Can you tell me about yourself?
I've been practicing for over five years and I opened my own practice two years ago, the West Vancouver Wellness Centre. It's been an amazing experience for me. I've been doing a radio show up until recently and we had a lot of listeners, six to seven thousand internationally. We've seen patients from all over the world, from as far away as Australia.

What's your healing philosophy?
My philosophy involves digestion. I think that no matter how many supplements you take or how much exercise you do, if you don't have good digestion, absorption and assimilation, you're really losing out. When you eat healthy foods, you want to absorb, digest and assimilate them. That's the key to good health. If your digestion is faulty, there's a problem. Digestion is where everything happens. Name the disease or condition and it all goes back to the gut. I would say 70 to 80 percent of patients who see me have digestive problems and that's a conservative estimate. Many people don't realize they have digestive issues, especially women. They're so used to taking care of others that they forget what their body feels like.

What's your favorite hobby?
I do Pilates regularly, three days a week. I go hiking with my husband and my dog, a very active, feisty miniature pincher who needs lots of exercise. My husband and I do the Grouse Grind.

If you were an animal, what would you be? Why?
A dog, in a heartbeat (laughs). They have the latest fashions. They're treated so well. We really take good care of our animals. I have patients who give more supplements to their pets than they take themselves. Dogs are so intuitive and are able to help people. That's why I got into this profession. To help people.

What's something you would like people to know about you?
Communication is very important to me. A priority. I don't want patients to feel shy about asking questions because that's part of their healing. Some patients who come to me have stories about situations where they felt they weren't able to communicate with a previous practitioner. What I want patients to know is that I'm open to not only them learning from me, but from me learning from them.

What's one question that you wished people asked more often?
I wish people would ask, in general, what am I putting in my mouth? What's in my food? What's in my drugs? People don't ask enough questions. I'm not saying people should be non-trusting. But I want them to feel empowered.

I wish people were more questioning with everything. With your medical doctor and your naturopathic doctor. Ask questions because that's the way you're going to learn.

Your health is your wealth. People won't spend money on their bodies, but they'll spend money on their cars. So take that money and see someone. My recommendation is to get the advice of an ND in your area. Talk to people, friends, family because that's how you'll find out who best to see. And keep asking those questions. Ask your ND. When you leave your ND's office, you should fully understand your plan or should have been given information to read later.

Nigma Sciortino, ND
phone: (604) 925-2560
#103-565 17th Street
West Vancouver, BC V7V 3S9
The West Vancouver Wellness Centre offers science based medicine that is safe and effective. Our world renowned Naturopathic Physicians treat a wide range of medical conditions including Allergies, Asthma, Cellulite, Colitis, Crohn's Disease, Diabetes, Eczema, Heart Disease, Hormonal Imbalances, IBS, Men's Health, Osteoporosis, Pain Control, Weight Loss, Women's & Children Care while treating the root cause of illness. Naturopathic Medicine is covered under most extended health care plans.
www.healthydoc.com
drsciortino@healthydoc.com

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