Download read all about it here - Edmonton Holistic Veterinary Clinic

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CLINIC PROFILES
Natural Path Clinic /
Edmonton Holistic Veterinary Clinic,
Edmonton, Alberta
Steve Marsden, DVM, ND, MSOM, LAc, Dipl.C.H.
You may be the only Doctor of Veterinary Medicine
doctor and that my professors weren’t as wise as I assumed.
/ Naturopathic Physician / Licensed Acupuncturist
Ironically, it was their beliefs and claims I had accepted
around. Tell us a little of the story behind the
unquestioningly. I resolved to learn more.
inspiration to pursue training in all three of these areas.
Now that I had looked outside myself and my
I started my career as a frustrated conventional veterinarian.
profession and realized my short-sightedness, I didn’t
I didn’t fully understand what was going on in many
want to miss anything the second time round. Nowadays,
patients, making it hard to treat them effectively, and
a veterinarian in that position could simply take any
when I did have a diagnosis, the side effects of treatment
number of high-quality continuing education courses,
sometimes seemed worse than the disease itself. I couldn’t
but twenty years ago they didn’t really exist for vets, and
get many patients better, necessitating their continued
the ones I had taken had done nothing other than set me
treatment. Effectively, then, I was making money from
up for disappointment. I was sent the National College of
my lack of success, which bothered by sense of integrity.
Naturopathic Medicine’s syllabus in the mail by mistake
Despite these frustrations, I had no interest in holistic
and realized that its breadth and depth was what I was
medicine. I’d learned the lesson well from my professors
looking for. I decided I had to go back to school full time,
that alternative medicine made claims that should
and sent in my application to NCNM.
One of Edmonton’s bestknown acupuncturists
and naturopathic
physicians, Steve Marsden
is also one of the chief
educators of veterinarians
always be questioned, since it lacked research support.
I also chose NCNM because it was the oldest school
Thus, when my clients mentioned some supplement or
in North America, and because a lot of the NDs I was
of complementary and
modality, to get my opinion, I usually dismissed it out of
seeing quoted in print were teaching there, so the school
alternative therapies.
hand as being ineffective.
seemed at the forefront of the field. The clincher was that
He has been a keynote
One particular modality, homeopathy, seemed so
the Canadian college at the time was not yet accredited
speaker across five
ludicrous that I had to look it up. There I read about
and was located in a seedy elementary school. Imagine my
continents, and is co-
veterinarians using it to treat the same conditions I was
shock when I stepped out of the cab for my interview at
founder of the College
exasperated by. In my desperation, I decided to take some
National, only to discover it, too, was located in a seedy
of Integrative Veterinary
weekend courses and give it a try.
elementary school! Time has marched on and now I’m
Therapies. He is also a
My first experiences with homeopathy were highly
a director of that college, which is rapidly expanding its
disappointing, leaving me feeling bitter at having been
campus footprint to include many buildings in the heart
hoodwinked, and generally disillusioned. One well-
of Portland’s waterfront. They’ve come a long way in the
known British homeopath, Christopher Day, took pity
last two decades, as has the practice of natural medicine.
on me though, and sent me some of his books. Following
their advice, I started having success right away.
I didn’t have treating people as an objective. It was
worldwide in the use
director of the National
College of Naturopathic
Medicine. His textbook
on natural veterinary
medicine has been
translated into multiple
a means to an end, but I discovered that I was good at
languages. In 2009,
After two years of self-study, I was having successes in
treating people, since I could generally figure out what to
Steve was voted by the
patients with homeopathy that were otherwise complete
do for them just by watching them and touching them, as
Canadian Veterinary
lost causes from a conventional point of view. Once I had
I did with animals. In addition, though, I could ask them
Medical Association as
experienced those successes, there was no going back. I
any question I wanted. It really is quite a luxury!
their veterinarian of the
realized there was a great big hole in my education as a
I have heard that your clinic is licensed to treat both
year.
