This is a term used to describe the wide range of vitamins, minerals, herbs and other nondrug nutraceutical therapies to treat many of our patients' problems. In most cases, this is based on evidence from clinical trials. In other cases, it is supported by centuries of use in traditional healing systems from around the world. Sometimes we adopt protocols that have been used by our colleagues practicing integrative medicine at leading edge clinics around the world.

Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine is a growing field that we are practicing and teaching to doctors in Canada. We regularly review the medical literature to identify the best researched alternative medicines for all the problems we treat. This helps us identify the best brands, formulations, doses and other aspects of use that are so important in the 'wild west' of the unregulated Natural Health Product (NHP) industry.

Integrative Medicine does not stop here. This is because we do not use the same diagnostic labels that conventional medicine uses for many health problems. Our diagnostic tests often uncover problems and imbalances that would otherwise go unnoticed. We treat these problems in ways that are not proven - because there are no clinical trials for unrecognized problems. This includes allergies, toxins, biochemical imbalances, nutrient deficiencies and genetic defects leading to enzyme dysfunction.

There are literally hundreds of NHPs we use with our patients - too many to list. Some of the NHPs that we use most often are available for sale at the Seekers Centre. This allows us to avoid problems with patients using poor quality medicines and helps them avoid having to search far and wide for what they are looking for.