As we roll into the 4th wave of COVID 19 I continue to offer telemedicine (phone or video using the Jane App) and in-person appointments. I am happy to see you in-person for any reason, but I encourage you to use telemedicine if you don’t require in-person. When visiting the clinic for an appointment or for supplement pick up, please wear a mask at all times (exemptions are permitted) and make use of the hand sanitizer provided. I will continue to see vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals in-person or by telemedicine.

Thank you for your continued support and I’ll see you soon!

I am open for in-person and telemedicine (phone or video) appointments.  If you have a concern that requires a physical exam, like a concern with your skin, digestion, cardiovascular health etc, please book an in-person appointment.  If you don’t require an appointment for these reasons, or for Acupuncture, Bowen Therapy or a B Vitamin Injection, I encourage you to continue using the telehealth appointments (video option is preferred, vs phone) when possible. However, I will absolutely welcome you for in-person visits if you feel that you need them.

Telemedicine (video or phone)

The video consultation is very simple.  Using a laptop or a desk top is preferred as it is easier to transfer documents this way, but a phone or an iPad work just fine. All you do is click the link http://www.doxy.me/DrPeddleND and it will take you to a page on your web browser for my virtual waiting room. You will need to ensure that your camera and microphone are turned on once you get here. I will then accept your call and we will be able to see and hear each other…easy as pie!  You can send me your blood work results from myehealth.ca via this platform. This form of telemedicine is privacy protected and very secure.

Once I have completed your treatment plan (for telemedicine or in-person) you will receive an email from the Jane booking software.  When you log in to your account, you can click on “My Documents” to view your treatment plan.

If you have had a telemedicine appointment, you will also receive an email from the Jane booking software with your invoice that you can pay online.  If we have your prescribed supplements in stock, they will be included on your invoice and ready for pick up at the clinic any time. We will contact you once your supplement is ready for pick up if we need to order it in for you.

In-person Visits

Before Your Visit

In advance of your visit you will receive an email with a COVID-19 screening questionnaire. You must fill out this questionnaire 24hrs before your appointment. If you answer yes to any of the questions, please contact the clinic to re-schedule your appointment.

If you or someone in your household is experiencing symptoms or is at risk of exposure, please call 811 for guidance.

Family members or support persons: Patients should only have a support member in the visit if absolutely necessary. The support person will also be required to wear a mask and perform hand hygiene when entering and leaving the clinic.

When You Arrive

Please do not enter the clinic until a few minutes before your appointment.

Please leave any unnecessary items in your car. Only bring what you need to your visit.

Please put on your mask before entering the building. Please bring your own mask to all your appointments. If you forget, we have disposable masks for purchase.

Hand Hygiene: When you enter the clinic, please sanitize your hands.  We will provide some for your use.

You will be asked to complete an additional COVID screening document with reception once you arrive for your appointment.

While Inside The Clinic

Public washrooms in the hallway are available if needed. Please perform hand hygiene upon entering and exiting the washroom.

Please cough or sneeze into your arm or a tissue and dispose of the tissue immediately, then wash or sanitize your hands.

Do your best to maintain physical distancing of 2 meters or more between yourself and others.

Payment & Re-booking

If you have entered a credit card into our Jane app booking software, we can complete payment using the app. We just need permission from you after confirming the fees.

We can also accept payment using our POS system in clinic if you prefer. The device will be cleaned between uses to keep you safe.

Please stand behind the plexiglass barriers when interacting with our front desk staff for payment and re-booking.

We’re going to great lengths to keep your time at Serenity Health safe, calm, supportive and clean, and we encourage you to help us in that mission!

My home at Inlet has been incredible for the past 5 years, and I’m so thankful for the support and love everyone there has shown me. But Dr. Braun and I are bursting at the seams and we need to expand.  Dr. Braun will be taking over a beautiful wellness clinic in Coquitlam and I will be joining her there.  Let me tell you about our new location and how you can book!

Introducing Serenity Health, located at 22-2662 Austin Ave in Coquitlam.  We’re in the Austin Station Complex at the corner of Austin and Mariner, in the office building above the Save On Foods/next to the Anytime Fitness.  There is ample free parking and we’re easily accessible from all over the TriCities, New West and Burnaby.

We have 4 treatment rooms, an IV room and a lovely view of the trees and mountains. Each room has sound proofing and is designed with your comfort and safety in mind.  Our team will include Naturopathic doctors and other wellness practitioners.

My booking site is now open and I am accepting bookings for January and beyond. Click here to book online for the New Year.

I am still available for appointments and supplement refills at Inlet Wellness Gallery until December 22.  Please contact Inlet Wellness Gallery at [email protected] immediately if you need supplement refills to last your through until January when Serenity Health Clinic opens.