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with the name Edmonton Holistic Veterinary Clinic for
how you manage to see them both in one facility. If
the animal side. I remember not liking it, thinking it
not, do you also treat animals and where?
distinctly unimaginative, and somewhat inaccurate, as I
At our clinic we’re licensed to treat both people and
believe all medicine should be holistic. Nevertheless, in
animals under the same roof. As far as I know, there isn’t
the interests of cooperation, I complied, and named the
another clinic that has that distinction, making it quite
human side the Natural Path Clinic instead.
newsworthy when it opened. It garnered lots of media
As it turned out, accepting the AVMA’s ideas was a
attention that helped get the clinic off the ground quickly.
smart move, since people use the word holistic a lot when
The question we were most often asked was why we
seeking our kind of services. Furthermore, within a week
wanted to do it. But I practice the same way, whether
of opening, veterinarians were calling and complaining
the patient is two-legged or four. I use the same herbs,
that we should not be able to be licensed as a vet clinic,
modalities and remedies, and the same basic clinical
given our use of natural medicine. Because he’d been so
approach. So it only made sense to put both clinics under
heavily involved in the clinic set-up, though, the AVMA
one roof.
registrar defended us against these complaints, to the
Not to say that it wasn’t difficult getting it set up. We
point that I never even heard about them. I’m so grateful
required three different regulatory bodies to approve
for that support that if I was ever to do such a project
our plans – the naturopathic medical association, the
again, getting regulatory body input would be job one
health authority for the Government of Alberta, and the
for me.
veterinary association. Just to get all those approvals easily
The clinic consists of two waiting rooms and two sets
added another couple of months to the time needed to
of treatment rooms, one for animals and one for people,
build the clinic.
separated by a low wall and a gate. There’s one entrance,
The veterinary association also recommended a name
one reception desk and one pharmacy. Despite this
for us. I wanted the name Natural Path Clinic, for both
separation (which the public health department insisted
the human and animal sides. The American Veterinary
upon), most human patients prefer to wait amongst the
Medical Association didn’t like that idea, coming up
animals. For many of my human patients, having animals
© Steve Marsden
Entrance to the clinics
humans and animals? Is this true and if so, describe
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nearby helps them relax and contributes to a healing
in small animal medicine today, in my opinion.
environment for them.
Have you seen changes in the level of interest among
Are there a lot of commonalities (i.e. formulation,
veterinarians in botanical medicine and other
dosage, contraindications) in using botanicals with
“alternative” modalities?
humans and other animals? Do you use other dietary
Adoption of therapeutic alternatives by veterinarians
supplements as well?
is steadily growing, but still only by a vast minority of
I rarely use other supplements, or even drugs, and rely
the profession. I spend three months a year teaching
heavily on herbs. I enjoy finally having arrived at a place
veterinarians how to practice effectively with herbal
professionally where I can utilize them effectively to treat
medicine, diet and acupuncture, in an attempt to change
even serious diseases.
that.
This is one of the big advantages of being a holistic
Holistic medicine is healing for the practitioner as well
vet – being able to treat even serious disorders with
as the patient, and I would like as many veterinarians
just holistic means. Because we’re in control of the
to experience those benefits as possible. I remember
conventional medical side of treatment for most of our
thinking when I was just a conventional practitioner
patients, we can put holistic medicine to the test and see
that I would have to quit when I was 45, and go research
what it’s really capable of. Practice ends up being a form
orangutans in Borneo or some such thing, in order to
of living archaeology – where we get a glimpse of the true
redeem my career. I now know I would never have made
potential the developers of these treatments originally
it even to age 45.
saw in them.
In contrast, as a holistic practitioner, my work isn’t a
In general, the same contraindications and dosage
source of stress – instead it sustains me. Our results are
forms apply to animals as humans. The only difference
far beyond what I could ever achieve conventionally.
for the most part is dose, which varies according to
Many times a day, we’re stunned at what the body is
surface area, such that a cat gets more than you would
capable of with just a little subtle holistic prompting. The
think, relative to a human, and a horse gets a lot less.
environment this all happens in is loving and nurturing,
and the mental state necessary to conjure up these
What are the major differences?
treatment ideas is calm and meditative. When I was a
The main differences between animals and humans in
conventional vet, I would wake up each day and wish
herbal medicine practice are the frequency with which
it was Sunday. Now, no matter how long and busy the
we use various formulas. We have to use relatively more
day ahead is, I always look forward to the challenge of
tonics in people, and more Heat clearing and anti-
treating even difficult diseases. Seeing holistic medicine
inflammatory herbs in animals.
work is addictive.
