Are your services covered by health insurance?

Yes! Naturopathic medicine is covered by most extended healthcare benefit plans in Ontario. To make things as easy as possible for you, we offer direct billing to the majority of major insurance providers. It's always a good idea to check in with your insurance provider beforehand to see exactly how much coverage you have for naturopathic care so there are no surprises!

Can you see people who live outside of Ontario?

No. Since naturopathic medicine is regulated provincially, we are only licensed to treat individuals who are physically located within Ontario. If you live anywhere in the province of Ontario, we're good to go!

How do specialized lab tests work if we meet online?

You will be emailed a lab requisition form that you can take to any LifeLabs location in Ontario. If we utilize advanced functional medicine testing (like specialized stool, urine, or breath analysis), the test kits are shipped directly to your house with clear instructions for easy, at home collection.

Integrative Cancer Care

Navigating a cancer diagnosis can feel overwhelming, but you don't have to walk this path alone. Your strength, resilience, and quality of life are vital to your healing journey, and you deserve a dedicated care plan that fully supports your body every step of the way.

Dr. Monica Commisso, ND, laughing in a purple suit in a bright, calm studio

Adjunctive careWith oncology

VirtualOntario-wide

Alongside your oncology team

Supportive care that works with conventional treatment

Integrative oncology combines the best of conventional medicine with evidence-informed supportive care. The goal is not to replace your standard treatments, but rather to safely work alongside them. By looking at the deeper physiological picture, we focus on helping your body manage the physical demands of treatment, minimizing side effects, and optimizing your overall well-being and recovery.

Whether you're preparing for upcoming treatments, currently in the middle of a regimen, or transitioning into the vital space of post-treatment survivorship, a supportive approach protects your foundations. We look beyond the diagnosis to evaluate how your whole system is functioning, helping you find the clarity and strength you need to thrive.

Works alongside conventional oncology, never instead of it
Rigorous herb-drug-nutrient interaction reviews built in
Support before, during, and after active treatment

Areas of Focus

Where we focus your supportive care

Support during active treatment

Intensive conventional therapies require immense physical resilience. Our focus during active treatment is to preserve your quality of life, maintain your strength, and reduce treatment-related side effects with protocols that fit your scheduling and medical requirements: chemotherapy support for fatigue, nausea, neuropathy, digestive changes, and appetite loss; radiation support to protect healthy tissues and skin integrity; and surgery preparation and recovery for wound healing and tissue repair.

Post-treatment & survivorship

Once active treatment is complete, the focus transitions from defense to rebuilding. True recovery means addressing the lasting physical and cellular impacts of therapy. We use specialized testing to clear lingering symptoms, restore your vital systems, and optimize your internal environment to support long-term wellness and reduce the risk of recurrence.

Targeted adjunctive therapies

We build your plan with research-backed naturopathic therapies tailored to your body and current conventional plan: mistletoe therapy to support immune resilience and quality of life, high-dose intravenous vitamin C to safely support the body and reduce treatment-related fatigue, professional-grade nutraceuticals to address nutrient gaps, and evidence-based botanical medicine to help manage complex side effects.

Uncovering Root Drivers

The 5 core physiological pillars we evaluate

After active treatment, we shift toward long-term resilience and run specialized testing to look closely at how your foundational biology is recovering across five core physiological pillars, identifying the exact drivers impacting your well-being.

01
Blood Sugar & Insulin Regulation
We analyze your metabolic markers and check for insulin resistance, making sure your body is efficiently converting fuel into steady daily energy rather than stalling on hormone signaling.
02
Inflammation & Immune Balance
We look at key markers of chronic inflammation to identify what is agitating your immune system, then work toward a calmer, more balanced and resilient response.
03
Gut & Liver Function
Since much of your hormone conversion and detoxification happens in the gut and liver, we investigate hidden imbalances like dysbiosis, a compromised intestinal barrier (leaky gut), or SIBO.
04
Nervous System & Stress Resilience
We evaluate your stress pathways to see whether a constant fight-or-flight response is suppressing your physiology and driving fatigue, then help move your body back out of it.
05
Oxidative Stress & Nutrient Stores
We check for cellular wear and tear and hidden deficiencies, particularly iron, ferritin, and essential vitamins, so your cells have the clean fuel they need to recover.

