Dr. Nina Lauffer, ND
Naturopathic medicine has always played an important role in my life in some form. My grandparents were very passionate about healthy living and together they opened a health food store in Germany, while my grandfather studied naturopathic medicine. My parents also worked there, and, driven by a passion for healthy living, they dreamed of raising their family on a small sustainable farm, where they could grow their own food and raise free-range livestock.
The year I was born, they immigrated to a small farm in Northern Ontario, where I grew up. My parents continued to uphold the values instilled in them by my grandparents and raised us according to naturopathic principles. I believe my parents approached both naturopathic and allopathic medicine with healthy skepticism, and my siblings and I had a good mix of both growing up. Most of the time, my mother was able to treat our childhood maladies using herbs right out of the garden. As I got older, and especially during my years at university, I was exposed to some of the more modern conveniences and quick fixes allopathic medicine had to offer. I started to question many of the methods my parents had used. I’ll never forget the first time I used nasal spray, when previous to that I had only ever known steam inhalations as a method to clear congestion.
In my graduating year, thirsty for more knowledge, and a clear passion for healthcare, I even started to prepare for the MCAT. I quickly realized, however, that there is a time and place for different approaches to healing. Both systems of medicine, naturopathic and allopathic are incredibly important, but I feel that the emphasis on quick fixes excludes more natural approaches. More integration between the two systems is critical, with a focus on preventing and addressing the root cause for illness, as opposed to strictly reactive medicine. Eventually, this led me to pursue naturopathic medicine at the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine. It was an extremely challenging 4 years, but has been equally rewarding along the way. I am so looking forward to sharing what I have learned, in order to empower members of the community to become good stewards of their own health.
Book a free 15 minute consultation to discuss your healthcare needs and get to know Dr. Nina.