My teachers theorized this is because humans ‘have
become weakened by civilization’ and that animals have a
Where is your clinic located? Describe the clinic’s
more raw vitality about them. I don’t agree, though, since
facilities.
I notice humans can respond with the same lightning
We’re located in Edmonton, Alberta, just east of the
quickness to a well-chosen herbal remedy.
Canadian Rockies. We picked the geographic center
I think the need for more ‘excess draining’ herbs in
of Edmonton, a city of about 1 million, rather than a
animals comes from the reliance by most pet-owners on
residential neighborhood or a neighboring town, since
processed pet foods. Even despite their own consumption
we imagined that only a small percentage of the city’s
of chips, pop, and junk food, humans rely much less on
residents would seek us out to start with, and we wanted
processed food for nutrition than their pets, and as a
to give them all access to us. Fortunately, this section
result have less ‘excess’ in their bodies. Much of the vital
of the city, known as Whyte Avenue, is the Bohemian
heat of the average dog or cat is not due to healthy vigor,
center of the city, and we fit right in. There are no chain
but is instead due to the fires of inflammation, stoked by
stores, and individuality abounds. People still walk on
a steady diet of processed grains. It’s the greatest problem
the street rather than just drive everywhere. From organic
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restaurants and grocery stores, to yoga studios and cycle
shops, the notions of healthy diet and exercise as the keys
to health abound here.
conditions stemming from insulin resistance.
There are some differences, though. In animals we see
a lot more neurological disorders like paralysis, and treat
a lot more internal medical issues like kidney and liver
How many people and animals are seen annually in
the clinic annually?
disease.
In humans, I’m asked a lot about infertility and I also
We’re a very busy practice. Myself, I spend two days a
spend a lot of time treating psychological disorders, such
week on educational projects and paperwork, and three
as depression and anxiety. Dealing with those kinds of
days a week in which I will see at least 40 patients, usually
problems is especially gratifying, as people are often
more. Our other three doctors works similarly, such that
stunned how easily they can overcome them, after years
we probably serve close to 10,000 patients a year.
of feeling enslaved by them.
Many holistic practitioners, in contrast, like a small
clinic with a small manageable patient base that they get
Are there other types of practitioners working with
to know over months or years, and view that intimate
you there?
relationship as necessary to solving longstanding health
Not all practitioners are keen to work where there are
problems. While that model is appealing to the need in
animals around, as it tends to get busy and noisy at times.
all of us for human connection, our philosophy is that
As a result, we’ve just made the decision to move the
we need to interface with as many people as possible,
human practice across the street, and devote the existing
to develop a critical mass of networking that will not
clinic entirely to animal use.
only ensure continued word-of-mouth referrals, but as
Across the street, a three-story holistic mecca is being
importantly, let conventional health care workers and
built, consisting of organic butchers, bakers, and grocers;
policy makers know that holistic medicine is a going
healthy cafes and restaurants; supplement shops; holistic
concern. To do that, we’ve had to figure out how to get
dentists; yoga and pilates studios; meeting spaces; and a
people’s problems solved, and equip them to understand
group practice of six or so holistic practitioners, of which
and control their complaints through lifestyle change, in
I’ll be one. The unofficial but hoped for ideal is that we
just a few visits.
will all work together (once again under one roof ) to
The net effect of all this is that we can address most
move people from states of illness to wellness, and from
people’s concerns for a total of about $650 to $900 a year,
treatment to prevention. So we’ll be moving from one
yet as a clinic gross over $1.3 M a year. Usually none of
experiment in holistic group dynamics to another!
that is covered by health insurance, so people are paying
entirely out of pocket for these services, in a province
What is the cost of the initial consultation? Follow-up
where health care is otherwise “free”. To justify ourselves
visit?
