Standardized plant extracts for comprehensive health support
Naturopathic botanical medicine uses standardized plant extracts, tinctures, and herbal preparations to address specific health conditions. Licensed naturopathic doctors at Revibe prescribe pharmaceutical-grade botanical products based on clinical assessment, active constituent concentrations, and therapeutic applications. This evidence-based approach combines traditional plant medicine knowledge with modern quality control and standardization protocols.
What is Botanical Medicine
Botanical medicine differs from over-the-counter herbal supplements through standardized dosing, quality control, and clinical assessment protocols. Licensed naturopathic doctors in Ontario complete extensive botanical medicine training as part of four-year naturopathic medical programs. Education includes plant identification, phytochemistry, pharmacognosy, drug-herb interactions, and clinical applications of medicinal plants.
NDs prescribe specific plant preparations based on assessment findings and patient presentation. The College of Naturopaths of Ontario (CONO) regulates botanical medicine prescribing within the naturopathic scope of practice. NDs assess patient health status, review medication interactions, and create individualized botanical protocols based on clinical presentation.
-
Treatment Approach
First consultations last 60-90 minutes including comprehensive health history, medication review, and assessment of presenting concerns. The ND documents all prescription medications, over-the-counter drugs, and supplements to identify potential interactions. Physical examination includes vital signs and relevant body system examination. The ND creates individualized botanical formulas based on assessment findings, addressing primary health concerns while considering patient preferences and compliance factors.
-
Who Can Benefit?
Botanical medicine addresses immune function, digestive disorders, anxiety and depression, insomnia, cardiovascular health, liver function, hormonal imbalances, menopausal symptoms, PMS, prostate health, musculoskeletal pain, respiratory infections, and urinary tract health. Treatment works for patients seeking evidence-based natural therapies that complement or provide alternatives to conventional medications.
Conditions Treated with Botanical Medicine
Our naturopathic doctors at Revibe use standardized botanical preparations to address a wide range of health conditions affecting immune function, digestion, mental health, and cardiovascular wellness.
-
Immune System Support
Echinacea stimulates immune cell activity and reduces upper respiratory infection duration. Clinical protocols use 900-1500mg daily at first sign of cold symptoms. Elderberry contains anthocyanins that inhibit viral replication and reduce influenza symptom duration. Medicinal mushrooms including reishi, turkey tail, and shiitake contain polysaccharides that enhance immune function.
Common scenarios:Frequent colds and infections, weakened immune response, viral infections, seasonal illness prevention.
-
Digestive Health
Peppermint oil relaxes intestinal smooth muscle and addresses IBS symptoms. Enteric-coated capsules deliver 0.2-0.4mL to the small intestine. Ginger stimulates digestive enzyme secretion and reduces nausea. Slippery elm contains mucilage that coats and soothes the digestive tract, addressing gastritis, GERD, and inflammatory bowel conditions. Chamomile reduces intestinal cramping and promotes digestive relaxation.
Common scenarios:IBS symptoms, GERD, nausea, inflammatory bowel conditions, digestive inflammation and cramping.
-
Nervous System and Mental Health
St. John's wort inhibits serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine reuptake addressing mild to moderate depression. Valerian binds to GABA receptors promoting sleep initiation with 400-900mg taken before bed. Passionflower modulates GABA activity reducing anxiety symptoms. Lavender oil capsules reduce anxiety without sedation or dependence risk. Ashwagandha adapts stress response and reduces cortisol levels.
Common scenarios:Mild to moderate depression, insomnia, generalized anxiety, chronic stress, adrenal dysfunction.
-
Cardiovascular Health
Hawthorn strengthens heart muscle contraction and improves cardiac output with standardized extracts (160-900mg daily) addressing mild heart failure. Garlic reduces blood pressure and cholesterol through allicin content. Ginkgo biloba improves peripheral circulation and cognitive function through vasodilation effects using 120-240mg daily in divided doses.
Common scenarios:Mild heart failure, high blood pressure, elevated cholesterol, poor circulation, cognitive decline.
