Our practice philosophy
We do not practice ‘alternative’ medicine where patients have to choose one thing or another. We do not practice ‘complementary’ medicine where allopathic treatment leads and others take a lesser role. We practice collaborative medicine where a community of wellness professionals supports and sustains the patient in navigating all the complexity of illness and healing. This wellness team may include oncologists, family doctors, massage therapists, psychologists and the herbalist, all collaborating with their best efforts to help the patient achieve optimal well being.
Although we will not diagnose you or prescribe drugs, we can offer a thorough and in-depth discussion of your current health-related questions and concerns, including reviewing your health history and laboratory results, and help you to make sense of how you might bring a Collaborative Functional Wellness approach to your health and wellness goals.
Collaboration also requires that the patient become part of the healing team. It is your responsibility to read all the materials we provide you, to ask for clarification or explanation where needed, and to implement as much as you can of all the things in the protocol. The herbs don’t always taste great, you may be asked to get additional blood work or other diagnostic work-ups from your physicians, and you may meet resistance and challenge from friends and family, as well as sometimes from the medical profession.
Please note that we are not acting as your primary care provider but, rather, as wellness coaches. As a result, we do not address urgent care or primary care issues. We recommend that you have a primary care physician while receiving care from the clinic. If you have a serious health problem that requires immediate attention, you should call your other doctors(s), call 911, or have someone take you to the nearest hospital emergency room. If you notice an adverse effect from one of the components of your natural health plan as provided by us, you should discontinue it and inform your practitioner as soon as possible.
How to Book an Appointment
New patients are asked to book their initial appointment by calling the office at (250) 336-8767. When booking, please advise us whether you are an oncology patient or are inquiring about other health concerns.
Follow-ups can be booked online: https://cabreraclinic.janeapp.com/
Preparing for your Appointment
Once you have booked an appointment, you will need to log in to your Jane profile and complete your account set up. This will allow you to view and manage your appointments as well as access any documents your practitioner sends you through this portal.
You will also need to complete your online intake forms through your Jane portal at least 24 hours ahead of your appointment. A link to these forms can be found in the “Thanks for Booking” email that is sent to you at the time of booking.
We also ask you to submit copies of any pathology reports, scan reports and pertinent blood work to the office at least 24 hours ahead of your appointment time. You can do so one of two ways:
- Scan and email digital copies (PDF format) to info@cabreraclinic.com
- Mail hard copies to 3636 Trent Road, Courtenay, BC V9N 9R4
Please organize all documents in chronological order.
Please note we cannot accept photos, faxes, or login information to your personal health accounts
Appointments and Fees
(All fees are in CAD, Canadian clients are also charged GST)
Please note: our services are not necessarily covered by extended care medical plans. We will provide full invoices and tax # and you can submit a claim to insurance but this does not assure you of reimbursement.
The Initial Intake
Initial Intake with Chanchal: $265 CAD
Initial Intake with Alina: $195 CAD
During this 90-minute initial intake we will discuss your symptoms, health concerns, medical, family, and personal history, your nutrition and diet, exercise and sleep habits, as well as any other information that will help us to understand the factors contributing to your health concerns.
This initial fee also includes 1 – 2 hours of time afterwards to graph the blood work, review all the medical records and reports in detail and to write a personalized wellness plan.
This initial fee also includes a 15 minute virtual , if required, within 4 weeks of receiving the program, which allows us to discuss any questions or concerns that come up as you get started. This is not a follow up appointment and we will not discuss new symptoms or medical findings – it is purely for clarifying and coaching you on the protocol previously sent.
Follow-up Appointments
Follow up with Alina – $90 CAD
Follow-up with Chanchal – $120 CAD
Follow-up appointments are booked every 3 – 6 weeks as needed. These appointments are 45 minutes long and include a review of any changes to your health, graphing of new blood work, review of medical documents, and protocol revisions after the appointment as required. Shorter appointments may be available for quick questions in between scheduled full appointments.
You are invited to email in quick questions if you need clarification regarding your protocol (e.g. what time of day to take your remedies).
If we are discussing any new information or changing items in the protocol, you will be charged in 15 minute increments.
Short telephone discussions and emailed questions are billed as follows:
Per 15 minutes: $40 CAD
You will be asked to enter credit card details through our online clinic management system. All payments for consultation are billed to your credit card on file after your appointments. GST is charged to all Canadian patients and all remedies are additional to these consulting fees.
Cancellation Policy
When you schedule an appointment, time is reserved especially for you. We limit the number of clients we accept each week to ensure we are able to provide the type of care our patients are looking for. Time also goes into preparing for your appointment before the scheduled time. Thus, a minimum of 48 hours notice is required for cancellations or you may be billed for the appointment.
Your Wellness Protocol
The written Wellness protocol your practitioner provides you will serve as a comprehensive road map for your healing journey. It is a living document that will be updated and adjusted as you progress and requires active participation on your part. Your Wellness protocol may include any of the following:
- A synopsis of your health concerns, goals, and challenges as your practitioner has understood them.
- Overarching principles of treatment and goals your practitioner is trying to achieve with the protocol.
- Herbal remedies in the form of tinctures, teas, capsules, powders, and topicals. These can be purchased from our onsite herbal dispensary
- Supportive nutritional supplementation
- Dietary and lifestyle recommendations
- Recommendations for testing to be ordered through your GP or through our office.
- Guidance on navigating conventional treatment options and self-advocacy coaching
- Referrals to other trusted medical professionals as appropriate
This important document may be emailed to you but will also be loaded to your profile in the Jane app (on-line clinic management portal) for your reference.
Obtaining your Remedies
Custom-blended teas and Tinctures
Most patients are prescribed customized herbal tinctures and teas that are unique to their specific health concerns and constitution. Canadian patients can order these directly from our dispensary. When we work with U.S. or UK based patients, we have partner dispensaries that we work with to help them obtain these custom formulas:
- UK – The Edinburgh Herbal Dispensary (18 Bristo Pl, Edinburgh, Scotland tel. 0131 225 5542)
- US – the Centre for Natural Healing, 35 Wall Street, Norwalk, CT 06850, tel. 203-857-0202
If you choose to get another dispensary to fill the order it is your responsibility to ensure that the products are exactly the same as what your practitioner has recommended.
Supplements
Patients in Canada and US will be able to purchase most of the recommended supplements through FullScript – an on-line dispensary with a huge selection of highest quality products. Your practitioner will open an account and populate a first order for you and after that you can order as you need. Patients of Cabrera Clinic receive a 15% discount on the retail price for any supplements purchased through FullScript in Canada plus free shipping, and a 35% discount in US.
If you choose to purchase supplements elsewhere it is your responsibility to ensure they purchase exactly what was recommended.
You may also be asked to purchase a few specialty products elsewhere and links will be provided.
Testing
We may suggest a variety of saliva, urine, stool and blood tests to evaluate your health parameters. Some of these may be requested from your doctor and covered on MSP. Others are ordered through private labs and are paid out of pocket.
Some of the speciality tests we can order include:
- Food allergies
- Adrenal hormones and Stress Index
- Bone strength and bone loss
- Candida and dysbiosis (SIBO)
- Detoxification capacity and toxin load
- Digestive capacity (liver, pancreas)
- Estrogen metabolism and clearance
- Female hormone panel (pre / post menopause)
- Heavy metals
- Immune profile
- Lipoprotein particle size and type
- Liver and pancreas function
- Male hormone panel
- Oxidative stress load
- Vitamin and mineral balance
For all administrative inquiries including booking, appointments, payments, submitting documentation, and ordering refills your herbal remedies, please contact the office at