and survive in that landscape, we’ve had to learn to be
The first visit is about an hour and costs in the
highly and rapidly effective, so we can make a decent
neighborhood of $275 for an hour’s worth of time.
living while still providing a bargain and disseminating
We’re paid for time, not individual services, so if we do
the word about holistic medicine.
acupuncture or a manipulation during the appointment,
there’s no extra charge. The idea is to not have anyone be
What are the most common conditions treated there?
able to ‘clip our holistic wings’ by refusing a treatment
Often animals and their owners have the same problem,
just in order to just save money, but in the process
such that when an owner sees their pet getting better
compromising our ability to help them. Rechecks are on
from a condition, they’ll often ask where they can go to
average $175 for a half hour of attention.
get the same treatment. Naturally we say, “Right here!”
In general, then, my day is taken up treating similar
types of complaints, whether it’s a human day or an
animal day. We treat a lot of chronic pain, inflammatory
disorders of the skin and digestive tract, cancer, and
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Whether an initial examination or a recheck, the
appointments have the same basic structure:
• a discussion of what is going on and what has been
previously helpful
• an examination of the patient’s pulse and tongue
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unique in that we are looking for the acupuncture
points that change the patient’s pulse for the better.
CLINIC PROFILES
• an acupuncture treatment. Our treatments are
quality medical research using herbs.
Lofty idealistic ambitions to be sure, but we’re actually
making headway. And every man needs a hobby…
Our understanding of what those points do leads us
to deciphering the general dynamic and flavour of
What do clients typically leave an appointment with?
an appropriate herbal remedy, while the signs and
Specifically, do you provide herbs at the initial visit?
symptoms give us the specifics on what has to be
Articles? Instructions? Nutritional recommendations?
treated. This remedy may be either western or eastern.
We dispense herbal medicine to most every patient,
We thus use acupuncture not only therapeutically,
and occasionally integrate those with drugs, and other
but diagnostically. It gives us the overall blueprint
supplements. They also receive diet advice, which may
of what we need from a herbal perspective, and the
take the form of a handout or a referral to another
unique presentation of the patient helps us make the
resource. We demonstrate and provide instruction on
final choice
how to perform an acupressure or massage treatment on
• at the end of the visit, we’re discussing treatment
themselves, their child or their pet. And we touch on the
options, but also how the patient’s various problems
type of activity or exercise they should be engaged in.
knit together to reveal the story about what’s going
The most important thing they leave with is knowledge
on with them, and how they can influence that
of where their problems came from and how everything
progression with lifestyle change.
they’ve been experiencing ties together.
I’ve noticed that people take a seeming perverse
If I was asked what the secret to our success is, I’d say
pleasure in receiving a diagnosis (unless it’s cancer)
it is our use of acupuncture and its immediate palpable
from their MD. Some people just wear it proudly as a
impact on the circulation of the patient as a diagnostic
tool to garner sympathy, but for others it appears to be
tool, such that it guides all other treatment decisions.
healing. Their mystery condition becomes clarified; nasty
Naturally, though, I can’t teach that approach to
possibilities are ruled out; the enemy is given a name.
non-acupuncturist practitioners, and I do feel I have a
Fear of the unknown is banished. The problem is that
professional mandate to expand the use of alternative
some medical diagnoses give a false sense of security, in
medicine worldwide. As a result, I analyze our case
that they don’t anticipate other problems lurking just
outcomes from a scientific perspective, trying to
around the corner. The whole problem in the patient’s
understand why they worked (or didn’t work) so well.
body hasn’t been recognized or acknowledged.