I cannot wait to show you around our beautiful new clinic, and I am thankful for your continued support during this transition.

 

In Health,

Dr. Briana Peddle ND

I am now available for select in-person appointments!

If you require any of these services, please book an in-person appointment:

• a concern that requires a physical exam (eg: skin condition, any pain, digestive discomfort etc)
  • if you have cold or flu symptoms, please complete the province’s self-assessment tool at https://bc.thrive.health/
• acupuncture
• bowen therapy
• B vitamin injection (must call reception to book this type of appointment)

If you are booked for an in-personappointment, the first change you will notice is that in addition to your appointment reminder email, you will also receive an online COVID screening questionnaire 24-48hrs prior to your appointment. This email will also contain a Consent to In-Person Appointments form which you can also complete online; or you may complete this consent form at reception before your appointment.  Either way, please read this entire email before coming to the clinic, as it contains important information about your visit.

The second change is how you are greeted for your appointment.  We ask that you please remain in your car or outside until just before your appointment time.  There is some socially distanced seating available inside if you need to come inside to wait.  Please wear a mask to your appointment- if you require a mask, one can be purchased for $1.  Our receptionist will greet you, invite you to use the hand sanitizer, and complete a second COVID screening questionnaire and the consent form (if you haven’t completed it online already). They will take your temperature using a no touch thermometer and will direct you upstairs to your appointment when your ND is ready for you.

I am so lucky to have a big, beautiful treatment room, so it is very easy to maintain social distancing for most appointments.  As such, it is your decision if you would like yourself and/or me to wear a mask during your socially distanced appointment.  We will each wear a mask for any physical exam, acupuncture, injection or Bowen therapy contact.

I invite you to pay your invoice online after your appointment.  You have the option to safely store your credit card information in our secure booking system for automatic payment, or to go online to pay your invoice.  You are of course still welcome to pay for your visit and supplements at the reception desk.

Our cleaning and hygiene procedures have been updated and we will sanitize the treatment room between patients, sanitizing any equipment used (like the blood pressure cuff or stethoscope, etc).  Reception will be sanitizing any high contact surfaces throughout the day and after contacts by patients or staff.  You’ll notice hand sanitizer available for use throughout the clinic – please help yourself as needed.

If you don’t require any of the above in-person appointments, I encourage you to continue using the telehealth appointments (video option is preferred, vs phone) when possible. However, I will absolutely welcome you for in-person visits if you feel that you need them.  The video consultation is very easy.  Using a laptop or a desk top is preferred as it is easier to transfer documents this way, but a phone or an iPad work just fine. All you do is click the link http://www.doxy.me/DrPeddleND and it will take you to a page on your web browser for my virtual waiting room. You will need to ensure that your camera and microphone are turned on once you get here. I will then accept your call and we will be able to see and hear each other…easy as pie! I can send you documents (ie. treatment plan), and you can send me blood work results from myehealth.ca through this. This form of telemedicine is privacy protected and very secure.

You can book online at https://inletwellnessgallery.janeapp.com/locations/inlet-wellness-gallery/book#/staff_member/13 or call (604) 939-1059.

The clinic is open 7 days a week, 9am-5pm for supplement pick up.  Please email [email protected] with the exact name of the supplement you need refilled.  We will contact you when it is ready for pick up.

I am thrilled to be back in person to serve you, and I look forward to connecting however suites your needs: in person, online or by phone!

In Health,

Dr. Briana Peddle ND

In Parts 1 and 2 I discussed how to choose a good quality supplement and three of the most important supplements to take during pregnancy: a prenatal vitamin, fish oils and probiotics.  Here I will discuss my last 2 supplements for pregnancy recommendations and where to focus if money is tight.

Calcium Magnesium

I recommend that pregnant women start taking a liquid CalMag before bed in their 2^nd trimester.  The second trimester is when baby’s bones start to develop, and the baby gets first dibs on mom’s nutrients.  This means that if it’s not getting enough calcium and magnesium that these minerals will actually be pulled from mom’s bones in order to supply enough for baby.  Calcium and Magnesium are also necessary for proper contraction and relaxation of muscles, making it a great supplement to help support the work of the uterus.

I recommend a liquid because it is more easily absorbed than a tablet or capsule.  I recommend taking it before bed because it can help with sleep and leg cramps that many women start to experience in their 2^nd trimester.  It is common for supplement makers to “cheap out” on calcium supplements by using the cheapest form (calcium carbonate).  Unfortunately, this form isn’t well absorbed by the body.  It is ok for calcium carbonate to be one of the forms found in the supplement, but there should be other forms as well (preferably calcium citrate).

