About Dr. Kamala-Devi Sivasankaran, ND
Health and wellness have always been at the core of my life. From an early age, I was fascinated by fitness, nutrition, and the intricate workings of the human body.
My own health struggles led me to seek solutions beyond conventional medicine. I discovered that integrating holistic approaches like naturopathy, chiropractic care, osteopathy, massage therapy, herbal medicine, and holistic nutrition—had a profound impact on my well-being. This personal experience fueled my passion to help others uncover the root causes of their health concerns and make lasting changes that foster empowerment.
As a naturopathic doctor, it’s a true privilege to support patients in addressing health imbalances and establish healthy sustainable practices, so they can feel their best. I work with patients using evidence-based natural therapies, including targeted dietary and lifestyle modifications, botanical medicine, and acupuncture. My approach is to guide individuals toward optimal health by addressing imbalances at their source, rather than simply managing symptoms. I firmly believe that knowledge is power, and my goal is to ensure that each patient feels confident and capable in their healing journey.
Core Principles
- Safe Space: an environment free from judgment, where you can openly share your health concerns, fears, and goals.
- Compassion: Your health journey is unique, and it’s important to me to show up with empathy and understanding of your experiences, in order to tailor treatments to your individual needs. Research shows that empathy from healthcare providers is associated with lower anxiety, reduced pain, increased patient satisfaction, improved treatment adherence, and even better overall health outcomes.
- Respect: Throughout my practice, I strive to respect patient insights, values and cultural backgrounds. Shared traditions such as food and eating together not only foster connection, they shape our health beliefs and practices as well.
- Empowerment: Knowledge is empowering. By providing knowledge, guidance, and personalized strategies, I help individuals become active participants in their health journey.
Special Interests
While I treat a broad range of health issues, I have special interest and experience in working with:
- Children’s Health, including eczema and dry skin, nasal congestion, coughs, recurring infections, ear infections, asthma, constipation and other digestive problems, anxiety, sleep concerns, and attention issues.
- Digestion, including IBS, constipation, GERD/Acid reflux, Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO), bloating, digestive support and healing after antibiotics
- Women’s health concerns, including premenstrual syndrome (PMS), premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), menstrual concerns, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), vaginal health
- Cardiometabolic health, including high blood sugar, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, insulin resistance, guidance on nutritional intake and physical activity
- Anxiety & stress: including insomnia, burnout, fatigue
Treatment plans are only as good as the diagnosis – I conduct comprehensive assessments to understand the various factors that have impacted your current health status, and run both routine and specialized laboratory testing when needed to help guide treatment recommendations that will be safe and effective.
I am deeply committed to creating a healing environment that embodies safety, compassion, respect, and empowerment.
Outside the Office
Food, fitness and family are my other loves! At one time, as a personal trainer, you may have caught me walking to a client’s home with a kettlebell or BOSU ball in hand, but now fitness is more of a personal endeavour. Being a mother and partner is amazing, however it’s easy to get caught up in daily adult life; working out brings me to back to myself and just feels like home to me. It’s also an incredible reminder of how resilient and capable our bodies are, and can continue to be, so long as we make time and find ways to take care of them.
Growing up, when I would visit my grandparents, the first thing I’d do after saying hello was run to the kitchen and snack on whatever my grandmother had prepared. And wow, did she prepare – countless South African Indian dishes and bites, cakes, bars, and of course cookies. Now, I’m fortunate to pass on recipes to my own family, and have fun learning new ones together along the way. Do I eat gluten? Yes, because I practice everything in moderation, and I don’t believe that gluten-free butter croissants currently exist. Most of the time however, we do enjoy preparing and eating a variety of whole foods, and sharing the experience with our son.
As busy as work and home can life get, I do make time to enjoy fun and silly activities with my family. Most weeknights involve Lego battleship chases (which I’m not allowed to win) or floor is lava, and many, many books. In warmer months we also love checking out the sights in TO, heading to Ward’s Island and generally being in nature – camping, hiking, or strolling through Riverdale Farms.
Education and Professional Affiliations
- Doctor of Naturopathy (2015) from the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine.
- Honors Bachelor of Health Sciences (2004) through Western University (previously The University of Western Ontario) and the University of Hong Kong
- Board-certified, licensed naturopathic doctor, in good standing with the College of Naturopaths of Ontario.
- Active member of the Ontario Association of Naturopathic Doctors, and the Canadian Association of Naturopathic Doctors.
- Clinical internships: William Osler Brampton Civic Hospital, The Robert Schad Naturopathic Clinic, Anishawbe Health, and Naturopaths Without Borders in Cap-Haitien, Haiti.
- I am regularly further my knowledge base through continuing education conferences and seminars, and am an active member of The Confident Clinician Club, an evidence-based platform for integrative healthcare practitioners.
- Certified Strength Training and Conditioning Specialist certification (2012) through the National Strength Training and Conditioning Association (NSCA)