The goal is to understand their mechanisms well enough
This is the power of holistic healing paradigms, to
that I can teach scientifically minded conventional
unite disparate problems into one assessment that gives
practitioners how to use them with the same level of
both treatment and prevention a single focus, yet a
success we enjoy. My goal is to not only have them feel
sweeping effect. Chinese medicine, Toxemia Theory of
more rewarded, but to begin to entrench the practice of
Nature Cure, Ayurvedic medicine, Greek medicine –
herbal medicine within conventional medicine – to have
all of these and more hold this advantage over the way
a bottle of something herbal in every clinic.
conventional medicine is usually practiced. But holism
There are too many politics to allow that to happen
within conventional medicine is coming as, for example,
in human medicine, but an advantage of working with
people learn more about metabolic syndrome and the
veterinarians is that ultimately, regardless of their bias,
many ways it can impact their health. In our clinic, this
they are all results-oriented. If something works, they’ll
holistic paradigm advantage is one of the other “secrets”
eventually use it, and they won’t need a clinical trial to
to our success.
be convinced – just replicable case experience. And if
we can solidify herbal medicine’s importance amongst
What type of practitioners in your community provide
conventional medical practitioners for animals, I’m
referrals to the clinic, if any?
hoping that will set a precedent for human medicine
On the animal side of things, we’ve lately had a lot of
to follow suit, or at least inspire some compelling high
referrals from the conventional specialty clinic in town.
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SYMPOSIUM FEATURE
This is a major achievement, given that they have no
for animals, where we can dispense and control any
holistically oriented people on staff and they are all board-
needed conventional care unless a specialized procedure
certified specialists. It took ten years of hard slogging, not
is needed.
so much in marketing, but in getting down to work and
letting our results speak for themselves.
On the human side, we occasionally get referrals
Do most of the client’s doctors know they are receiving
care from the clinic?
from midwives, MDs, nurses, and chiropractors. Once
We encourage our clients and patients to share with their
our clinic relocates, there should be even more referrals.
doctors that they are seeing us, and we make ourselves
Basically, though, as with most practitioners, the main
available to answer any questions they might have. Most
source of new patients is through word of mouth, and
don’t ask and probably don’t want to know. I can relate. I
more recently through the Internet.
used to be that other person.
Do the clients in your clinic generally see conventional
what they are doing anyway, because our results are very
medical practitioners in addition to receiving care
consistent. When an improvement is seen, I want it in the
from your clinic?
doctor’s mind that the patient was receiving holistic care,
In both human and animal cases, conventional care has
so that it starts to creep into their mindset that alternative
often been explored by the time people come in our
therapies have a valid place in medicine.
But I encourage people to tell their practitioners
door. The patient/client is either finding it wanting, or
considers it too expensive or potentially injurious. Despite
Are many of your clients concomitantly using
this mindset, the people that seek us out are not innately
herbs and conventional medications? If yes, do you
‘holistic’. They are seeking us based on safety concerns
communicate with clients’ doctors about possible
and a desire for results, not philosophy. I consider this a
interactions?
good thing, as it means the potential for interest in our
I feel that the risk of adverse interactions is overblown,
methods, whether by patients or conventional medical
and that there is a lot of irresponsible speculation in the
practitioners, is large
medical research databases, compared to what surveys
Once we get started with people, their decision on
actually identify as the true level of incidence.
who to involve down the road varies. Some will continue
I feel I’m well qualified using medical research
visits with their conventional medical practitioners, to
databases to identify and weigh those potential risks for
avail themselves of test results primarily, and to continue
my patients. Given that I don’t use some of the most
their medications as needed. A larger percentage use us
commonly used herbs like Hypericum or Gingko all
as the primary voice in their care, seeking advice from
that much, the most common reaction I witness is the
us on how to manage their medications as they clinically
reduced need for a drug (e.g. a hypotensive medication)
improve.
and with that the possibility that a drug dose should be
Part of that faith in us may come from the fact that we
reduced. I communicate these potential interactions to
have a healthy respect for pharmaceuticals and their role
the patient, not the doctor, since I look at the patient as
in care, especially in gaining initial control of a hazardous
in the driver’s seat of their health care. That may not be
situation. We communicate that respect, and I feel it gives
how the medical establishment looks at things, but it is
our patients more faith in us in return. Remember that
the reality nonetheless.
for them, this isn’t about one philosophy winning over
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another. First and foremost it’s about safety, and knowing
Does the clinic accept medical insurance? If not, how
we won’t pull the rug out from under them.
do most clients pay?
