Naturopathic Therapies

The primary therapies used in Sat Dharam's practice are homeopathy, clinical nutrition, NeuroModulation Technique, darkfield microscopy, herbal medicine (both Chinese and western herbs), acupuncture, bodywork, lifestyle counseling, breathwork, yoga therapy and whole body detoxification including sauna therapy. 

Homeopathy

Based on the principle of "like cures like", homeopathic medicine was developed in the 1700s by Samuel Hahneman. Minute amounts of natural substances are used to stimulate the body's self-healing abilities.

Clinical Nutrition

Clinical nutrition examines the relationship between diet and health. Specific diets are tailored to your body's needs, and treatment may include nutritional supplements such as vitamins, minerals, enzymes, and specialty products.

Herbal Medicine

The use of plants for healing dates back to the beginning of civilization and is the foundation of modern pharmacology. Plant substances from around the world are used for their healing effects and nutritional value. Unlike drugs, plants rarely cause side effects and a combination of herbs can be chosen for your specific condition.

Acupuncture

Based on balancing the flow of Chi (energy) through meridian pathways, acupuncture can be used to relieve pain, strengthen weak organs, tonify the immune system and alleviate many symptoms. The effects of acupuncture are cumulative, and generally a series of 10 treatments are recommended to create long lasting change.

NeuroModulation Technique (NMT)

NMT is an energetic healing system that utilizes muscle response testing to access information from the body and then modulates the working of the body's autonomic control system through applying verbalized clinical pathways. As information faults are corrected, the body can be programmed for self-healing.

Bodywork

Massage, reiki and therapeutic touch are used to induce relaxation, balance the chakra system, relieve muscle tension and allow emotional material to come to the surface.

Lifestyle Counseling

Recommendations may include exercise routines, time management tools, journaling, observing one's dreams to gain insight, or the use of affirmations or specific meditations to shift one's thought processes.

Breathwork

The quality of one's breathing has a profound influence on the quality of one's health, energy and mental state. Breathing exercises may be recommended to control blood pressure, soothe irritability, alleviate headaches or muscle tension, increase energy or balance the glandular system.

Yoga Therapy

Yoga exercises can be used to balance the body through the chakra system, increase the flow of lymph, assist detoxification, and improve flexibility and range of motion.

Detoxification

Toxins from the environment – chemicals, organisms or toxic metals – are present in our food, air, water, and are found in our homes. Internal toxins contribute to fatigue, irritability, glandular imbalances and diverse health concerns. Detoxification procedures include specifics diets or fasts, liver, kidney and bowel cleanses, saunas, breathing practices, skin brushing and hydrotherapy. We offer a comprehensive seasonal cleansing program to help you maintain optimal health.

Darkfield Microscopy

Darkfield Microscopy is a tool that allows us to view and analyze living whole blood through a microscope, which is linked to a TV screen. It evaluates the quality and movement of red and white blood cells, and the background of tiny moving light bodies known as somatids or protits. Susie Schmidt Ph.D. is our microscopist who will help to interpret your blood picture, while Sat Dharam Kaur will guide you to the therapies that can help to improve your health after reviewing your darkfield analysis.

Principles of Naturopathic Healing

by Sat Dharam Kaur, N.D.

The body has an innate capacity to heal. My job is to show you the way, encourage and evaluate your progress on the road to optimum health. Your full participation is required in this sometimes difficult process. Naturopathic medicine is a system of healing consisting of nutrition, botanical medicine, homeopathy, acupuncture, bodywork and counseling. Practitioners vary in the focus they place on a particular modality and in methods of treatment. I have developed a methodology to generate healing that follows the principles outlined below. At different times in your course of treatment I will focus on one or more of these.

