Kelowna Naturopathic Clinic
160 - 1855 Kirschner Rd # 160 V1Y 4N7 Kelowna, BC, Canada

We will be closed Friday, September 4th and Monday, September 7th for Labor Day weekend. We will re-open Tuesday, September 8th. Have a great long weekend!

Good Morning. Beautiful day. Hope all of you are enjoying the summer. A bit of news. Wanda, our LPN, who has worked with me for 6 plus years has retired. She plans to enjoy life travelling with her husband. Of course, we are all sad, but wish her the best. She will be missed. On the other hand, we have hired a new LPN, Breanna. She has been with us for 1 week and is adjusting well. She will be fabulous and is a wonderful addition to KNC. Jenna has taken over the diag...nostic testing and is doing an incredible job. So full speed ahead. Our work hours are still a bit limited due to COVID 19, but we anticipate some normalization over the next month or so. We appreciate all of your patience and understanding. Saying that, all our normal services are being provided : consultations, testing, treatments, prescriptions, IV therapy, injections and so on... A few tidbits. We are doing more Photo-dynamic Therapy with photosensitizers for cancer. This is cutting edge and we are one of few providing this in North America. We still offer Whole Body Hyperthermia, oxygen/ozone therapies, intravenous laser and a host of IV infusions, plus dietetics and nutritional support. For those of you with orthopedic issues due to sports injuries, accidents or degenerative conditions, we are still the prolotherapy and PRP leader. Decades of experience. Lastly, KNC has one of the biggest, professional natural medicine pharmacies in the Valley. Available to our patients only. Contact the clinic if you require assistance. Have a restful day. Regards Dr G See more

It's June 13 and we certainly have seen our share of rain this summer. With all of that water coming down, it gave me the idea to talk about water. H2O is critical for life. I do not think I need to go into all of the details about what water does for us. Simply, humans can go without solid food for weeks or months and still survive. Without water for more than a few days...well... the result is not good. There are many theories and myths on what type of water to drink an...Continue reading

Bio-identical Hormones Natural hormones are generally defined as those hormone medications that are biochemically and molecularly identical to the human hormone form and have been derived from plant sources. The two plants utilized in this process are soybeans and Mexican wild yam. Plant derived biochemically identical hormones can be made from either plant. With soybeans, beta-sitosterol is extracted and then with various laboratory enzymatic reactions, a hormone is made.... With Mexican wild yam, diosgenin is extracted and in the manufacturing laboratory the same hormones can be made. Natural hormones are biochemically identical to ours and match the hormone molecules produced by our own glands. Synthetic hormones or hormones from the urine of pregnant mares are not the same hormone molecules as ours. They don’t match and are not natural to what our body is familiar with. At Kelowna Naturopathic Clinic, we use natural hormones and offer a variety of non-hormone options as well. Give us a call. 250.868.2205

Good Day Everyone. What a cold and wet Friday morning. Some of my garden plants do not like this weather and others are just fine. Oh well... Just a quick update. Our clinic continues operating daily with reduced hours, due to Covid-19. We continue to clean, disinfect and approach all patients in the appropriate manner. Fortunately, myself, staff, family members and all of our patients and their family members, have not experienced any Covid infection to date. In fact..., I have not met or know anyone personally, who has been infected this Spring. But, we know it is out there. I'm thinking that a good diet, proper hygiene, extra nutrition, getting the appropriate help for any underlying medical condition and keeping a positive mindset, has been beneficial for all of us. So, don't let your guard down. I have no proof of this, but I wonder if this virus was in our community last December, 2019 already? Boy, were there a lot of folks sick then, with fevers and a long standing respiratory cough and poor lungs, that took weeks/months to recover from. We just told everyone that they picked up a bad viral infection....Food for thought. Kelowna Naturopathic Clinic continues to offer necessary in clinic appointments, testing and diagnostics and a full range of therapies. Of course, our hours will increase accordingly as the situation improves and guidance from the Ministry of Health and our regulatory college is updated. If you are a current patient or a potentially new patient and need our assistance, give the clinic a call. Yours in Health, Dr Swetlikoff, ND 250-868-2205