I recommend a professional grade product like Cytomatrix Cal-Mag +1000IU Vit D3 Liquid.  Health store brands like Calcium and Magnesium Citrate by SISU (I like the blueberry flavour) are acceptable.

Vitamin D

It seems as though a new benefit from optimal vitamin D levels is discovered every day!  Vitamin D helps maintain healthy immune function, mood, bone health and more.  Studies have shown that women who take “high” doses of vitamin D during pregnancy reduce their risk of preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, infection and pre term birth.

Vitamin D is a fat soluble vitamin which means that it is best absorbed if it is emulsified (my preference is a liquid vitamin D as opposed to tablet) and taken with a meal that contains fat.  It also means that the body will store excess Vitamin D, so it is important to discuss your dose with your Naturopath, Midwife or GP.  Recent studies are finding that higher doses of Vitamin D are required in order to receive these risk reductions.  I recommend taking a total of 6000IU/day of Vitamin D (check your prenatal vitamin, your fish oil and your calcium magnesium supplements to see if/how much Vitamin D they contain and top up from there).  I also recommend that everyone who lives in Canada (not just pregnant women) have their 25-OH vitamin D levels tested in the early fall to see if they are deficient and to help direct dosing.

My favourite Professional brand is Seroyal D-mulsion (tastes like lemon meringue pie).

 

 

 

What to do if there are financial restrictions affecting what you can purchase?

Vitamins can be expensive, and even when prioritizing your health and following a budget, sometimes they are beyond what we can afford.  In these cases I recommend a strong focus on a healthy whole foods diet with lots of fermented foods like kombucha, kimchi, sauerkraut, kefir and plain full fat probiotic yogurt and a few select high quality supplements.  If you can only choose a couple of supplements I suggest a good prenatal vitamin and a high quality fish oil.

The information in this blog does not constitute medical advice.  You should always consult your medical provider before starting a supplement protocol.

Safe and effective supplement choices in pregnancy are so important so that mom and the growing baby get all the nutrients they need.  In Part 1 of this post I discussed how to choose good quality supplements.  In Part 2 I will now discuss my first few supplement recommendations for a healthy and vibrant pregnancy.

Prenatal Vitamin

Prenatal Vitamins provide a well-rounded source of vitamins and minerals.   I recommend choosing a prenatal with the active form of vitamins.  A great example of this is folic acid.  Folate, or 5-methyl folate (5MTHF) is the active form of folic acid.  It is important to have this form because a significant portion of the population have a genetic mutation of the MTHFR gene that prevents them from metabolizing folic acid and other vitamins, which could lead to deficiencies and conditions like cleft lip or palate, spina bifida or a host of many other chronic conditions.  I’ll talk more about this MTHFR mutation in a future blog post.  It is also important to choose a prenatal that is free of dyes, binders and fillers (ie ensuring that short non-medicinal ingredients I talked about in Part 1).  I also recommend avoiding 1-A-Day type vitamins as the body can only absorb so much at a time and there is a bigger chance that the digestive tract may struggle to break down the tablet.

I recommend a Professional Grade product like Thorne Basic Prenatal.

 

Fish Oils

Fish oils are a rich source of EPA and DHA.  These are essential fatty acids that serve MANY functions such as

a)      reducing inflammation: think tissue healing post-labour and delivery

b)      promoting healthy neurological development in the baby: the brain and nervous system are largely made of fat

c)       supporting mom’s brain: did you know that a pregnant woman’s brain can shrink by 1% during pregnancy (don’t worry, it returns to normal after birth).  “Pregnancy brain”, followed by “baby brain” is real!

During pregnancy I recommend having a higher proportion of DHA to EPA because DHA is preferentially used to support nervous system and brain development, whereas EPA is preferentially used towards managing inflammation.  Ensuring that you have a high quality fish oil during pregnancy (and any other time) is essential.  This is because a low quality fish oils may not just be ineffective, but may cause actual harm.  This is because improper manufacturing, shipping and storage may result in exposure to heat or light which causes the fish oils to create inflammation in the body, rather than reduce it.  Fish oils also need to be tested for heavy metals, and should be sourced in an environmentally responsible way.  During pregnancy I recommend Professional Quality brands like Metagenics, Seroyal or Thorne or health food store brands like NutraSea or Nordic Naturals.

I recommend taking 2g/day of a regular fish oil PLUS an extra 200mg/day of a DHA heavy fish oil.

Probiotics

Probiotics serve multiple functions and are one of the most important supplements for general health and pregnancy health.  Probiotics are the good bacteria that live in our gut, in our mucus membranes, on our skin and in the vagina.  It’s easy to see how having a healthy balance of good bacteria can affect so many areas of our health!

