Functional Nutrition - Functional Medicine Calgary- Naturopathic Doctor Calgary
Listening to your Body's Innate Wisdom
About Us
The road to listening inwards...
Eleven. Functional Health is a culmination of life experiences that has lead to this moment and is ever changing with deepening understanding - a continuous learning journey of health and well-being. Learning to trust your intuition and listen to your body's innate wisdom.
We believe that everyone is unique, all things matter, and everything is connected
My Background
My name is Alycia, owner and operator of Eleven. Functional Health in Calgary, AB. Born in Vancouver, BC, My husband and I lived on the Southern Gulf Island of Mayne before making Calgary home, over 11 years ago.
I have been a Health Professional for more than 15 years now.
I hold a Bachelor of Science Degree with a Major in Biology, Minor in Kinesiology, with a double concentration in Pre-Medicine and Cellular & Molecular Genetics. After moving to Calgary, I received my Bachelor of Nursing where I specialized in Perinatal Care from the University of Calgary. Most recently, I completed a Certificate of Functional Nutrition Counseling and Advanced Technician training in Microcurrent Therapies and Facial Rejuvenation.
Throughout my nursing career, I have worked in Adult Medical/Surgical Care in Kamloops, AB - with the majority of my time at Foothills (FMC) Level 3
Neonatal Intensive Care (NICU) Unit, and the last 4 years at Peter Lougheed's (PLC) Labour & Delivery Unit - Supporting hundreds of families through pregnancy, birth, cesarean sections, immediate postpartum care, and neonatal loss.
In addition to formal training, I have certifications to broaden my understanding of health and well-being that has lead to the integration of techniques to support many individuals and families through their journey's:
~ Patient & Family Centered Care
~ Trauma Informed Care
~ Reiki Level I
~ Prenatal & Postpartum DONA Approved Doula Training
~ Advanced Breastfeeding Management
Finally, I hold membership with both the Canadian Holistic Nursing Association and American Holistic Nursing Association to keep up with the most relevant, scientifically backed evidence in Holistic and Integrative care.
My Story
Everyone has a story that brought them to this exact moment. Many are not planned, but all are pivotal if we chose to use them as a source of fire for what we really want.
My big moment came with fertility. We sometimes take for granted the function of what our body is 'made' to do. But after many years of infertility and the loss of 2 pregnancies, my doctor's only reply to me was - well, you are 35 and most likely have PCOS. Metformin and fertility medication will be a great option for you to try. Followed by daily progesterone suppositories when a pregnancy does take hold...
I was incredibly uneasy with this option as it did not get to the root of the problem, just mask symptoms and trick my body into thinking it was a habitable environment to grow a fetus. As a Registered Nurse and somewhat aware of my body's symptoms, I most likely suffered from the hormone and metabolic imbalance of Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome since my twenties. But what did it really mean? Why was I unable to carry a pregnancy? I started deep diving into everything that I could do to support my own health. Why were my hormones out of balance? What did I have control over to make behavioural changes that influenced my overall well-being?
Never did I ever realize that those first experiences and questions would lead me to finding Functional Nutrition. Changing my entire inner and outer landscape of life to reflect my dream of becoming a mother.
We are not more than 6 years later, and that awareness is ever changing as life evolves. Health is not an end destination, but a journey of constant learning and growth.
What ever you are hoping to achieve, I look forward to walking beside you. Helping to bring clarity to situations and support your journey towards sustainable and ever loving change.
