Updated: January 2021
Eric Chan, ND and Tawnya Ward, ND are naturopathic doctors living and working in Richmond, BC. Dr Chan, ND graduated from UBC with a BSc and then went on to study at the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine in Ontario, graduating with an ND in 2003.. Dr Ward, ND graduated from Dalhousie University and also studied at CCNM, graduating in 2004. They are licensed by the College of Naturopathic Physicians of BC.
Dr. Chan, ND has a practice focus on mold and infection related illness, pain management, and chronic fatigue. He has certifications in chelation therapy, acupuncture, oxidative medicine, and prescription drug authority. Because of his patient population, he has developed a strong special interest in biotoxin causes of chronic illness to help achieve health goals.
His patient population has become focused on those presenting with chronic fatigue syndrome, as well as neurological presentations with marked cognitive impairments, balance problems and problems with position sense, central nervous system hypersensitivity alongside autonomic hyperarousal, and often different pain syndromes.
He often will evaluate for, based on the history, any triggers to immune system and neurological hyper-arousal, including infections, mycotoxins (mold related illness), and environmental toxins. He also will discuss options to evaluate and try to restore balance to the excessive inflammation and CNS / autonomic hyperarousal that characterizes his patient base.
Dr. Ward, ND has an interest in using detoxification and environmental medicine in treating difficult cases, especially those presenting with multiple allergies and chemical sensitivities. Dr. Ward's practice focuses on the treatment of allergies, chemical sensitivities, women's health. Dr Ward, ND has attained certifications in chelation therapy/heavy metal detoxification, acupuncture, prescription drug authority, and oxidative medicine.
She enjoys working with identifying especially environmental triggers, be it of a toxin-type nature or hidden sensitivities to foods or agents in the environment. She is interested in women’s health and hormone balance, and is keen to discuss both the pros and cons of any hormone related therapy, and makes an effort to investigate measures other than prescriptive hormones as well as using these when appropriate.
What do these certifications mean?
Intravenous therapy: Dr Eric Chan (ND) and Dr Tawnya Ward (ND) administer a variety of intravenous (IV) therapies. These include Naturopathic treatments such as ozone therapy, ultraviolet blood irradiation, intravenous nutrient therapy (such as vitamin C, vitamins, minerals, glutathione.) Baseline blood labs are run prior to all IV therapies. Clinically indicated treatments individualized to the specifics of the patient’s case may be recommended after a thorough case history, complaint-oriented physical exam, and laboratory analysis. A personalized combination of vitamin, mineral and/or other nutrients, as well as potential advantages and disadvantages of these treatments would be discussed, and expected costs and potential side-effects.
Chelation therapy: Chelation therapy can be given orally and/or intravenously. Chelation therapy is used to chelate out (help remove/reduce body burden) various heavy metals, such as lead, cadmium, arsenic, aluminum and mercury. The most commonly used chelation agents include EDTA, DMSA and DMPS. EDTA tends to be used intravenously (either as calcium EDTA or a slower infusion of sodium EDTA.) EDTA has a higher affinity for lead, calcium, cadmium, arsenic and aluminum. DMPS can be used orally or intravenously. DMPS has a higher affinity for mercury, as well as other heavy metals. DMSA is given orally, and has a higher affinity for lead, mercury, arsenic, cadmium, and aluminum. All of these medications and treatments are used and recommended after a comprehensive workup including initial (new patients) or follow-up (returning patients) consultation, physical exam, and laboratory workup (baseline blood labs, other labs as indicated.) Advantages, disadvantages, costs and potential side-effects will be discussed. After consultation, physical exam, laboratory findings, and this discussion, if indicated a series of chelation treatments may be recommended, as well as periodic repeat blood lab analysis (e.g. baseline labs, kidney function, liver enzymes), and repeat heavy metal testing as indicated (typically blood and/or pre & post urine provoked testing.)
Acupuncture: Acupuncture may be used for musculoskeletal complaints, as well as chronic conditions. Acupuncture needles are very thin, and are inserted in specific acupuncture points or areas of concern (depending on case presentation and chief concerns.) The needles may be rotated, moved, stimulated, and/or may be left for a period of time prior to removing them. Various techniques of acupuncture needling may be implemented, as well as a more traditional approach to chronic conditions.
Prescription Authority: Prescription medications within the scope of practice of Naturopathic Physicians in British Columbia may be prescribed to patients as clinically indicated. Potential advantages, disadvantages, risks and expected costs will be discussed.
Oxidative Medicine: Various treatments fall into the realm of oxidative medicine. These may include high dose intravenous vitamin C, ozone therapy (aka. major autohemotherapy), minor autohemotherapy (intramuscular), photoluminescence/ultraviolet blood irradiation, and intravenous hydrogen peroxide (very low dose.)
Individualized Treatment Plans: All treatments and recommendations are recommended and given after consultation, physical exam and laboratory analysis as indicated. All intravenous and intramuscular treatments are individualized and compounded based upon the specifics of that patient’s case and presentation. Vitamins, minerals and other nutrients (vitamin C, calcium, magnesium, B-complex, B5, B6, B12, phosphatidyl choline, glutathione, etc) may be administered intravenously or intramuscularly, as indicated by case presentation.
Risks: Most treatments have potential risks, which will be discussed prior to administration. For example with intravenous nutrient therapies, extra caution should be taken in potassium depleting conditions and medications (e.g. taken potassium depleting medications; states of low potassium: potassium depleting diuretics, beta agonists, glucocorticoids, diarrhea, vomiting, malnourishment), as IV magnesium can potentially worsen low blood potassium levels (can increase risk of digoxin induced cardiac arrhythmias). Conditions in which magnesium may be omitted include Myasthenia gravis, urinary tract infections with elevated urinary phosphates, hyperparathyroidism. Lower nutrient doses may be used in mild to moderate renal insufficiency. The intravenous vitamin injections that contain magnesium may cause a sensation of heat. Low blood pressure and excessive heat may be associated with rapid injection, and higher dose of magnesium. Lower magnesium doses and slower injections (e.g. IV drip) may be indicated for those with lower blood pressure. Anaphylactic reactions to thiamine (B1) have been reported in the medical literature on the rare occasion. The intravenous vitamin/mineral injections tend to be hypertonic (concentrated, depending on dose of nutrients and how much sterile water, saline or dextrose solution in which they are diluted), thus tenderness, burning sensation at the injection site, vein irritation, phlebitis (vein inflammation) is possible. Often repositioning the needle in the vein or further diluting nutrients can help reduce or eliminate pain or irritation. Vitamin/mineral injections may often be given in additional fluid to make it less hypertonic/concentrated.