Probiotics are important to take during pregnancy for several reasons.  The first is for general health: probiotics help to maintain healthy immune function (roughly 80% of the immune system is located surrounding the digestive tract) and for regular digestive function (for example, helping to prevent and reduce constipation).  Second, babies ingest the good bacteria that will populate their digestive tract while passing through the birth canal.  The probiotics that mom takes orally help to make a healthy balance of good bacteria in her vagina and on her skin.  Third, the bacteria on mom’s skin and in her gut are passed to baby while breast feeding.  There is a “probiotic highway” that connects mom’s gut and her breast milk so that the healthy bacteria in her digestive tract get passed through dendritic cells and her lymphatic system into her breast milk and on to baby.  This way of passing probiotics to baby is especially important if baby was born via C-section and didn’t get the seeding of bacteria by passing through the birth canal. And finally, there is clinical evidence for using probiotics to help prevent and treat Group B Strep.  For more information about this, ask your Naturopath.

I recommend taking 30 billion cells/day minimum for basic health during pregnancy.  Consider Professional brands like HMF Forte or Supreme-PB30+ DF or a health food store brand like Renew Life.

In Part 3, the final chapter of this blog post, I will discuss a couple more important supplement recommendations as well as options for when financial restrictions are at play.

The information in this blog does not constitute medical advice.  You should always consult your medical provider before starting a supplement protocol.

One of the most common questions I get asked when a pregnant woman comes in for her first Naturopathic consultation is “what supplements should I be taking?” usually followed by “how do I choose a high quality supplement?”.  Taking supplements in addition to eating a healthy diet during pregnancy is crucial because the demands of the growing baby and the changes taking place in the mom require more than what we can typically get from food alone.  Especially when we consider that the average North American diet is less than perfect and that many women battle morning sickness in their first trimester and may not be able to eat a well-rounded diet.  In this 3 part blog post I will tell you how to choose high quality supplements, offer my recommendations for which supplements every pregnant woman should consider taking, as well as where to focus if financial limitations restrict your health care budget.

There is a hierarchy where supplement quality is concerned.  At the top of this hierarchy are Professional Grade Supplements.  These are supplements that are only available from a medical provider, usually a Naturopath.  This is for several reasons:

a)      when treating a disease condition, we need to be sure that we are using the most reliable, highest quality products because we are using the supplement as medicine.

b)       the ingredients in the supplements may require medical knowledge to ensure safe use

c)       the dose of the supplement may be high enough to require medical knowledge to ensure safe use

Professional Grade supplements are hypoallergenic, they typically contain the form of the vitamin that the body can absorb and use, and they are usually 3^rd party tested, which means that we know that what it says on the label is actually in the product.  I recommend that pregnant women use this quality of supplements, as we want to ensure that they are effective, clean and safe.

Products from health food stores (like Pomme Natural Market, Choices Market, Whole Foods, etc) are useful for health maintenance.  This means that you have reached your health goal and you want a basic plan to maintain your health.  Good quality brands that can be found at health food stores are SISU, AOR, MegaFoods, NutraSea, Nordic Naturals and others.  The important thing to look for when choosing a supplement of this quality is that it contains no more than approximately 3 non-medicinal ingredients.

Low Quality Supplements are supplements such as no-name brands, brands found at discount stores, Costco, or even pharmacy brands.  These typically have many non-medicinal ingredients like binders, fillers and dyes.  They often contain the cheapest form of the supplement instead of the form the body can use.  They aren’t 3^rd party tested and usually are not hypoallergenic.  While these supplements are usually cheaper than higher quality supplements, you likely aren’t benefiting much from them and in the worst case scenario they may be causing you harm.  I don’t recommend using these brands of supplements.

If you choose to self-prescribe supplements during pregnancy, it is important to do your research: just because it is natural doesn’t mean that it is safe!  Basics like a prenatal vitamin, fish oils and a probiotic are generally safe for self-prescription.  But I recommend seeking medical advice from an appropriately trained professional if you are looking to treat a concern or a dis-ease condition during pregnancy.  Relying on what the clerk at the store recommends can also be hazardous because even though they may have knowledge of the supplements, they don’t know anything about you.

In parts 2 and 3 of this post I will discuss my vitamin and supplement recommendations for pregnancy, as well as what to do if it’s not always possible to afford or access Professional Quality supplements.

The information in this blog does not constitute medical advice.  You should always consult your medical provider before starting a supplement protocol.

Q: I am looking at boosting immunity in the whole family…we seem to have had this wicked streak of illnesses and I am doing Elderberry and ginger tea for everyone, but is there something more I can do to give everyone a boost?

A:  Well, we are almost through cold and flu season but if you have a child, especially one who is in daycare, then you know that cold and flu season seems to last all year.  Prevention is key, so I have compiled a few tips to help your whole family boost their immune system and stay healthy year round.