Cyto-Matrix Learning
We created Cyto-Matrix Learning to help you learn more about natural health topics and to empower you to be your best! All our courses are taught by our in-house team of Naturopathic Doctors and health professionals.
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Practice Pearls are snippets from our previously hosted webinars that we have made available here for your learning experience. They are ...
Dive in with us and learn what makes up our immune system, how it works, and what impacts it. You will gain insight into the nutritional...
Everyone experiences stress from time to time. However, excessive or chronic stress can take a toll on our mental and physical health, pa...
Thyroid health is not a health condition that makes headlines, but maybe it should! According to the Thyroid Foundation of Canada, it is...
2 million Canadians are currently affected by osteoporosis. Bone health plays a critical role in our quality of life and requires a close...
Tune in with Dr. Elias Markou, ND as he shares 5 Strategies to successfully pivot your practice to the ‘new normal’ as we reopen our prac...
Tune in with Dr. Elias Markou, ND as he shares steps to prepare your clinic for reopening.These short courses are snippets from our previ...
Tune in with Dr. Colin O'Brien, ND and Medical Director for Cyto-Matrix, as he shares clinical lab interpretation for common lab tests.Th...
Whether you are just starting out or you are already prescribing BHRT you’ll gain insightful and practical knowledge in this hour webinar...
While chemical imbalance can be often a factor in depression and other mood disorders; this view of defining it as only a “chemical imbal...
Find it hard to wind down at night? Can’t stay asleep? Or not waking up refreshed? You might be suffering from insomnia. Insomnia is th...
Liposomal delivery is a pretty broad term and certainly not all liposome products are created equal. In this lecture learn all about L...
Vitamin C is probably the best known and supplemented antioxidant. But just how much do you know about this humble vitamin? Join Dr. Fra...
Zinc is an essential trace mineral that plays a vital role in our body. From wound healing to maintaining a healthy immune system and bey...
Good health starts within our gut. Our digestive health impacts our whole wellbeing. It’s not only involved in processing the food we con...
Our digestive system is one very long tube, running more than 30ft in adults and is divided into upper and lower digestive tract. When it...
In this lecture, Dr Colin O’Brien ND differentiates irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and small intestinal bowel overgrowth (SIBO), while ac...
Andropause, also known as late onset hypogonadism, male menopause or ageing male syndrome, refers to the collection of symptoms that men ...
Deathly cramps, blinding headaches roller coaster emotions around that time of a month, although common, are not normal. Premenstrual Syn...
This lecture will explore the underlying causes of autoimmune diseases, and review evidence based naturopathic treatment protocols to hel...
In this 1-hour session Dr. Adriana Restagno, ND, delves into the complexities of menopause and explore the naturopathic approaches...
Across the globe, male sperm count has been on the decline. This trend has been tracked for decades. It is estimated that approxi...
Objective: What does egg health have to do with a woman's fertility? Everything! Whether a woman is trying to conceive or she is journeying through assisted fertility, egg quality plays a key role in healthy fertility. And as women age, both egg counts and egg quality decline. However, egg quality can be influenced by diet and lifestyle choices. Recent research in the field of preconception nutrition shows that you can improve the quality of the eggs through nutrition. In this lecture, Dr. Cecilia Ho, ND will look at some of the common factors that affect egg health and natural ways to support it.
Objective: Join Dr Frank Silva, ND for a non-intimidating look at the immune system. In this section we will go over the basics of your immune system with simple analogies to help you get started. These concepts will be elaborated on later during the course.
Objective: The immune system is a vast network of organs, tissues, and cells, all working in synchronicity to provide a healthy immune response. Dr Frank Silva, ND shares a deeper look at the different organs and cells of the immune system and their functions.
Objective: How does your immune system work and how can it tell the difference between the good guys and the bad guys? In this chapter, Dr Frank Silva, ND discusses immune concepts such self vs non-self and the role of antigens, as well as the respective roles of the innate and acquired immune system.
Objective: In this seminar Dr Frank silva, ND wraps it all ups and takes you through a sample scenario of what happens when an infection strikes.
Objective: In this lecture, Dr. Colin O’Brien ND discusses the integral role that stress plays on the function of the immune system. Discover a better understanding of how the immune system adapts to various stressors and which chemical and hormone signals are used to communicate between the immune system and the nervous system. Herbal extracts and lifestyle changes that can positively alter the body’s stress response and immune response will also be addressed.