Swipe to explore all 5 pillars

0102030405

Blood Sugar & Insulin Regulation

We analyze your metabolic markers and check for insulin resistance, making sure your body is efficiently converting fuel into steady daily energy rather than stalling on hormone signaling.

Inflammation & Immune Balance

We look at key markers of chronic inflammation to identify what is agitating your immune system, then work toward a calmer, more balanced and resilient response.

Gut & Liver Function

Since much of your hormone conversion and detoxification happens in the gut and liver, we investigate hidden imbalances like dysbiosis, a compromised intestinal barrier (leaky gut), or SIBO.

Nervous System & Stress Resilience

We evaluate your stress pathways to see whether a constant fight-or-flight response is suppressing your physiology and driving fatigue, then help move your body back out of it.

Oxidative Stress & Nutrient Stores

We check for cellular wear and tear and hidden deficiencies, particularly iron, ferritin, and essential vitamins, so your cells have the clean fuel they need to recover.

Your Integrative Cancer Care Program at JOSIE

How we work together, step by step

Step 1

Active treatment support

We complete an exact review of your oncology timeline, pathology reports, staging, and upcoming schedule. If you are in active treatment, our focus is reducing side effects, improving tolerance, and supporting treatment efficacy with precise, safe therapies that complement your conventional care without interference.

Step 2

Uncovering post-treatment root drivers

Once your active conventional treatments are complete, we shift toward long-term resilience and underlying root drivers. We run specialized testing to look closely at how your foundational biology is recovering, systematically evaluating the five core physiological pillars to find what needs targeted care.

Step 3

Supporting your foundations

Once we have uncovered which drivers and lingering effects of treatment require attention, we build your customized supportive plan: a deliberate, evidence-based strategy of targeted lifestyle adaptations, precise nutrition, and research-backed natural protocols designed to safely support your foundations.

Step 1
Active treatment support
We complete an exact review of your oncology timeline, pathology reports, staging, and upcoming schedule. If you are in active treatment, our focus is reducing side effects, improving tolerance, and supporting treatment efficacy with precise, safe therapies that complement your conventional care without interference.
Step 2
Uncovering post-treatment root drivers
Once your active conventional treatments are complete, we shift toward long-term resilience and underlying root drivers. We run specialized testing to look closely at how your foundational biology is recovering, systematically evaluating the five core physiological pillars to find what needs targeted care.
Step 3
Supporting your foundations
Once we have uncovered which drivers and lingering effects of treatment require attention, we build your customized supportive plan: a deliberate, evidence-based strategy of targeted lifestyle adaptations, precise nutrition, and research-backed natural protocols designed to safely support your foundations.

Cancers We Commonly Support

Diagnoses we provide adjunctive support for

Our supportive care protocols are tailored to the unique physiological demands of your specific diagnosis. We regularly provide adjunctive support for:

Breast & Gynecological Cancers: Including breast cancer, ovarian cancer, cervical cancer, and uterine/endometrial cancers.
Gastrointestinal (GI) Cancers: Including colorectal, stomach, esophageal, pancreatic, liver, and gallbladder cancers.
Hematological (Blood & Lymph) Cancers: Including leukemia, lymphoma (Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin), and multiple myeloma.
Genitourinary Cancers: Including prostate, bladder, and kidney cancers.
Thoracic & Head/Neck Cancers: Including lung cancer, thyroid cancer, and oral cancers.
Skin Cancers: Including melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers.