1. Identify and remove the obstacles to healing. These may include overuse of alcohol, sugar, caffeine, tobacco and drugs, exposure to toxic chemicals or metals, lack of rest, particular stressors, and self-destructive attitudes, emotions and thought patterns.
2. Consume enough water. The best sources are from well-maintained reverse osmosis or carbon block filtering systems. If distilled water is used, be sure to include a mineral supplement or eat sea vegetables regularly. Aim to drink two to three liters of water daily. Pure water is the body’s most important cleanser, and is needed to flush out toxins and maintain proper pH levels.
3. Eat a healthy diet. Food should be unprocessed, additive-free, as close to the way nature made it as possible. Organic is best. Focus on whole grains, legumes, fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds, with some raw food daily. Dairy should be used infrequently (twice weekly), as most people are sensitive to it. If you are a meat eater, decrease your intake of red meat to a maximum of twice weekly and find products that are free of pesticides, hormones and antibiotics.
4. Exercise regularly. Design an exercise program that you can stick to, that you enjoy, and that can easily become part of your routine. Walk as often as possible rather than driving. Use the stairs rather than the elevator. Include both stretching and aerobic exercises in your program. Aim for at least forty minutes of exercise daily.
5. Balance the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system. Many of us are on sympathetic overdrive due to chronic stress and insufficient rest. You can check this through following your nostril dominance at half hour intervals throughout the day. If the right nostril is dominant most of the time, it is probable that you sympathetic dominant and the body will have difficulty healing. The parasympathetic nervous system will kick in with conscious left nostril breathing, yoga, meditation, tai chi, relaxation, sleep, massage and calming music.
6. Harmonize acid/alkaline balance in the body. The blood must be maintained at a pH of 7.38 - 7.42. Slight variations in this will cause sickness and death. The body has several mechanisms it uses to keep the blood slightly alkaline. Checking the pH of the urine and saliva will determine how much the body is compensating to balance the pH of the blood. Urine pH should be 6.6-7.2 on average. It will fluctuate throughout the day and be more alkaline for up to one hour after a meal. Saliva pH should be 6.6- 7.2. Water intake reduces acidity, as do vegetables, fruits, minerals, an alkalizing powder and breathing techniques. Animal protein, dehydration, stress, vigorous exercise and most grains increase acidity. Imbalanced pH causes: 1) a change in the structure and function of body proteins; 2) changes in the function of enzymes; 3) alterations in the permeability of membranes; 4) altered distribution of electrolytes; 4) a change in the structure of connective tissue (bone, tendon, ligament – stiffness with increased acidity). Increased acidity promotes arthritis, osteoporosis, cancer and degenerative diseases.
7. Ensure adequate mineral intake. Most of us are mineral deficient, as the soil that produces our food has become depleted in minerals. Testing of minerals can be done through blood, urine or hair, and replenishing mineral deficiencies leads to increased enzyme activity and energy, and often a reduction in stiffness and pain. The alkaline minerals potassium, magnesium and calcium are especially low in many individuals, as are the trace minerals zinc, selenium, manganese, molybdenum and vanadium. Minerals can be obtained from foods and supplements.
8. Decrease free radical activity and increase antioxidants. Excessive free radicals damage cell membranes, DNA and place a burden on liver enzymes, causing faster aging and cell mutations. Free radicals are neutralized by antioxidants obtained from food or supplements. Your free radical burden can be assessed using the Oxidata test.
9. Improve lymphatic circulation. The lymphatic system is responsible for pulling toxins from the extracellular fluid so that they do not damage the DNA within our cells. Lymphatic circulation is improved by swimming in non-chlorinated water, yoga, rebounding, daily exercise, deep breathing, alternating hot and cold showers and herbal and homeopathic formulas.
10. Regulate blood sugar metabolism. Blood sugar is regulated by the liver, pancreas and adrenal glands. These are stressed by consumption of sugar, refined foods and caffeine, causing wide fluctuations in blood sugar levels. This can contribute to emotional swings, spaciness, dizziness, headaches and candidiasis. Blood sugar metabolism can be corrected through diet, supplementation and energetic techniques.
11. Strengthen digestion. Optimal digestion helps to maintain optimal health. Poor digestion contributes to a toxic colon, which is often where illness begins. Digestive insufficiency can be caused by a deficiency of hydrochloric acid in the stomach and/or enzymes in the pancreas, or improper absorption in the small intestine. Digestion can be strengthened by practicing food combining, relaxing before meals and chewing well, avoiding food sensitivities, and supplementing with digestive enzymes or herbal/homeopathic remedies.
12. Balance the body’s flora; eliminate parasites and unwanted bacteria; normalize yeast. Parasites are common guests in our bodies these days because of international travel, widespread daycare use, abundance of pets, a generalized decrease in immunity, contaminated water, and heightened immigration. Their presence can cause vague symptoms and they often go undiagnosed. Chronic low grade bacterial infections, in the mouth for example, can lead to systemic diseases such as arthritis and cancer. Candidiasis is a prevalent condition because of overuse of antibiotics and the birth control pill, and excessive consumption of sugar and refined foods. These conditions can be rectified with natural bacterial, yeast and parasite killers, a dietary regimen and supplementation with “healthy” bacteria.
13. Detoxify the liver, kidneys and colon. The liver’s toxic load has increased dramatically over the last several decades with the mass use of chemicals, pollutants, drugs and hormones that have infiltrated our soil, water, air, food and bodies. Any ways in which we can lighten its load or provide nutrients to assist it will lead to improved health. The kidneys filter 1200 mls of blood every minute. They function to reabsorb nutrients into the blood and to secrete waste materials to form urine. They maintain the balance of sodium in the body and help to keep the body fluids alkaline. The colon is host to a microscopic ecosystem. Over 500 species of bacteria dwell there, and one third of our stools are composed of dead bacteria. Like many ecosystems on the planet, the colon’s balance is easily disturbed. Antibiotics, poor eating habits, refined and processed foods will all disturb the bowel’s ecology. Hydrotherapy, breathing techniques, specific exercises, nutritional supplements, herbs, homeopathic remedies and acupuncture can be used to support the liver, kidneys and colon.
14. Balance the body structurally and energetically and improve overall vitality. The body has within it a sophisticated, intelligent network of conduits of energy and communication loops. Often there are blockages within this energetic system that can be removed through acupuncture, kinesiology, homeopathy, bodywork and exercises in Kundalini Yoga. When the body’s energy flows freely, many physical and emotional ailments are improved and vitality is enhanced.
15. Strengthen any weak organs or glands. These are the body’s servants and act as guardians of our health. It is common for a particular organ or gland to be working at less than optimal function. Once identified, an underfunctioning organ can be revitalized through specific herbs, nutrients, homeopathy, foods and exercises.
16. Address emotional issues. When an individual is unable to express his or her full potential because of unresolved emotional issues, it is helpful to work with those issues. Dreamwork, journaling, process-oriented bodywork, affirmations, homeopathic and flower essences, energetic therapies and specific meditations can be used to accomplish this.
17. Plug into the Divine and acknowledge the soul. Body, mind and spirit are intimately linked. A sense of purpose and feeling that one is following one’s destiny are powerful catalysts to personal healing. Prayer, meditation, yoga, martial arts, creative work, time in nature and spiritual practice remind us that the Divine flows through us.