Objective: The digestive tract contains 70-80% of the body’s immune cells. Therefore, it should come as no surprise that a healthy gut is essential to a healthy immune system. In this lecture, Dr. Colin O’Brien ND explores the complex relationships between the gut barrier, the microbiome, probiotics and the immune system.
Objective: Certain nutrients have been demonstrated to be vital for optimal immune function . In this lecture, Dr. Cecilia Ho, ND will review the fundamental nutrients that are needed to maintain our immune system. The roles of protein, good fats to vitamins and antioxidants will be explored.
Objective: A healthy diet provides essential nutrients to help strengthen a person's immune response to fight off pathogens. In this segment, Dr. Cecilia Ho, ND will discuss how to eat right to feed the immune system and also look at how to identify certain nutritional deficiencies that can impact our immune system and explore the role of nutritional supplementation in maintaining and bolstering our immunity.
Objective: In this lecture we explore the impact of lifestyle on the immune system. From sleep, stress, exercise, hydration and hygiene, we'll discuss how our everyday behaviour can impact our immune cells and how to create positive changes. Dr. Adriana Restagno ND also explores common myths surrounding the immune system.
Objective: Join Dr. Adriana Restagno ND as she discusses some common laboratory testing that can help us keep an eye on our immune system. We'll explore how to interpret testing, what 'out-of-range' levels may indicate and follow-up testing that can give us additional insight when it comes to your body's immune system and nutritional resources.
Objective: According to a study by the Canadian Mental Health Association, 25% of Canadians feel extreme stress most days.The stress response is a synergistic interplay between the HPA axis and the sympathetic nervous system resulting in the release of both adrenaline and cortisol that results in changes across your body that prime it for survival. Join Dr. Adriana Restagno ND as we cover the physiology behind these systems and what unfolds in the body when it encounters stress.
Objective: As a follow-up to Lecture 1 where we discussed the normal physiological functions of the adrenal glands, here Dr. Colin O’Brien ND explains how the adrenals react to stress. The General Adaptation Syndrome, introduced in 1946 by Dr. Hans Selye, will be outlined and explored in detail.
Objective: In this lecture Dr. Cecilia Ho will review the different ways to assess adrenal glands. Different methods of laboratory testing: serum vs urine vs saliva will be compared and the pros and cons of each will be discussed.
Objective: Dr. Frank Silva will explore the the role of adaptogens and nutrition on adrenal function. A review of current literature will be also reviewed.
Objective: In this follow up lecture Dr. Frank Silva ND will look at diet and lifestyle tips on rebalancing the adrenal glands.
Objective: To wrap up the Adrenal Health series, Dr. Colin O’Brien ND gives us some quick insight on just how connected the adrenals are to every other organ system in the body. Learn how adrenal dysfunction can impact your nervous system, immune system, metabolic processes and sex hormones.
Objective: In this first lecture, Dr. Cecilia Ho, ND will take us through a review of basic thyroid physiology and thyroid hormone metabolism. The underlying causes of thyroid dysfunction will be reviewed, with a focus on the impact of nutritional deficiencies, environmental toxins, gut health, stress and chronic inflammation.
Objective: In this webinar, Dr. Frank Silva, ND will review clinical presentation of hypothyroidism and how to assess and properly interpret test results.
Objective: Join Dr. Adriana Restagno ND as we review naturopathic strategies for supporting optimal thyroid health and recovery. From addressing nutritional deficiencies, reducing inflammation and malabsorption, we'll review supplementation via key minerals, vitamins and healing botanicals, to implementing lifestyle considerations and modifying environmental factors that may be impacting our thyroid health. Every patient will have unique needs that can be supported with an individualized and tailored naturopathic plan.
Objective: Join Dr. Adriana Restagno ND as we review naturopathic strategies for supporting optimal thyroid health and recovery. From addressing nutritional deficiencies, reducing inflammation and malabsorption, we'll review supplementation via key minerals, vitamins and healing botanicals, to implementing lifestyle considerations and modifying environmental factors that may be impacting our thyroid health. Every patient will have unique needs that can be supported with an individualized and tailored naturopathic plan.
Objective: Thyroid hormone affects nearly every organ system and tissue in the body. Join Dr Colin O’Brien ND for a short discussion about the impact of thyroid health on sex hormones and fertility, the nervous system and mood, and the adrenal glands and cortisol.
