Meet Dr. Rebecca Handford

Dr. Handford was born on Salt Spring Island and has lived throughout the province as well as Quebec, where she received an Honours degree from McGill University in Anthropology and Sociology. After working and volunteering in the non-profit sector for several years, she returned to school in 2003, qualifying as a naturopathic physician at BC’s own Boucher Institute of Naturopathic Medicine in 2008. She is also certified in acupuncture, IV and chelation therapies, and has prescription rights. While enjoying a general naturopathic practice, she has special interests in family medicine, children’s and women’s health, digestive health and chronic disease management. Dr Handford is a member in good standing with the College of Naturopathic Physicians of BC, the BC Naturopathic Association, and the Canadian Association of Naturopathic Doctors.

Dr Handford’s Health Philosophy

“I believe that health is a balancing act which changes from day to day. Health arises not just from our behaviour and habits, but from our environment and attitudes to life and life events. Naturopathic medical practice, because of its well-rounded training, can respond to any health concern with a variety of “tools” to target and resolve the concern. Not only are naturopathic physicians trained in areas such as nutrition, physical medicine, homeopathy, botanical medicine and traditional Chinese medicine, and counselling, but they are also educated in more traditional medical arenas such as diagnostics, pathology, biochemistry and pharmacology. This unique combination allows me to discover and treat the root cause of health problems and create an individualized treatment plan for each person.”