TARGETED ADJUNCTIVE THERAPIES

Targeted naturopathic medicine therapies

To provide advanced supportive care, we utilize research-backed protocols tailored specifically to your body's needs and current conventional plan. We build your plan using targeted naturopathic medicine therapies, including:

Explore IV therapy & injections

Mistletoe therapy to support immune system resilience, enhance well-being, and improve overall quality of life during and after conventional treatments.
High dose intravenous vitamin C protocols designed to safely support the body, reduce treatment-related fatigue, and optimize cellular health.
Precise supplementation and professional-grade nutraceuticals to address nutrient gaps and protect healthy tissues.
Evidence-based botanical medicine to manage complex side effects and support systemic recovery.

Ready to work with an ND focused specifically on integrative cancer care?

Finding real clarity starts with working alongside an ND trained to look at the deeper physiological picture. Let's eliminate the guesswork, safely coordinate with your oncology team, and build an evidence-based supportive plan tailored specifically to optimize your system.

Explore our care

Licensed in OntarioThyroid HealthIntegrative Cancer CareNaturopathic DoctorVirtual Care Across OntarioIn-Person IV TherapyDirect Billing to Insurance

Keep exploring

Where to go next

Related care and reading, hand-picked to pair with this page.

Chemotherapy Support

Personalized, evidence-informed naturopathic support during and after chemotherapy in Ontario, focused on managing side effects and quality of life while working safely alongside your oncology team.

Read the guide

Radiation Support

Personalized, evidence-informed naturopathic support during and after radiation therapy in Ontario, helping protect your skin, energy, and resilience while working safely alongside your oncology care.

Read the guide

Cancer Surgery Support

Personalized, evidence-informed naturopathic support before and after cancer surgery in Ontario, focused on preparation, wound healing, and recovery alongside your surgical team.

Read the guide

Common questions

About integrative cancer care

Safety is our absolute highest priority. A core focus of our advanced training involves executing rigorous herb-drug-nutrient interaction reviews. To give you and your oncology team a complete understanding, these cross-referenced safety reviews are built directly into your personalized treatment plan, along with clear research and medical references. This ensures your entire healthcare team understands exactly why a therapy was chosen, the clinical evidence supporting it, and what to expect.

Absolutely, if that is what you prefer. In your appointments, we map out all your current treatments and medications in detail so we always know exactly what your medical team is doing. From there, it is completely up to you. If you prefer us to communicate directly with your oncologists or surgeons, we are happy to share notes, coordinate labs, and connect with them. Collaborative care is a core foundation at JOSIE, and we wrap our support around whatever makes you feel most comfortable.

The ideal time to begin is as close to your initial diagnosis as possible. Designing a supportive plan before you undergo surgery, chemotherapy, or radiation allows us to proactively prepare your body, build up your nutritional reserves, and establish baseline resilience. However, integrative care provides immense value at any stage, whether you are midway through a treatment regimen or are entirely finished and looking to rebuild your health.

About the clinic

Once you book an appointment, you'll receive a welcome email with a link to complete your intake forms online. Right before our scheduled time, you'll get a secure video link to join our virtual appointment. That means you can log on from wherever fits best into your day, whether that's your couch, your lunch break at the office, or up at the cottage. No commuting, no traffic, and no sitting in waiting rooms. After our visit, your personalized treatment plan is delivered straight to your secure patient portal within 48 hours, so you can focus less on logistics and more on feeling better.

If we determine that natural health products or prescriptions are needed, everything is handled seamlessly online. Your individualized supplement recommendations will be uploaded directly to your treatment plan plus online dispensary, where you can order professional-grade products right to your doorstep. For pharmaceuticals like Natural Desiccated Thyroid (NDT) and Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT), your prescriptions will be securely faxed straight to your local pharmacy for easy pickup or delivery.

Absolutely. In fact, it's exactly how we prefer to practice. Your health journey is a team effort, and we are entirely open to working within whatever dynamic you prefer. Whether that means collaborating directly with your conventional medical team, coordinating with your specialist, or sharing lab results, our goal is simply to ensure your care is safe, integrated, and working beautifully alongside the rest of your medical care.