-
Liver Support and Detoxification
Milk thistle contains silymarin that protects liver cells and promotes regeneration. Standardized extracts (140mg silymarin 2-3 times daily) address fatty liver disease, hepatitis, and toxin exposure. Dandelion root stimulates bile production and supports liver detoxification pathways. Turmeric contains curcumin with anti-inflammatory and hepatoprotective properties.
Common scenarios:Fatty liver disease, hepatitis, toxin exposure, liver inflammation, metabolic conditions.
-
Women's Health
Vitex modulates prolactin and progesterone production addressing PMS, PMDD, irregular cycles, and luteal phase defects. Black cohosh addresses menopausal symptoms including hot flashes and night sweats providing alternatives to hormone replacement therapy. Red raspberry leaf tones uterine muscles preparing the uterus for labor. Dong quai addresses menstrual irregularities and dysmenorrhea.
Common scenarios:PMS, irregular menstrual cycles, menopausal symptoms, pregnancy preparation, menstrual pain.
.jpg)
Forms of Botanical Preparations
Naturopathic doctors select botanical forms based on assessment findings and patient needs. Each preparation method offers specific advantages for different conditions:
-
Tinctures extract plant constituents using alcohol and water solutions with concentrations from 25-90% based on compound solubility. Extraction ratios indicate plant material concentration—a 1:5 tincture contains one part plant to five parts liquid. Standardized extracts guarantee specific percentages of marker compounds. Typical adult doses range from 2-5mL taken 2-3 times daily depending on the botanical and condition.
-
Dried plant material in capsule form provides convenience for patients unable to tolerate alcohol-based tinctures. Capsules contain powdered herbs, standardized extracts, or concentrated plant materials. Enteric-coated tablets protect stomach-sensitive compounds and deliver active constituents to the small intestine. Dosing varies by botanical and extraction concentration, typically ranging from 250-1000mg taken 1-3 times daily.
-
Teas extract water-soluble plant constituents including flavonoids, tannins, and polysaccharides. Hot water infusions work for flowers, leaves, and aerial plant parts. Decoctions involve simmering roots, bark, and hard plant materials for 15-30 minutes to extract compounds. Typical dosing involves 1-2 teaspoons of dried herb per cup of water, consumed 2-3 times daily.
-
Salves, creams, and ointments deliver botanical compounds through the skin. Arnica preparations address bruising and muscle soreness. Calendula creams promote wound healing. Essential oils provide concentrated aromatic compounds from plants with topical applications requiring dilution in carrier oils—typically 2-5% essential oil concentration for safe skin application.
Quality Standards and Drug-Herb Interactions
Pharmaceutical-grade botanical products follow Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) ensuring consistent quality, purity, and potency. Third-party testing screens for heavy metals, pesticides, microbial contamination, and active constituent verification. Standardized extracts guarantee minimum percentages of marker compounds ensuring consistent therapeutic effects across different batches.
Botanical medicines interact with pharmaceutical medications through multiple mechanisms. St. John's wort induces liver enzymes accelerating metabolism of birth control pills, blood thinners, and immunosuppressants. Garlic, ginger, and ginkgo possess antiplatelet effects requiring caution with blood thinners. NDs assess all medications before prescribing botanical protocols to prevent adverse interactions.
Response times vary by condition and botanical used. Acute infections may improve within days. Chronic conditions like anxiety, depression, or hormonal imbalances require 4-12 weeks of consistent use before significant changes occur. Follow-up appointments occur 4-6 weeks after starting protocols to assess symptom changes and make dosing adjustments.
Integrated Naturopathic Care at Revibe Mississauga & Markham
Botanical medicine combines with other naturopathic therapies at Revibe. Clinical nutrition addresses nutrient deficiencies that impair herb metabolism and therapeutic response. Some botanicals work synergistically with specific nutrients—turmeric absorption increases with black pepper and fats.
Traditional Chinese Medicine combines botanical formulas with acupuncture for synergistic effects. Many Chinese herbs work within meridian theory addressing specific organ systems and energy patterns. Patients receiving acupuncture for pain, anxiety, or digestive issues enhance results through concurrent botanical protocols.
