Focus Health Clinic
1864 Oak Bay Avenue V8R 1C5 Victoria, BC, Canada

ICYMI - Dr. Michelle Gaucher, ND has written an excellent series on the types of headaches and the importance of addressing the root cause of symptoms, not just the symptom itself! Link here! https://focushealthclinic.com/2020/09/21/head-pain-part-1/

Have you ever felt confronted by your mental health? The first time I realized how true this is was when my mother pointed out how hard it was to keep my space clean when I felt mentally drained. The inverse can be true as well! These are interconnected and related, but in no way static. Mindfulness practice has helped me to feel more centered, more balanced, and more in control of my mental health.

Have you checked out our blog? Dr. Michelle Gaucher, ND wrote an excellent series on headaches. Link here! https://focushealthclinic.com/2020/09/28/head-pain-part-2/

Alright, so I often get the questions who goes to see a naturopathic doctor and who gets benefit? or why go see an ND? Well, there are several reasons to se...ek out an ND and I would argue that almost everyone could benefit from working with an ND on their health. Reason 1: You have abnormal symptoms and are unsure why. Naturopathic doctors investigate your health to determine what the root cause of your symptoms is. We do this through a thorough health history, physical exams and lab work. We are fortunate to have time to listen to our patients when they come in with a concern. Even if previous lab work has shown that everything is within the normal range, we look at the individual in front of us along with their lab work to try and figure out what is really going on under the surface. Reason 2: You want to make sure your health is optimal. A very important naturopathic principle is prevention. Meaning preventing disease before it occurs. If we take proper care of our bodies and determine what it needs, we are much more likely to avoid disease later on. Remember that if you are a vehicle owner, you take your car in regularly for check ups and maintenance to ensure it runs properly and doesn’t break down. Now, why wouldn’t you do this for your body? Health care should not always = sick care. Reason 3: You’re being treated for a health concern, but you still don’t feel your best. Sometimes, even though we are being treated for something, there may be more to the picture and other body systems may need to be addressed. Many pharmaceutical drugs (as useful and necessary as they can be),can unfortunately cause unwanted side effects. Naturopathic doctors are educated in pharmacology and many in BC have their prescriptive authority. This means that we understand how drugs act in the body, why you may get side effects, and how to counteract them and best support your body while taking them. #naturopathicmedicine #ND #naturopathicdoctor #optimalhealth #feelbetter #rootcause #naturopathy #holistichealth #individualizedmedicine #healthcare #stayhealthy #preventativemedicine #medicine #whydontifeelgood #yyj #yyjlocal #victoriabc #disease

"Today I am held by Grief. As an American living in Canada, I’m grieving my inability to cross country lines, my inability to see my family, smell them, hold them and to see myself reflected in the faces and eyes of my kin." Dr. Rachel Worth-Cappell, one of our amazing naturopathic doctors here at Focus Health Clinic, wrote a beautiful piece on the place for Grief in our lives. ... Check it out here: https://sacredgrovenaturopathic.com/my-musings

Your mental health matters, so we're talking mental health matters today. 17% of all British Columbians are experiencing a mental health or substance use issue today. We recognize that we are experiencing multiple crises -plural - and we know how hard it is to manage mental health issues alone. Acupuncture and naturopathic medicine are an often underutilized resource for mental health treatment. There is evidence supporting the effectiveness of complementary and integrativ...e medicine in treating common mental health disorders, like generalized anxiety and treatment resistant depression. Talk to your practitioner and your loved ones about your mental health. It is just as important (and is intrinsically linked to) your physical health.

