopathic medical training and are held to defined scope of practice standards.
Care at Killarney Health is led by Dr. Gehana Shankar, ND, a naturopathic doctor with a clinical focus in women's health, fertility and hormone optimization.
Naturopathic Doctors Are Regulated in British Columbia
Book a Naturopathic Appointment in East Vancouver
Killarney Health is located at 208 - 2609 East 49th Avenue, Vancouver, B.C., in the Killarney neighbourhood of East Vancouver, convenient to Champlain Heights, Victoria-Fraserview, Renfrew-Collingwood, Sunset and Burnaby.
We are open by appointment seven days a week, 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., and offer direct billing to many extended health providers. No referral is required.
Call 604-438-9327, email info@killarneyhealth.com, or book online.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a naturopathic doctor do?
A naturopathic doctor assesses the root causes behind your symptoms and builds a personalized treatment plan using clinical nutrition, lifestyle medicine, lab testing, botanical medicine and natural therapies. At Killarney Health this commonly addresses fertility, PCOS, hormone imbalance, digestive concerns, stress and preventative care.
Is a naturopathic doctor a real doctor in BC?
Naturopathic doctors in British Columbia are regulated health professionals registered with the College of Complementary Health Professionals of BC. The titles naturopathic doctor, naturopathic physician and naturopath are protected in BC, and registrants complete accredited training and work within defined scope of practice standards.
Can a naturopathic doctor order lab tests in British Columbia?
Yes. Naturopathic doctors in British Columbia can order laboratory testing within their scope of practice. At Killarney Health, testing is ordered only where the result will change your treatment plan, and it is discussed with you during your intake before anything is arranged.
Do I need a referral to see a naturopathic doctor in Vancouver?
No referral is required to see a naturopathic doctor in British Columbia. You can book directly with Killarney Health online or by calling 604-438-9327. Some extended health plans request a physician referral before they reimburse, so confirm the requirement with your insurer.
How long is the first naturopathic appointment?
Your first appointment is a full intake and is the longest visit you will have with us. It covers health history, symptoms, cycle history, medications and supplements, previous labs, sleep, stress, digestion and nutrition, and ends with a written treatment plan you understand.
Is naturopathic medicine covered by insurance in BC?
Many extended health plans include naturopathic coverage. Killarney Health offers direct billing to many extended health providers. Coverage varies by provider and plan, so confirm your per-visit amount, annual maximum and any referral requirement with your insurer before your first appointment.
Can I see a naturopathic doctor while taking prescription medication?
Yes, and you should tell us about every medication and supplement you take at intake. Many of our patients are also under the care of a family physician, obstetrician or fertility clinic, and your naturopathic plan is built to work alongside that care.
Is there a naturopathic doctor near me in East Vancouver?
Yes. Killarney Health is at 208 - 2609 East 49th Avenue in the Killarney area of East Vancouver, serving Champlain Heights, Victoria-Fraserview, Renfrew-Collingwood, Sunset and nearby Burnaby. Appointments are available seven days a week from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.