Dr. Alexa Birdgeneau ND - Calgary

My journey into naturopathic medicine began when I was a teenager. I had been dealing with some chronic symptoms for a several years, and the treatments that were offered to me just didn’t make sense. I had irregular and painful menstrual cycles, and I had a choice to start on birth control pills or to continue managing my symptoms as I had always been. I had an itchy skin rash that would come and go, and was offered a corticosteroid cream to settle it down. I had acne over my face, back, and chest but I had a knot in my stomach anytime I thought about treating it with medication. In all of these experiences, I never received answers as to WHY these symptoms were happening. Even as a teenager, I knew that these symptoms were telling me something about what was going on inside my body, and that if I understood what my body was telling me, then I could take the steps to heal.

Studying medical sciences in university gave me a deeper understanding of the human body, but did not explain my symptoms or how to heal. I did my own explorations of nutrition and trying different diets, with some improvements. I then pursued my training in naturopathic medicine, which is grounded in part on the fundamental belief that the body can heal if given the right conditions. Exploring nutrition, herbal medicines, physical medicines, and acupuncture finally started to offer some concrete changes to my health. But the journey continued, and I realized that some answers lie beyond our current scientific understanding of the body; in the complex processes we have yet to discover, and in the connection between body, mind, and spirit.

I have continually been called to help others heal. I don’t have all the answers, but I believe our bodies do have the answers if we know how to listen. The human body knows how to heal. We just need to give it the opportunity.

In my naturopathic practice, I now integrate my knowledge from my education in medical sciences, my naturopathic training, my personal experiences, and my experience with treating patients. I will listen to your story. Often, just understanding your symptoms can show us what is going on in your body. If we need to get a clearer idea of what is happening, we may choose to use diagnostic testing such as standard blood work, detailed hormone testing, and food testing. From there, we will discuss natural approaches that can work with your body, so that it can start to heal. This may include therapeutic nutrition (using food as medicine), herbal medicines, nutritional supplementation, and lifestyle supports. I am also trained in acupuncture, cupping, and other hands-on techniques to help facilitate healing.

Healing is not often easy or fast, but if you are ready to begin, I am here to support you.