My Story: Dr. Noelle’s Story & Immunity

I want to share with you part of my story and my motivation behind the launch of the new naturopathic immunity clinic.


When I was a recent graduate and new naturopathic doctor, I found myself struggling with my immunity. I was waking up with a low-grade sore throat on a daily basis, always wondering if I was coming down with something. I wasn’t catching a cold every week, but I had this persistent “sick” feeling in my throat when I would wake in the mornings.


I noticed that if I went to bed too late, had a glass of wine or ate too much sugar, the next day it felt like I was starting to come down with a cold. As a naturopathic doctor, I knew exactly what to do in these circumstances — high doses of vitamin C paired with zinc, adequate rest, no sugar and to continue taking my vitamin D. The sore throat was always short-lived and I was able to get back on track with my immune system in a day or two. However, the feeling of a constant “scratchy” throat upon waking never seemed to go away.


I decided to take some further action and get my vitamin D levels tested. I had been taking vitamin D for years, and not necessarily a small dose either (I was taking 3000-4000IU daily). I was shocked to see how low my vitamin D level was despite my daily supplementation. Once I completed the high dose vitamin D therapy, I noticed a significant improvement in my symptoms. However the morning scratchy throat was still present about half of the days. It still felt like my immune system wasn’t fully where I wanted it to be.


Months later I was completing a round of high-dose vitamin A for some acne I was struggling with. The vitamin A improved my acne quite a lot, however it also did something else I didn’t expect — it completely eradicated my morning “scratchy” throat! I was aware that vitamin A was an important vitamin for skin health (ie. acne, boils), however I knew little about the role of vitamin A in supporting immunity at the time.


Since that time, I almost never worry about a morning scratchy throat. It was so liberating to be able to live life: enjoying a glass of wine, going to bed an hour later or eating a sweet treat if I wanted to without the threat of getting sick. Don’t get me wrong, we need to care for our bodies by getting adequate rest and monitoring sugar and alcohol intake. But I think that we should be able to enjoy the special moments in life without worrying about catching the latest virus or infection.


If you are someone who struggles with their immune system, or you simply want to optimize your immunity proactively — call the clinic to book a naturopathic immunity clinic visit and learn more.


Spots are limited and are filling up quickly — you can book yourself in, your spouse, or the whole family together at one time! It’s great for kids, newborns, parents, pregnant mamas, older adults and everyone in between.


Warmly,
Dr. Noelle DeVos (ND)