Hello!
My name is Nonie De Long (no nee) and I’m a licensed orthomolecular nutritionist, currently finishing a degree in homeopathy. I run a health clinic and apothecary out of Bradford, Ontario, just north of Toronto, where I offer science-based, holistic healthcare for body and mind. I have a special interest in holistic mental health care, and I help clients address their health problems from the roots.
I came to understand the value of nutrition when my only child became seriously ill and mainstream medical care failed us. By the tender age of 4 my son was extremely violent, paranoid, obsessive, tangential, and incapable of learning or self-regulation and by 7 was given his first mental health diagnosis. It was shattering.
He was unable to attend school or enjoy normal activities and prescribed pharmaceuticals not tested for use in children that only made him more ill. By 9 he was diagnosed schizophrenic - no bipolar - no defiant - no schizo-affective - no Asperger's. Diagnoses were given out like candy with no treatment plan except bottles of pills I was demonized for refusing as a first solution. When I insisted on practical behavioural treatments and supports as well, I was attacked by the Children's Aide Society. This, I came to understand, is not unique. Out of this struggle, however, I secured in-home supports unheard of in my community. But they were not enough to turn my son's condition around.
That's when I found the late Dr. Abram Hoffer and his orthomolecular psychiatry. I flew my son to see him. Within weeks it transformed my son - and our lives - and drew me in.
I have since devoted almost 15 years to the study of orthomolecular nutrition. To that I now add studies in herbalism, functional diagnostics, and soon, a degree in homeopathy.
I operate a clinical practice from Bradford, just north of the GTA, where I use these holistic interventions to help clients overcome complex mental and physical health issues. I offer both out and in-patient coaching. My intervention took kit includes:
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lab work-ups, including serum and hair assessments as needed to help assess underlying causative factors for poor health
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guided, professional supplementation for balancing
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custom herbal teas and tinctures
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therapeutic enemas
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classical homeopathy and custom remedies (under supervision of my college until licensed)
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client specific dietary instruction, including meal plans and cooking classes, with close 1:1 support
Other projects I've undertaken include collaboration and co-authorship of an award-winning cookbook, creating the orthomolecular/ nutritional programming for Canada's first orthomolecular residential addiction treatment program (Canadian Health Recovery Centre), and writing for professional and local publications, such as the Ask The Nutritionist weekly column in the Bradford and Newmarket Today publications.
My son's sad experiences as a mental health consumer, coupled with prior university studies in community development and social justice issues, have given me a unique passion for the enduring systemic troubles associated with mental healthcare in Canada today. As a result, my vision has become creating a truly integrative and supportive mental health care system to facilitate not just better healthcare, but dignity and quality of life for those vulnerable people troubled by mental illness and brain injuries in our society.
I’m inspired by the growing presence of like-minded, holistic peers across the globe and the headway they are now making. Too, I’m excited by the number of physicians now with open minds about the role of integrative and preventative medicine in healthcare. Working together only stands to improve patient care and outcomes, and I’m eager to pioneer a new model of collaboration going forward.
If you are thinking of trying holistic / integrative healthcare for yourself or a loved one or you would be interested in adding my services to your medical practice to improve patient outcomes, I invite you to contact me. It would be my pleasure to take that journey with you. Namaste!