As the days get shorter, colder and wetter, it’s natural to start feeling more drained and exhausted (and mentally foggy/scattered etc). Add months of a global ...pandemic stress and you’ve got yourself quite the cocktail! The unfortunate thing is that we don’t know how much longer we will need to endure social distancing, financial loss, isolating and extra media stress. However, the good news is there are ways to support you and your loved ones physically, mentally and emotionally in such an unpredictable and stressful time. If you’ve never been to a naturopathic doctor before, now is the time to see what they could do for you. As a naturopathic physician in BC, I have a very large scope of practice and many tools that are available to help patients and their unique health needs. There are several options to help with stress, burn out and exhaustion. Stop fighting it and start facing it. Let’s enhance your energy and mood while stabilizing your stress and anxiety during this time. We could all use a little help and support in this time and it’s so important to reach out right now! Don’t hideaway, seek support while also maintaining a safe distance to reduce risk. My clinic offers in-person visits that follow COVID guidelines and I also offer virtual visits for those that do not feel comfortable or are unable to come in. Not sure what naturopathic medicine is all about or what it can offer you? Visit my site for more details or book a complementary meet & greet to ask your questions directly! Website link in bio. #yyj #yyjlocal #stress #tired #burnout #fatigue #anxiety #mood #victoriabc #victoria #southjubilee #oakbay #ND #naturopathicmedicine #naturopathy #adrenalhealth #adrenalstress #exhausted #selfcare #energy #energized #feelbetter #health #wellness #holistichealth #rootcause #individualizedmedicine

Lactation is a journey! There is a learning curve for you and your baby. An important reminder to take care of yourself, as well as your baby, especially in those first few weeks. Head over to @ritual.medicine for Stefanie's interview with IBCLC Tammy Timms.

Peace doesn't mean you will not have problems. Peace means that your problems will not have you.

Here's Luna practicing reiki. Have you ever had a reiki treatment? "Similar to recharging a battery, Reiki is the channeling of high-vibrational energy (aka unconditional love from the Divine) into your aura, chakras and meridians." @moonxmedicine Check out Luna's Instagram and website for more details

Call to book 1-778-400-6360 Working from home got you all kinds of stiff? Our RMT Danielle is some sort of wizard when it comes to massage, and body aches and pains. If you have been feeling the weight of poor posture and awkward work set up - she's your gal Our lovely ND's have been supporting folks with mental health, PTSD, and general immune system support.

Our resident NDs, @dr_rachelworthcappell & @dr.michellend having a meeting of the minds in the office and making sure that each patient gets the best possible care

For any university students, you're getting close to midterms! Remember, even though you may not know everything, your curiosity and your drive opens up many doors & windows. Call us if you're in need of a massage or an acupuncture treatment to help manage your health and your stress before or during midterms. Most student health care covers RMT & Acupuncture treatment - some up to 80%.

Po Chai Pills are ubiquitous in Chinese Medicine. They are fast and effective at treatment nausea, diarrhea, indigestion, pain, headache (and hangovers!). In each vial, there are roughly 100 small pellets and one dose = one vial. We love these! Have you tried po chai pills?

Some of the many ways we can support you Call 1-778-400-6360 to book!

Headaches, migraines, trigeminal neuralgia & TMJ syndrome what a pain in the HEAD! For part 1 of head pains, I’d like to review how we can distinguish these pains from one another. So here’s a quick synopsis of each: https://focushealthclinic.com/2020/09/21/head-pain-part-1/ Dr. Michelle Gaucher, ND

Today is Mabon, or the autumnal equinox. Day & night are of equal length, and we reflect on our own equal forces. The equinox is about balance. Respecting the dark as we transition to a season of dormancy, giving thanks for the light as we enjoy our harvest. ... We invite you to take a walk in the changing season, enjoy the fruits (& veggies) of your garden, light a candle or make a list of gratitudes. See more

We've had some new followers, so we thought it might be nice to reintroduce ourselves. This is Michelle Gaucher, a Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine. Michelle is the newest member of the Focus Health Community and we are very grateful to have her! Once she finished her B.Sc. in physiology and pharmacology at the University of Saskatchewan, Michelle headed west to start her next 4 years of school at the Boucher Institute of Naturopathic Medicine in the Lower Mainland. Sh...e has been loving the island life since moving to Victoria this year. Dr. Gaucher believes that in treatment, we must address the root cause of illness and disease and that treatment should focus on the whole person, rather than just the symptoms. Check out her website for her offerings and call today to book a free meet & greet with Dr. Gaucher! See more

Do you ever use mantras when you practice mindfulness? We love this one because the repetition and the rhymes make it easy to remember & the message is one that we often need to be reminded of. Our presence can be what makes a place sacred.