Principles of Naturopathic Medicine

1. Belief in the Healing Power of Nature: An individual's innate capacity to heal can be restored using methods and medicines that are in harmony with natural processes.
2. Finding and Treating the Cause of Disease: Naturopaths help their patients seek and remove the underlying physical, emotional or spiritual cause of any ailment.
3. First Do No Harm: Naturopaths use gentle, noninvasive therapies, with few side effects.
4. Treat the Whole Person: Naturopaths do not treat disease, they treat people, and any ailment is looked at in the context of the patient's history, environment, mental-emotional make-up and the body as an interconnected whole system.
5. Prevention is the Best Medicine: When risk factors are perceived, potential disease can be averted with changes in lifestyle and diet.
6. Doctor as Teacher: Naturopaths take time to educate their patients in health practices to promote wellness.

Sat Dharam Kaur, N.D.

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Sat Dharam graduated in 1989 from the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine with awards in homeopathy and psychology. She holds both B.Sc. and B.A. degrees from the University of Guelph and a diploma in fine art from the Ontario College of Art. Sat Dharam was awarded the “Naturopathic Doctor of the Year” award by the Ontario Association of Naturopathic Doctors in 2000 for her work in breast cancer prevention and environmental education. Sat Dharam developed the Healthy Breast Program in an effort to educate women in naturopathic ways to prevent and treat breast cancer. She has taught the Healthy Breast Program to patients and the public since 1996 and lectures regularly at The Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine on breast health and stress management. She presented the Healthy Breast Program at the first, second and third world conferences on Breast Cancer in 1997, 1999 and 2002, and at conferences around the world. Sat Dharam's bestselling books include A Call to Women, The Complete Natural Medicine Guide to Breast Cancer, and The Complete Natural Medicine Guide to Women's Health. Sat Dharam has been studying Kundalini Yoga with Yogi Bhajan since 1976 and has facilitated teacher training programs in Toronto and New Mexico. She has developed a yoga-based addiction recovery program, as well as a breast health yoga training, designed to help educate women in breast cancer prevention through Kundalini Yoga and lifestyle change. She has been a guest instructor at the summer Kundalini Yoga Festival in France, at 3HO Women’s Camps in New Mexico, at the Toronto Yoga Show in 2004, 2008, 2009, 2010 and the Toronto Yoga Festival 2008. Sat Dharam teaches a popular and transformative 240-hour Kundalini Yoga Teacher Training Program in Toronto annually.

