Dr. Julie Chan, ND, RAc at Liberty Wellness Clinic

08/08/2025

Sleep is essential for maintaining both physical health and mental well-being. Many patients who come to see me experience disrupted sleep—whether it’s difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, or both. Common culprits include life changes, relationship issues, medical illnesses, hormonal imbalances, or chronic stress related to work and/or finances.

Although I may not be able to directly address all of these stressors directly, I offer patients strategies that can help mitigate the negative effects of stress on sleep and the body. If you’re struggling with sleep issues, you’re not alone. Reach out and start your journey to sleep restoration.

06/28/2025

Hormone Imbalance? Naturopathic Medicine Can Help

Struggling with fatigue, mood swings, or unexplained weight changes? You’re not alone—hormonal disorders affect millions, but the good news is, Naturopathic Medicine can identify and treat the root cause naturally.

Conditions We Treat:
- Thyroid disorders (Hypothyroidism, Hashimoto’s)
- Adrenal fatigue (Chronic stress, burnout)
- PCOS (Irregular cycles, acne, hair loss)
- Menopause/perimenopause (Hot flashes, insomnia)
- Estrogen dominance (PMS, bloating, heavy periods)

Comprehensive Testing - We use advanced hormone panels (saliva, blood, or DUTCH testing) to uncover imbalances and create personalized plans with:
● Herbal medicine
● Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT)
● Acupuncture for hormone regulation
● Nutritional therapy & lifestyle coaching

Take control of your health.
Book a virtual or in-person appointment:
📞 905-604-8480 | 🌐 libertywellness.ca

05/26/2025

Could Your Child with Autism Be Struggling with Hidden Metabolic Imbalances?

Many parents are surprised to learn that challenges like mood swings, fatigue, picky eating, sleep issues, or behavioural changes in Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) may not be just neurological—they can be biochemical, too.

Research shows that children with ASD are more likely to experience:

● Mitochondrial Dysfunction – Poor energy production can lead to fatigue, sensory issues, and developmental delays. (Frye et al, 2024)
● Oxidative Stress & Detox Challenges – Many have low glutathione levels, impairing the body’s ability to eliminate toxins. (Kuźniar-Pałka, A., 2025)
● Glucose & Lipid Imbalances – Higher rates of obesity, insulin resistance, and cholesterol abnormalities are common. (Frye et al., 2024)
● Folate & B12 Metabolism Issues – Disruptions can affect brain function and behavior, sometimes linked to folate receptor autoantibodies. (Chen et al., 2019)

How Naturopathic Biomedical Care Helps
Naturopathic doctors use tools like organic acid testing—a simple urine test—to assess:
✅ Mitochondrial function
✅ Gut health & dysbiosis
✅ Detox pathways
✅ Nutrient metabolism

We also utilize other tests for food intolerance, heavy metals, microbiome imbalances and nutritional levels to assess for other factors that may be contributing to ASD symptoms.

This data helps create personalized, non-invasive support plans using nutrition, supplements, and lifestyle strategies tailored to your child’s needs. Many parents report improvements in energy, focus, digestion, and behaviour after addressing these key factors.

References

Chen Q, Qiao Y, Xu XJ, You X, Tao Y. Urine Organic Acids as Potential Biomarkers for Autism-Spectrum Disorder in Chinese Children. Front Cell Neurosci. 2019 Apr 30;13:150. doi: 10.3389/fncel.2019.00150. Erratum in: Front Cell Neurosci. 2019 Aug 22;13:388. doi: 10.3389/fncel.2019.00388. PMID: 31114480; PMCID: PMC6502994.

Frye, R. E., Rincon, N., McCarty, P. J., Brister, D., Scheck, A. C., & Rossignol, D. A. (2024). Biomarkers of mitochondrial dysfunction in autism spectrum disorder: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Neurobiology of Disease, 197, 106520. doi.org

Kuźniar-Pałka A. The Role of Oxidative Stress in Autism Spectrum Disorder Pathophysiology, Diagnosis and Treatment. Biomedicines. 2025; 13(2):388. https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines13020388

05/12/2025

Acupuncture Can Help with Depression—Here’s What the Science Says

Studies show acupuncture isn’t just for pain, it can also help ease depression! Here’s what research found:

🔹 Acupuncture alone improved depression symptoms by 40–50% compared to fake acupuncture (Smith, 2019).
🔹 Acupuncture + antidepressants (SSRIs) boosted effectiveness to 60–70% (Zhang, 2020).
🔹 Electroacupuncture (a modern twist on traditional acupuncture) had a 60.6% success rate (Zhang, 2015).

These results suggest acupuncture could be a helpful option, especially for those looking for a natural add-on to therapy or medication.

Sources:
1. Smith, C. A., et al. (2019). Journal of Affective Disorders. DOI:10.1016/j.jad.2018.12.073
2. Zhang, Z., et al. (2020). BMJ Open. DOI:10.1136/bmjopen-2019-036391
3. Zhang, W., et al. (2015). PLOS ONE. DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0124860

10/06/2024

07/10/2024

The gut microbiome plays an incredibly important role in keeping us healthy. New study finds children with autism have an altered microbiome compared to neurotypical children. Biomedical treatments addresses microbiome imbalances as well as metabolic challenges which are often found on children on the spectrum.

One of the most detailed studies yet has cemented the link between autism and what dwells within the gut.