The Injured Brain With aging, many are concerned about memory loss. Athletics and injuries can leave people with post-concussion issues. Of course, brain pathology like ALS, MS, Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s, are already established conditions. The sooner an injured brain is dealt with, the better. It is known that oxidative /free radical stress can induce neuro-degenerative brain changes. Alterations in blood flow and oxygen can too. ... Environmental toxins like heavy metals (lead and mercury), petrochemicals, insecticides and even excess wireless/EMF can have devastating brain effects. Certain long standing viral and bacterial infections play a role. Nutrient and diet imbalances are often overlooked but are important in brain health. Out of control inflammation and stress are in the mix as well. In order to help brain health, all of these factors and more need to be addressed. That’s what we do at Kelowna Naturopathic Clinic. Contact us at 250.868.2205. www.natural-medicine.ca

Spring has arrived! For some of us this is great news and for the rest of us, this may mean seasonal allergies. Hay fever occurs when your immune system overreacts to an outdoor allergen, such as pollen. The most common culprits are pollen from wind-pollinated plants, such as trees, grasses, flowers and weeds. The pollen from insect-pollinated plants are too heavy to remain airborne for long, and they’re less likely to trigger an allergic reaction. Common symptoms include:... sneezing runny or stuffy nose watery and itchy eyes itchy sinuses, throat, or ear canals ear congestion postnasal drainage Less common symptoms include: headache shortness of breath wheezing coughing fatigue Treatment strategies for allergies: Stay indoors when the pollen release is the worst. Rinse your sinuses with saline or use a Neti pot. Quercetin/ Vitamin C in large doses. Use local honey and local bee pollen as they can help desensitize. Desensitize with oral medical pollen serums. If you suffer from seasonal allergies, we can help! Call us at Kelowna Naturopathic Clinic for an appointment to have your allergies tested and treated.

Good Afternoon. It's Saturday and I think we all just about had it with COVID-19 and the self quarantine. Cabin fever anyone? Well, let's all do our civic duty and persevere a bit longer. So, off the medical topic. I think booze consumption has actually gone up during this pandemic. Good or bad, that's another story. Tonight, you may want to enjoy a drink or cocktail or maybe even 2. What are the healthier choices??? 1. Tequila- gluten free, typically made from agave... cactus(except cheap stuff), low calorie and blood sugar friendlier. Can be less healthy with sugary mixes etc. 2. Red Wine- fermented grape juice, so gluten free, contains heart healthy anti-oxidants like resveratrol and polyphenols. 3. Plain Dry Apple Cider- fermented apple juice, so gluten free, avoid flavored, sugary types. 4. Plain Brandy/Cognac- distilled grape juice and aged, so gluten free, Vit. C and anti-oxidant rich, be careful of flavored brandy. 5. Vodka- some non-wheat, gluten free derived vodkas made from corn or potato can be OK, especially if just mixed with soda water and a lime wedge. Anything in excess is toxic and inflammatory, so use moderation. Tonight: relax, pick a good movie and if so desired, have a drink. It will all be Ok. Cheers, Garrett See more

Good morning. I hope you are well, both physically and mentally. The coronavirus story continues to suck the life out of our planet. Nothing very positive discussed in the media and blame being hurled in all directions. Again, I want to reiterate, that it is not legal to make any therapeutic claims about any specific treatment for this infection. I make no claim. Saying that, I thought this recent article from the NY Post may be of interest. Give it a read. https://n...ypost.com//new-york-hospitals-treating-coronavi/ Dr. Weber is not alone in his experience with IV and oral Vit. C. There is a Dr. Engian Mao in Shanghai, China, who too is finding significant benefits for his COVID-19 hospital admitted patients. Some Japanese and Korean doctors are also reporting benefits for their infected patients. What is interesting for the skeptics, is that these are "real" physicians: MDs. Holistic medical doctors and naturopathic physicians have used IV Vit. C for decades, so they likely need little convincing. With so few drug/vaccine options available at the moment, I wonder why the establishment is not talking about Vit C and the role it can play in the COVID-19 pandemic? Hmmm. Stay Healthy Garrett