Objective: Did you know we spend approximately 33% of our lives sleeping? And while this seemingly simple process occurs daily without much thought, there is an intricate interplay of homeostasis, circadian influences and hormonal factors that come together to orchestrate this amazing regenerative process on a daily basis. Join Dr. Adriana Restagno ND as we look at the anatomy and physiology of sleep, sleep stages and factors that influence sleep in this lecture.
Objective: Tossing and turning at night? Trying to fall asleep can be a real struggle for some people. For some it might be an occasional issue for others it’s a chronic problem. Tune in with Dr. Cecilia Ho, ND in this segment to learn what can impact our sleep. From common medications to nutritional deficiencies, get the root of sleep issues.
Objective: Getting a good night’s sleep is not just about feeling refreshed the next day. Did you know that poor sleep can increase your risk of chronic diseases like diabetes, cardiovascular disease, depression and osteoporosis? In this lecture, Dr. Colin O’Brien ND explores the far-reaching effects of sleep on the rest of the human body, and helps to explain the mechanisms of action between these connections.
Objective: Join Naturopathic Doctor, Frank Silva for a discussion on achieving better sleep. In this chapter we will cover daily habits and tips to prevent sleep sabotage and promote rest. In the second half, we will review popular natural sleep aids and discuss their mechanism of action and how to choose the right remedy. And as a bonus, learn how to use meditation for total body relaxation.
Objective: Learn and Earn
Objective: In this lecture Dr. Cecilia Ho, ND explores the use of natural therapeutic agents that can help modulate the immune cellular defense and repair mechanisms for a speedy recovery.
Objective: Digestion is a complex process whereby your body takes the food you ingest and extracts the nutrients to nurture your body. In this lecture get an overview of digestive organs and function (Upper and Lower digestive tract) with Dr. Frank Silva, ND. Dr. Silva will discus how proper function should occur and also discuss the typical dysfunctions that can derail this process along the pathway.
Objective: When it comes to gut health, the intestinal barrier is of vital importance. Chronic inflammatory diseases have root causes that may include intestinal permeability aka “leaky gut syndrome”. Join Dr. Cecilia Ho, ND as she reviews the scientific literature describing the connection between the a leak gut and the inflammatory-immune response leading to chronic disease.
Objective: In this segment, we will explore the fundamentals of the gut microbiota and human microbiome and the relationship and research linking the microbiome, immune, cognitive, hormone and heart health. Eubiosis and dysbiosis will be discussed, along with a general introduction on the role probiotics play on the microbiome in restoring microbial balance and the benefits and implications on the above health systems.
Objective: In this segment, we will explore the fundamentals of the gut microbiota and human microbiome and the relationship and research linking the microbiome, immune, cognitive, hormone and heart health. Eubiosis and dysbiosis will be discussed, along with a general introduction on the role probiotics play on the microbiome in restoring microbial balance and the benefits and implications on the above health systems.
Objective: In this segment, we will explore the fundamentals of the gut microbiota and human microbiome and the relationship and research linking the microbiome, immune, cognitive, hormone and heart health. Eubiosis and dysbiosis will be discussed, along with a general introduction on the role probiotics play on the microbiome in restoring microbial balance and the benefits and implications on the above health systems.
Objective: In this lecture, some of the most common functional medicine tests for optimizing the health of the gastrointestinal tract are explored. An overview of the test itself, sample reports, potential benefits and noteworthy shortcomings are all discussed for each individual test in this presentation. Tests covered include: Food sensitivity testing (IgG, IgE and IgA), organic acid testing, GI 360 / GI MAP, Lactulose/Mannose testing, Comprehensive Digestive Stool Analysis (CDSA) and Small Intestinal Bacterial
Objective: Learn and Earn
Objective: Our digestive system is one very long tube, running more than 30ft in adults and is divided into upper and lower digestive tract. When it comes to upper digestive health issues, common diagnoses range from indigestion to Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), gastritis, and ulcers, and its estimated upper GI issue affect one-third of the world's population. In this course, Dr. Cecilia Ho ND explores some of the common upper digestive problems that can plague us, and reviews naturopathic approaches to support digestive health including nutrition tips, lifestyle modifications, and natural remedies.
Objective: In this lecture, Dr Colin O’Brien ND differentiates irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and small intestinal bowel overgrowth (SIBO), while acknowledging their often overlapping presentations. Risk factors, testing options and diagnoses of each condition is discussed, in addition to difficulties in properly identifying and managing each condition. This lecture is designed to be a basic overview of each digestive concern and not an in-depth analysis.