People are especially likely to continue seeing a
We are a cash business. Occasionally our patients are
conventional practitioner if their complaint is surgical
reimbursed a small amount by some health insurance
or is particularly worrisome, such as cancer or chronic
plan (e.g. $500), and we try to make sure that amount
pain. But otherwise we find ourselves playing the central
will cover most of what they need from us. These small
role in a lot of our patients’ care. This is especially true
amounts that are reimbursed, and the general lack of any
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Are there any specific legal issues that arise in
us to succeed by delivering high efficacy for low total cost.
relationship to using herbs in your clinical practice?
It has very much driven the development of our practice
Canada has a Natural Health Products registry that
model.
restricts what natural remedies can be sold over the
I’ve heard the lament in the US that because people
have already paid for their regular health insurance, they
counter. But products prescribed and sold by doctors are
immune to this regulation.
have nothing left for alternative care that isn’t covered
Ultimately, then, we just have to worry about the fact
by insurance. People assume it is better in Canada, since
that, from a vet perspective, we’re not following the set
healthcare ‘is free’ here. But healthcare in Canada is not
protocols and standards of practice adhered to by the
free and is paid for by tax dollars. So Canadians receive
rest of the industry. This is actually a major hindrance
the same dent in their disposable income, yet our clients
to veterinarians entering the field of holistic medicine.
still agree to pay out of pocket for our services.
My response is to quote one of the many lecturers
Despite this, I don’t think I would move to accept
on jurisprudence and practice ethics I’ve had over my
insurance were it suddenly offered. I like the freedom
twenty-five years as a practitioner. I can’t recall his name,
of setting my own fees, and thus my standard of living.
but his words were priceless: “A disciplinary action is
I like the challenge of developing a system that delivers
a patient’s way of getting your attention, because they
high efficacy for low overall cost, and believe that kind
couldn’t get it otherwise”. I agree wholeheartedly, and
of system can succeed in any environment. Rather than
credit a lot of my good relations with regulatory bodies
accommodate health insurance programs, my preference
to good communication with my patients and clients.
is to figure out how I can better refine my skills as a doctor,
It’s especially important to respond to the patients
or clients who believe their treatments are causing side
© Steve Marsden
so that health insurance coverage becomes irrelevant.
CLINIC PROFILES
coverage for most people, have created the necessity for
Dr Marsden with a VIP client
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effects. Often they are not, but it is the innate bias of
lecturing. In recent years, I’ve been asked to lecture at
most westerners to assume they are. I take the time
the largest conventional veterinary medical conferences,
to coach them on how to figure out if side effects are
which helps my professional standing. Once they devote
actually occurring or not. Most are quite responsive, and
a whole day to you at one of these huge events, your
just wanted to be sure they weren’t alone in the process.
colleagues begin to view you as more credible.
Good communication allows me to know when things
are working, so I can teach those methods to others, and
What are the biggest challenges facing the clinic?
to know when they are not, so I can take action. As long
Our enjoyment of practice is no longer subsumed by
as the client feels we’re on top of things, they are willing
worrying about paying the bills. Growth is very steady.
to give us the benefit of the doubt, even if there have
It’s said in the business world, however, that if you’re
been problems, especially if we are open to referring for
not growing you’re dying. Whether that is true or not, I
conventional treatment if we don’t get anywhere. The top
am continually thinking how to increase our client base
concern of my clients and patients is not the philosophy
as well as create a pool of qualified practitioners (through
of my medicine, but the safety of their person.
teaching and writing) that can help us meet that demand.
My top concern at this point in my career is how to
Have there been obstacles because of licensing or
further stimulate interest in holistic medicine amongst
credibility issues?
conventional medical practitioners. I feel that in the
We had very low credibility to begin with. But we’ve
healthcare environment that is emerging in the US,
gained an excellent reputation by always being respectful
the importance of holistic healers being recognized as
Dr. Marsden with
regarding other healthcare practitioners of any stripe;
a valuable resource cannot be overstated, with everyone
another VIP client
and by getting very consistent results.
standing to benefit from our efforts, regardless of their
Another thing that has helped is my widespread
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personal philosophies.