From the JOSIE journal

Notebook, brass magnifying glass and folded city map on a desk, for a post on choosing a naturopath in Toronto

Wellness

How to Choose a Naturopath in Toronto and the GTA

Searching "naturopath near me" brings up dozens of options. Here's how to check that an ND is registered, find one whose focus matches what you need, spot red flags, and know what to ask before you book.

Read article

Unlabelled jar of cream, aloe leaf and cotton cloth on linen, for a post on radiation therapy side effects and skin care

Integrative cancer care

Radiation Side Effects: Skin, Fatigue and Recovery

Radiation side effects build slowly, often peak right after your last treatment, then start to ease over the following weeks. Here's what to expect for your skin and energy, what helps, and how long recovery usually takes.

Read article

Brass dial gauge beside a blood test tube on linen, for a post explaining TSH levels

Thyroid health

TSH Levels Explained: High, Low and "Normal"

TSH works backwards from how most people expect. High TSH usually means an underactive thyroid, and low TSH usually means an overactive one. Here's what your TSH levels actually mean, and why "normal" doesn't always mean you'll feel your best.

Read article

Naturopathic doctor's desk with a stethoscope, amber tincture bottles, dried herbs and a lab test tube

Wellness

What Does a Naturopathic Doctor Actually Do?

A naturopathic doctor is a regulated health care provider who looks for what's driving your symptoms and builds a plan around you. Here's how NDs are trained in Ontario, what a visit looks like and how we work alongside your family doctor.

Read article

Comfort items for chemo on a side table: knit blanket, ginger tea, water bottle, notebook and fresh mint

Integrative cancer care

Chemo Side Effects Week by Week: What to Expect

On a typical 3-week chemo cycle, the first few days bring fatigue and nausea, days 7 to 14 carry the highest infection risk, and week 3 is often the recovery week. Here's what to expect after your first treatment, when to call your team and what can help.

Read article

Cream stone thyroid sculpture with a journal, herbal tea and eucalyptus on linen, for a post on hypothyroidism symptoms in women

Thyroid health

Hypothyroidism Symptoms in Women That Get Missed

The hypothyroidism symptoms in women that get missed most often are fatigue that sleep doesn't fix, brain fog, low mood, thinning outer eyebrows, constipation, muscle aches and heavier periods. They're easy to miss when only TSH is tested, or when labs are "normal" but not optimal.

Read article

Editorial still life of a biopsy needle, specimen vial, pathology slides, and medical imaging on a warm neutral surface.

Integrative cancer care

Can a Biopsy Make Cancer Spread? Separating Fear From Evidence

For most cancers, no, not in any meaningful way. A biopsy needle can occasionally carry a small number of cells along its path, but true tumor seeding is extremely rare, and biopsies have not been shown to worsen survival in common cancers like breast cancer. The bigger risk, in almost every case, is delaying the diagnosis.

Read article

An editorial still life photograph on a linen surface featuring five focused glass ampoules, an amber dropper bottle, a stone, and a botanical seed pod. In the background, a distinct IV bag containing golden fluid is visible. Soft natural window light with olive branch shadows bridges clinical precision with grounded, warm wellness. Shot for a blog post on targeted IV therapy.

IV therapy & nutrients

How IV Nutrient Therapy Fits Into a Complete Treatment Plan

IV nutrient therapy isn't a replacement for medical treatment — it's a support tool. Used well, it corrects deficiencies faster than oral supplements can, bypasses a gut that's struggling to absorb nutrients, and helps the body tolerate treatment better. Used badly, it's an expensive drip with no real plan behind it. The difference is whether it's targeted to what your body actually needs.

Read article

View all articles

Ready when you are.

Your health journey isn't meant to be figured out alone. Everything you're experiencing is real and valid — you deserve proper investigation, deep listening, and intentional steps toward optimal health.

Explore our care