Patient Forms

In this section are forms and charts for tracking your diet and/or exercise, monitoring pH (acid alkaline balance) and graphing temperature to assess thyroid function.

Fee Schedule

Consultations are conducted by Dr. Sat Dharam Kaur.

• Initial Consultation (1.5 hours) $ 180 (includes HST)
• Follow-up Consultation (1 hour) $ 125 (includes HST)
• Follow-up Consultation (30 minutes) $ 70 (includes HST)
• Children 17 and under $ 50 per visit (includes HST)
• Acupuncture $ 65 (includes HST)
• Bodywork (1 hour) $ 80 (includes HST)
• NMT $ 70 (1/2 hour) $ 125 (1 hour) (includes HST)
• Darkfield Microscopy 1/2 hour with Susi Schmidt $ 45 + 1/2 hour with Dr. Kaur $ 70 (includes HST)

 
Many employee insurance plans cover naturopathic medicine in part or in full.

Environmental Creed

Our physical bodies are only as healthy as the air we breathe, water we drink, food that we eat and the soil in which our food is grown. Planetary health directly influences human health. A dramatic shift in the way we relate to the elements that nourish us and to the earth itself is needed for human survival. The following statements, when internalized and implemented, will help us make that shift. Please do what you can to abide by these guidelines, and share them with others. 

1. I recognize the interconnectedness of all life and acknowledge the consequences of my actions on other species and humans in locations near and distant.
2. I realize that human well-being is derived from the well-being of the earth and its elements – soil, trees, food, water, air, weather patterns and biodiversity of species.
3. As I coexist with other species, I have a responsibility to protect their habitat and survival. In considering the welfare and survival of other species and how my actions impact them, I protect our collective future.
4. I practice conservation and take only what I need of the earth’s finite resources in a sustainable way, keeping in mind the needs and rights of other humans and species.
5. I recognize the need for population control, which is dependent upon the education and opportunities available to women and men, as well as the availability of safe birth control methods.
6. I actively promote peaceful cooperation among neighbours, cities, regions and countries to maintain the earth’s well-being and resources as our common goal and sacred duty.
7. I choose raw materials that are natural, non-toxic, recyclable, renewable and biodegradable. I take responsibility for the waste I generate, and encourage individuals, industries, municipalities, and nations to do the same. I promote the use of waste as food for another product or living process.
8. I choose food that is organically grown, not genetically modified, and adopt a primarily vegetarian diet. I support local farmers and food producers to decrease carbon emissions caused by deforestation from animal grazing and transportation of goods.
9. I help to preserve our forests and urban trees, recognizing their value as the lungs of the earth. I plant trees and support others in their efforts to preserve forests globally. I commit to consuming fewer tree products.
10. I practice energy conservation and support renewable energy (wind, solar, geothermal) to minimize global warming.
11. I protect the integrity and health of the lakes, groundwater, forests, land masses, natural geography, earth's rivers, ecosystems and inhabitants.
12. I believe the ultimate goal of individuals and nations is to have basic needs of food, shelter, clothing, health and education met, so that attention can be paid to right livelihood, spiritual practices, self-realization, inner joy and peace, cooperation, sharing, equality and service.
13. I believe that progress is measured by the well-being of the earth and all its inhabitants as a whole, not simply by the well-being of humans to the detriment of other species.
14. I uphold the Precautionary Principle: when an activity raises threat of harm to human health or the environment, precautionary measures should be taken even if some cause and effect relationships are not fully established scientifically. In this context the proponent of an activity, not the public, should bear the burden of proof.
15. I live simply.

Recipes

The Healthy Breast Web site features recipes for healthy food.