COVID-19: Home Cleaning and Disinfection Solutions The coronavirus is an enveloped virus that is wrapped by fatty/lipid material. Fatty molecules are susceptible to soaps and other disinfectants. Here are some useful cleaning agents that can be used at home. 1. Soap and water.start with this for general cleaning and hand sanitation.... 2. Alcohol Based Cleaners....either ethyl or isopropyl alcohol, 60% or higher in concentration, ethyl alcohol is best mixed with some water. 3. Chlorine/Bleach.household bleach is about 4.5 -6.15% sodium hypochlorite, irritating to skin and mucous membranes, can form deadly gases when mixed with vinegar, ammonia and rubbing alcohol or light/heat exposed (SO, DO NOT DO THAT), always wear gloves and mask when using, dilute regular bleach with cold water to 0.05% before using (1 part bleach to 100 parts water). 4. Hydrogen Peroxide.commercially available 3% H202 is effective, do not use 28-35% food grade peroxide as extremely caustic. 5. Vinegar.10% malt vinegar (made from barely) works better than regular, white vinegar (4-8% acetic acid), dilute with water ( either half and half or 2/3 to 1 vinegar to water) Remember, clean first with soap and water, and then use a disinfectant after. Be careful of what cleaner is chosen, as certain surface materials may or may not tolerate a particular agent.

Coronavirus, Flu, Colds and Infections Well, this topic continues to consume our lives in many ways. I wrote a post last week, about basic recommendations to keep your body strong during this time. Today, I want to further elucidate on the interventional approaches I use at my clinic. First, as I have stated before, it is illegal to make claim for any specific coronavirus treatment. I make no claim. So use this information wisely. Remember, there are political, philosophic...al and medical/scientific differences in opinion, in many areas of health and wellness, depending on what group is speaking or being represented. Many conventional doctors believe everything "alternative" is quackery. As a naturopathic physician, I too have my own biases, based on my training, experiences and beliefs. Here are a few journal articles/studies, that some will find interesting, showing the results of intravenous Vit C, ozone, hydrogen peroxide and riboflavin/UV light photo-dynamic therapy. There are many more articles available on these topics, if a Google search is done. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6201324/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3312702/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5409678/ http://orthomolecular.org/resources/omns/v16n07.shtml https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27805261 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/203115 https://www.holtorfmed.com//Review__IV_Very_Dilute_Hydroge What these modalities all have in common, is that they are oxidative in nature. Oxidation is not to be confused with oxygenation. Oxygenation is all about increasing oxygen concentration levels in the body or blood. Examples of oxygenation therapies include hyperbaric oxygen therapy, inhaled ionized oxygen and intravenous "Oxyven" therapy. Oxidation is the loss of electrons, loss of H or gain of oxygen during a reaction by a molecule, atom or ion. Yep, this is high school chemistry, so bare with me....There can be minute increased oxygen concentrations in an oxidation reaction, but that is not the main point. High dose vit C, hydrogen peroxide (H202), ozone (03) and light treated blood, act as oxidizing agents and produce reactive oxygen species and various free radicals. These oxidation byproducts, can damage the cell membranes of microbes in several ways, making them susceptible to destruction. Oxidants also have various effects on white blood cells and the immune system. Last thing...these compounds and gases have been used for 100 years in many parts of the world. This is not new, but certainly in many circles, has been forgotten. Not a bad time to review these approaches. This is a complicated topic, so please do your own research and contact our clinic for more information if you wish. Regards Garrett Swetlikoff, ND www.natural-medicine.ca 250.868.2205

Prolotherapy.A Way to End Back Pain When your neck, back or extremities chronically hurt, well, it just makes life miserable. Comprehensive Prolotherapy, prolozone therapy or PRP, platelet rich plasma therapy, treats chronic pain around joints, tendons, ligaments and bursae. At Kelowna Naturopathic Clinic, we’ve been providing prolotherapy for almost 30 years and we are good at it. Talk to us about our leading edge prolotherapy services. ... 250.868.2205 www.natural-medicine.ca