Dr. Meghan van Drimmelen, Naturopathic Physician

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Victoria, BC
Dr. Meghan van Drimmelen, Naturopathic Physician

Evidence-based complementary and integrative medicine for women, children, and families.

Dr Meghan van Drimmelen has dedicated her practice to the care of families, and provides comprehensive diagnostic work-up, patient education, and individualized treatment plans for a wide variety of acute and chronic health concerns. Areas of specific interest include childhood developmental milestone checks, treatment for immune, allergies, skin and digestive concerns, as well as support for mental health, fatigue, hormone balance, menopause, fertility, and pregnancy. Dr van Drimmelen holds certifications in pharmaceutical prescribing, acupuncture and IV nutrient therapy. She has also received advanced training in bioidentical hormone therapy, fertility acupuncture, and women’s and children’s health. She is licensed with the College of Naturopathic Physicians of British Columbia, and is a member of the Pediatric Association of Naturopathic Physicians, the British Columbia Naturopathic Association, and the Canadian Association of Naturopathic Doctors. She has a passion for sharing knowledge and has written numerous articles for alive Magazine, and is a co-author in the book “Mokita: How to Navigate Perimenopause with Confidence & Ease.”

www.juniperfamilyhealth.com

08/30/2024

💤Common Causes of Fatigue: Hypothyroidism

It is estimated that approximately 2 in 100 Canadians suffer from overt hypothyroidism. However, subclinical hypothyroidism is estimated to affect up to 15% of the population.⚡️

Hypothyroidism or underactive thyroid occurs when our thyroid gland fails to produce adequate amounts of thyroid hormones, T3 and T4. The thyroid gland is the master gland of metabolism and energy, and affects almost every cell in the body. Therefore, if your thyroid isn’t working optimally, neither are you!

👉Symptoms of hypothyroidism include fatigue, depression, constipation, dry skin, brittle nails and hair, muscle aches, poor memory and concentration, cool body temperature, and weight gain.

If you suspect that your thyroid is sluggish, ask your healthcare provider to order a comprehensive thyroid panel including TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone), fT3 (free T3), fT4 (free T4), and TPO (thyroid peroxidase antibodies).

08/28/2024

Do you feel exhausted, although you’re getting adequate sleep?💭 Have you noticed that your mood, memory, concentration, and physical endurance are compromised?💭 Well, you are not alone. 💤 Fatigue is actually one of the most common complaints to health care providers, regardless of practice setting or culture.

Getting to the underlying cause of these symptoms is the first step to help you regain your energy.🔑 With some simple laboratory testing and thorough history taking through your naturopathic physician, the root cause of your fatigue can be revealed, and strategies for re-balancing can be started to get you feeling your best once again!

In upcoming posts, I’ll be going over 5 causes of fatigue that I commonly see in my naturopathic practice. Follow along!⭐️

08/26/2024

Learn about the Naturopathic Therapies I offer in my practice!💫💫

Naturopathic Medicine focuses on treating the underlying cause of disease and dysfunction through supporting the body’s self-healing capabilities. My treatment plans encompass a blend of modern scientific research and traditional forms of therapies that are individualized to reach each patient’s health goals. These include:

🌼Lifestyle Counselling:
Diet, exercise, sleep and stress management are addressed to promote sustainable health and longevity.

🌼Clinical Nutrition:
Nutritional supplementation is used in capsule, tablet or injection form to treat underlying nutritional deficiencies, support normal physiological processes and prevent the progression of disease.

🌼Botanical Medicine:
Both western and Chinese herbs are used in the form of teas, capsules, tablets, tinctures and topical preparations.

🌼Acupuncture:
Specific acupuncture points are selected to help re-establish balance in the body and promote healing.

🌼Allergy Desensitization:
An allergen solution is given under the tongue through a series of treatments to improve allergic symptoms by reducing the body’s sensitivity to the allergen.

🌼Intravenous Nutrient Therapy:
High dose vitamins and minerals are used to treat deficiencies, improve energy, and support the immune system.

🌼Prescriptive Medicines:
In 2010, the BC government granted NDs prescriptive drug rights.

To learn more about my offerings or to book a visit, please visit my website: https://www.drvandrimmelen.com

08/23/2024

🤔🥖 Did you know emerging evidence suggests a potential link between gluten intolerance and autoimmune thyroid conditions?

For individuals with Hashimoto's thyroiditis, adopting a gluten-free diet may help reduce inflammation and alleviate autoimmune responses, potentially supporting overall reproductive health.

🍞 Prior to adopting a gluten-free diet, celiac disease testing is recommended, to determine what type of gluten intolerance is present - ie. celiac or non-celiac gluten sensitivity.

Hashimoto's thyroiditis can significantly impact fertility and increase the risk of miscarriage due to its effects on thyroid function and immune system dysregulation.

However, by integrating naturopathic approaches such as targeted supplementation, thyroid medication when necessary, and dietary modifications, individuals with Hashimoto's thyroiditis can optimize their reproductive health and may increase their chances of successful conception and healthy pregnancies.

💚 If you would like to learn more about your reproductive and thyroid health, please don’t hesitate to book a naturopathic consultation at Juniper Family Health.

https://juniperfamilyhealth.com/book-now

08/21/2024

☀️ Supplementation with Vitamin D, Selenium, and Inositol ☀️

Here is a naturopathic support that may aid in improving reproductive outcomes in individuals with Hashimoto's thyroiditis: Supplementation with Vitamin D, Selenium, and Inositol.

💡 Studies have shown that deficiencies in vitamin D and selenium, both of which have anti-inflammatory and immune-modulating properties, may exacerbate the immune dysfunction associated with Hashimoto's thyroiditis, and supplementation may improve thyroid parameters.