Topical botanical preparations combine with massage therapy for musculoskeletal conditions. Arnica creams, essential oil blends, and anti-inflammatory botanical oils apply during sessions. Internal botanical protocols addressing inflammation and muscle tension complement manual therapy outcomes.
Practitioners communicate about treatment responses and progression. Shared treatment notes track symptom changes, side effects, and functional improvements. This coordination prevents conflicting treatment approaches and optimizes recovery timelines for patients with complex health conditions.
Safety Considerations and Home Care
Many botanical medicines contraindicate during pregnancy due to potential effects on uterine tone or fetal development. Safe pregnancy botanicals include ginger for nausea and red raspberry leaf in later trimesters. NDs carefully evaluate safety data before recommending any botanical during pregnancy or breastfeeding.
Patients with liver or kidney disease require careful botanical selection. Some herbs pose hepatotoxicity risks. Dose adjustments account for reduced clearance in organ dysfunction. NDs monitor liver and kidney function tests in patients with known organ disease taking botanical medicines.
Many botanical medicines require discontinuation 2 weeks before surgery due to bleeding risk, blood pressure effects, or anesthesia interactions. Garlic, ginkgo, ginseng, and ginger increase bleeding risk. Sedative herbs interact with anesthesia. Patients must disclose all botanical medicines to surgical teams.
-
What to Bring
• Current medication lists (prescription and over-the-counter)
• All vitamins and supplements you currently take
• Recent laboratory results from other providers
• Symptom timelines and triggers
• Previous treatment attempts and results
• Questions about botanical therapies -
Insurance Coverage
• Extended health plans commonly cover naturopathic medicine
• Annual limits typically range from $300-$2000
• Direct billing available for participating providers
• Some plans cover consultations but not products
• HSA and FSA accounts cover both consultations and products
• Verify specific coverage details before booking
Frequently Asked Questions About Botanical Medicine
-
NDs prescribe standardized extracts with verified potency, assess drug interactions, order diagnostic testing, and create individualized protocols based on clinical assessment. Over-the-counter herbs lack professional guidance and quality verification. Pharmaceutical-grade botanical products follow GMP standards with third-party testing for contaminants and active constituent verification.
-
Botanical medicines contain active compounds that produce physiological effects and potential side effects. NDs assess safety through health history review, medication screening, and monitoring. Proper prescribing and quality products minimize risks. Some botanicals interact with pharmaceutical drugs, which is why professional assessment is essential.
-
Response times vary by condition and botanical used. Acute infections may improve within days. Chronic conditions like anxiety, depression, or hormonal imbalances require 4-12 weeks of consistent use before significant changes occur. Some patients notice changes sooner while others require longer treatment courses.
-
Some botanical medicines interact with pharmaceutical drugs. NDs review all medications before prescribing botanicals and monitor for interactions. Never combine botanicals with prescriptions without professional guidance. Common interactions include St. John's wort with birth control and antidepressants, garlic with blood thinners, and ginkgo with anticoagulants.
-
No. Botanical medicine often complements conventional treatment. Never discontinue prescribed medications without consulting your prescribing physician. Some patients reduce medication needs over time as conditions improve, but medication changes require physician coordination. NDs work collaboratively with your healthcare team.
-
Botanical medicine addresses immune function, digestive disorders, anxiety and depression, insomnia, cardiovascular health, liver function, hormonal imbalances, menopausal symptoms, PMS, prostate health, musculoskeletal pain, respiratory infections, and urinary tract health. Treatment selection depends on your specific presentation and health goals.
-
NDs prescribe pharmaceutical-grade botanical products from GMP-certified manufacturers with third-party testing. Quality verification ensures products contain stated ingredients without contamination from heavy metals, pesticides, or microbial contamination. Certificate of Analysis documents provide test results for each product batch.
-
Bring medication lists, supplement inventories, recent laboratory results, symptom timelines, and questions about botanical therapies. Complete health information allows comprehensive assessment. Note what triggers your symptoms, what makes them better or worse, and previous treatments you've attempted.
