Naturopathic physician Ardyce Yik embraces holistic treatment and natural medicines

In naturopathic medicine, the aim is to address the underlying cause of illness, to treat the whole person and to focus on disease prevention, rather than simply treat or suppress symptoms. Dr Ardyce Yik, a licensed naturopathic physician from Canada, uses evidence-based natural medicines to help her patients to achieve optimal health.

She explains: "A lot of people might come not knowing what naturopathic medicine is about, and many expect a magic pill. 

"If we really want to deal with the underlying cause, a lot of times we're actually supporting the body to heal, correcting certain imbalances in the body, and that takes time. When managing patients' expectations, I really need to tell them that it does take time for the body and mind to heal."

As a functional medicine practitioner, she uses a patient-centred approach, listening to their histories and investigating the link between genetic, environmental and lifestyle factors that influence long-term health and chronic disease.

"In order to get to the bottom of things, I need to spend a lot of time with my patients. One of the first things patients will notice is that I am actually taking the time to listen to them. My visits can go up to one hour, and I believe spending adequate time with each patient allows me to understand them and understand their health condition. It allows me to get to the bottom of their health problems." Her assessment toolbox includes taking a thorough medical history, a physical examination and lab testing. Treatment often includes a combination of nutraceuticals, nutritional therapy, herbal medicine, traditional Chinese medicine and counselling. 

But when it comes to how long it takes to heal, that depends on many factors. For example, the body needs time to take in nutrition before it can be rebalanced. "It depends on the person and how compliant they are," Yik says.

Spending time with family is very important to Yik, especially with her two young sons. She also likes to explore new restaurants with her husband and go on regular evening walks together. "That's a chance for us to just wind down, to talk about life, to talk about the challenges at work and in the family. It's all about balance I find.