Magnesium is one of the most commonly prescribed supplements in our practice. This mineral is required in hundreds of metabolic processes - including muscle contraction and the activation of our body's main energy source, ATP - and when it's in short supply in our blood stream, our bodies maintain the necessary levels by taking it from our muscles and bones. This can lead to chronic pain and stiffness!... Certain types of magnesium can also act as a laxative, particularly in high doses. Magnesium may interact with certain medications so check with your practitioner before adding any supplements to your routine! See more

From Dr. Rachel Worth-Cappell: Return We have come too far from the land....Continue reading

This week our Naturopathic Doctors supported patients with acne and eczema. They also supported reintroduction to previously triggering foods after removing them from the patients diet for a short while to manage symptom improvement. Our Acupuncturists offered cupping during treatments to help with some of the symptoms of lung irritation from all the smoke in the air!... Dr. Michelle Gaucher, ND Stefanie Miska Danielle Morrison, Registered Massage Therapy Moon Medicine

We've had some new followers, so we thought it might be nice to reintroduce ourselves. This is Rachel Worth-Cappell, a Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine. After completing her BA in Philosophy at The College of Wooster, she received her naturopathic medical training from the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Since graduating, she has taught nutrition at Pacific Rim College and currently teaches wilderness medicine courses through Wilder...ness Medical Associates. Naturopathic medicine is an extension of her deep respect for the healing power of nature. "I am deeply passionate about teaching patients and I focus on wholistic treatment that joins nature-based therapy alongside herbal medicine, acupuncture, diet and lifestyle therapy, naturopathic counselling and your own expertise on yourself." See more

As the school year starts, encourage yourself (and any little ones) to wonder.

What do you know about your pelvic floor? The pelvic floor is a group of muscles that sit like a hammock supporting the womb, bladder and bowel. It allows you to control your bladder and your bowel, and plays a role in sexual function - which is why it's so important to keep these muscles strong. So how do you know if something is wrong and what can you do to fix it?... Listen to @ritual.medicine talk to @coreconnectionphysio on Stef's page, where they discuss some of the main reasons people seek out pelvic floor physiotherapy, including Incontinence Back pain, hip pain, pelvic pain Prolapse Overactive or painful bladder Postpartum support Recurring UTI’s Menopause symptoms/ hormonal changes

Hi Folks! I'm very excited to announce that myself and a couple other brilliant ladies, Dr. Katie Elmhurst and Fiona Wheeler, will be putting on this wonderful ...event! 2020 has been an unexpected year, and it has been difficult for many individuals for several different reasons. This park gathering is intended to be a time to reconnect with others, yourself and the earth. It's time to reconnect, and it's time to get grounded in ourselves. In this session in the park, we will be doing a mind-body yoga exercise, an open group discussion on mental health and wellness, followed by a picnic. It is a FREE event and is open to everyone. Join us for a morning of connection and inspiration in Redfern park. #yyj #victoriabc #yyjlocal #oakbay #southjubilee #connection #yoga #mindbodymedicine #holistichealth #naturopathicmedicine #mentalhealth #wellness #park #picnic #mindbodyconnection #counselling #inspiration

Supporting our lovely community through Naturopathic Medicine, Acupuncture and Massage! Call to book 1 778 400 6360

We've had some new followers, so we thought it might be nice to reintroduce ourselves. This is Danielle Morrison, our Registered Massage Therapist! Danielle is originally from the Okanagan, and after living abroad for a few years, she settled in Victoria where she graduated from the 2200 hour program at the West Coast College of Massage Therapy. Danielle enjoys treating a variety of issues and has taken a continuing education course on pregnancy massage, as she had develo...ped a special interest in prenatal and postpartum care during her own pregnancy. Danielle is in the office Fridays and Saturdays - call us to book in for your next massage!

Human bodies were designed to very effectively address stressful situations, but how does chronic stress effect hormones?

What is one thing that flowers need to grow? RAIN I learned about the RAIN Method of Self-Compassion from Tara Brach's article on mindful.com. The term was first coined in the 90s by Michele McDonald. ... R - Recognize what you are experiencing A - Allow those feelings to simply exist I - Investigate with kindness N - Natural loving awareness https://www.mindful.org/tara-brach-rain-mindfulness-practi/ See more