-
Follow-up frequency depends on condition severity and treatment response. Initial phase care involves appointments every 4-6 weeks to assess symptom changes and make dosing adjustments. Maintenance care occurs every 3-6 months once conditions stabilize. Your ND will recommend a schedule based on your response and functional goals.
-
Many extended health plans include naturopathic coverage for consultations with annual limits from $300-$2000. Botanical product coverage varies by policy. Revibe offers direct billing for participating insurance providers. HSA and FSA accounts typically cover both consultations and prescribed botanical products. Verify your specific coverage before booking.
Meet Our Naturopathic Doctors
-
Dr. Jennifer Tang Naturopathic Doctor
-
Dr. Lisbeth Bitar Patino Naturopathic Doctor
What Our Patients Are Saying
I've been going to revibe for about 2 years now and have never had a bad experience. Their entire staff is extremely knowledgeable and complete professionals. Massage therapist, Min has made such a huge difference in my mobility, especially dealing with the stiffness in my back. His treatments have been extremely thorough and he has given me great suggestions to help improve my daily physical habits. I have been going to Benson for physiotherapy for about 5 months now and he helped fix an ongoing knee issue within a month by identifying what the root cause was and creating a treatment plan for me which included some excellent work outs to do at home. He has also helped me address shoulder problems I have been dealing with for many years. Finally, I just started seeing Dr. Jennifer Tang who is a naturopath and she has been extremely helpful in coming up with a plan to address gut issues I have been experiencing. Not only is she very knowledgeable, she is clearly someone who cares about her patients and continuously checks up on them, which is greatly appreciated. Her acupuncture treatments have also started to make a difference in my life. Revibe is such an incredible collective of health experts who truly love what they do and care about the people they treat.
Jennifer is great with understand what going on in the body. She wonderful to talk to. She has really helped me with issues I’ve been deal with and out talks are good for my mental health. We have been doing acupuncture and it’s been great.
10/10 experience for Physiotherapy, chiropractic, massage and naturopathic medicine! Revibe has helped my friends and family with all their health needs. I personally saw Dr. Jennifer tang for my gut health problems. She helped me control my condition so I can have more flexibility with my diet. The acupuncture and cupping was very safe, sanitary and effective. I also saw Josh for massage to help fix my neck pain. He stretched my back which reduced the pain in my neck and shoulders significantly. Thank you Revibe for taking care of my family and friends!
Book Botanical Medicine in Mississauga or Markham
Revibe operates clinics in Mississauga (serving Streetsville, Erin Mills, Meadowvale, and surrounding areas) and Markham (serving Unionville, Thornhill, Buttonville, and surrounding areas) offering naturopathic botanical medicine services. Both locations provide assessment and treatment by licensed naturopathic doctors.
-
Mississauga Naturopathic Clinic
Location: 2290 Dixie Rd, Mississauga, ON L4Y 1Z4
Phone: 289-806-5123
Hours: Monday-Friday 8am-8pm, Saturday 9am-3pm
Initial consultations last 60-90 minutes including comprehensive health history, medication review, and physical examination. The ND creates individualized botanical protocols based on your assessment findings. Bring current medication lists, recent lab results, and symptom timelines.
Serving: Streetsville, Erin Mills, Meadowvale, Churchill Meadows, Lorne Park, Port Credit, Clarkson, Heartland, and surrounding Mississauga neighborhoods. Convenient access from Highway 401, Highway 403, QEW, and Erin Mills Parkway.
Book Mississauga -
Markham Naturopathic Clinic
Location: 220 Torbay Rd, Markham ON, L3R 1G6
Phone: 289-806-5123
Hours: Monday-Friday 8am-8pm, Saturday 9am-3pm
Extended health insurance plans commonly include naturopathic coverage with annual limits. Direct billing available for participating insurance providers. Botanical medicine consultations and prescriptions fall under naturopathic coverage. Verify specific plan details regarding coverage limits.
Serving: Unionville, Thornhill, Markham Village, Buttonville, Milliken, Cornell, Angus Glen, and surrounding Markham and Richmond Hill areas. Easy access from Highway 7, Highway 404, and Major Mackenzie Drive.
Book Markham