Additionally, inositol, a naturally occurring cell signalling compound, has been found to support ovarian function and thyroid hormone synthesis and may benefit individuals with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis.

💚 If you would like to learn more about your reproductive and thyroid health, please don’t hesitate to book a naturopathic consultation at Juniper Family Health: https://juniperfamilyhealth.com/book-now

08/16/2024

👩‍⚕️ As a naturopathic physician, I emphasize a functional approach to managing Hashimoto's thyroiditis and its impact on reproductive health.

Here is a naturopathic support that may aid in improving reproductive outcomes in individuals with Hashimoto's thyroiditis:

🌟 Thyroid Medication in Overt or Subclinical Hypothyroidism:

For individuals with Hashimoto's thyroiditis who develop overt or subclinical hypothyroidism, the use of thyroid medication, such as levothyroxine, is essential.

Proper management of thyroid hormone levels can help restore hormonal balance, potentially improving menstrual regularity, ovulation and fertility.

💚 If you would like to learn more about your reproductive and thyroid health, please don’t hesitate to book a naturopathic consultation at Juniper Family Health!

https://juniperfamilyhealth.com/book-now

08/14/2024

Impact of Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis on Reproductive Health 💫

Hashimoto’s thyroiditis is an autoimmune condition in which the immune system mistakenly attacks the thyroid gland, leading to reduced thyroid hormone production.

This immune system dysfunction may also impact egg quality and quantity, and the uterine environment.

This can significantly impact reproductive health in several ways:

1️⃣ Menstrual Cycle Irregularities and Ovulation Issues

2️⃣ Impact on Ovarian Reserve

3️⃣ Impact on Embryo and Placenta

If you would like to learn more about your reproductive and thyroid health, please don’t hesitate to book a naturopathic consultation at Juniper Family Health.

📍 Juniper Family Health
📞 778-265-8340
📧 info@juniperfamilyhealth.com

08/12/2024

As a naturopathic physician who works in the reproductive health field, I often encounter individuals struggling with fertility issues and recurrent miscarriages.

One of the common underlying factors I observe is Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, also known as chronic autoimmune thyroiditis.

This week, I’ll be exploring the effects of Hashimoto’s thyroiditis on reproductive health, including its impact on fertility and miscarriage, and discuss naturopathic supports that may help improve reproductive outcomes.

Stay tuned! ✨

08/07/2024

✨When Should I Start Acupuncture for my IVF Cycle?✨

Research conducted by Dr. Hullender Rubin and colleagues has shown that pretreatment with acupuncture prior to egg retrieval and embryo transfer (ET), as well as same day ET acupuncture improves live birth rates. In this study a dose of 11-12 acupuncture treatments were shown to improve fertility outcomes.🤰

⭐️Acupuncture treatments are weekly or bi-weekly depending on where you are at in your cycle. To achieve the recommended dose of acupuncture, aim to start your treatments 6-8 weeks prior to your egg retrieval or ET.

Acupuncture should be continued 5-7 days after ET, and weekly thereafter throughout the first trimester to support a healthy pregnancy.

To learn more about my offerings or to book in with me, click here: https://app.outsmartemr.com/online-booking/774/drvandrimmelen

*Reference:
Impact of Whole Systems Traditional Chinese Medicine on In Vitro Fertilization Outcomes

08/02/2024

Did you know acupuncture can help to support the following assisted reproduction cycles:

⭐️Intra-uterine inseminations (IUI)
⭐️In vitro fertilization (IVF)
⭐️Intra-cytoplasmic s***m injection (ICSI)
⭐️Frozen embryo transfer (FET)
⭐️Superovulation

If you’d like to book an appointment with me, please call Juniper Health Clinic.

👩🏼‍⚕️ Juniper Family Health
📍 314-1175 Cook Street, Victoria
📞 Tel: 778-265-8340

07/31/2024

💫 Depending on where you are at in your fertility journey, acupuncture can be used on its own, or as a complementary therapy to fertility treatments such as IVF and IUI.

Here are some of the fertility related conditions acupuncture can help support:

🌸Polycystic ovarian syndrome
🌸Poor ovarian reserve (advanced maternal age)
🌸Endometriosis
🌸Irregular menstrual cycles
🌸Recurrent pregnancy loss
🌸Unexplained infertility

For some folks, ART (Assisted Reproductive Technologies) may be what is needed to achieve a family.

I work with individuals undergoing IVF (In Vitro Fertilization) and IUI (Intrauterine Inseminations), and am committed to collaborating with your entire healthcare team.

Acupuncture is an effective way to reduce stress associated with ART and it can improve fertility outcomes.

If you’d like to book an appointment with me, please call Juniper Health Clinic, or book online by clicking the link in my bio.

👩🏼‍⚕️ Juniper Family Health
📍 314-1175 Cook Street, Victoria
📞 Tel: 778-265-8340

07/29/2024

Did you know acupuncture is a safe and effective way of supporting your family building goals?🤰

Depending on where you are at in your fertility journey, acupuncture can be used on its own, or as a complementary therapy to fertility treatments such as IVF and IUI.

I am passionate about providing comprehensive and compassionate fertility care. 💛

Over the years I have complemented post graduate training by board certified fertility specialist and clinical researcher Dr. Lee Hullender Rubin DAOM, LAc, FABORM, and was fortunate enough to practice alongside fertility expert Dr. Clara Cohen DTCM RAc for the first few years of my practice. I have found success in my clinical practice by combining acupuncture with other evidence-based naturopathic therapies such as diet and lifestyle interventions, herbal medicines, and vitamin and mineral therapies.

Follow along as I discuss some of the fertility related conditions acupuncture can help support this week! 🌸

Address

330-1175 Cook Street
Victoria, BC
V8V481

Telephone

+17782658340

Website

http://www.drvandrimmelen.com/

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