Dr. Tara Lapointe ND Functional Medicine Practitioner

03/15/2025

03/14/2025

As I near the end of my maternity leave some big changes have happened with the clinic. I will be continuing with a virtual practice, but the clinic has shut its doors. I’m so thankful to have had the opportunity to serve the community of Dartmouth through my little clinic and I’m feeling excited for the next chapter of my career!

01/09/2024

Do you suffer from chronic digestive woes? You may fall into a few of the scenarios below for which digestive testing can be quite helpful.

Maybe you’ve tried a candida diet or a parasite cleanse and it did little to nothing for you, that may not rule out ongoing overgrowth, but it may be the case you were treating with the wrong products. Functional stool testing will identify any “bad” microbes and also culture them in a Petri dish to find out what agents work the best to kill them off.

Another possibility is maybe it’s not so much the microbes, but the strength of your digestion and immune system that lead you susceptible to gut troubles. Again a good functional stool test will help you identify this.

I rarely see patients come back positive for parasites, I believe this is often over emphasized in some health circles. However, if you’ve spent a lot of time traveling abroad, in the back woods or around animals you will find yourself in a higher risk category. Most of the time however digestive imbalances are caused by bacteria and fungal imbalances.

We can’t forget about insufficiency dysbiosis. This is when the trouble may not lie in too many bad microbes but in too little beneficial ones. Patients who have a very limited diet with minimal fibres may find themselves in this category. Especially those with IBS who feel awful after eating high fibre foods. We can strategically work around this.

Maybe you don’t suffer from many digestive symptoms but want to look deeper into the root causes of your chronic health conditions. Our digestive health and microbiota has been linked to skin conditions, mood imbalances, autoimmune progression, hormone balance, chronic pain and fatigue to just list a few!

Stool testing is not always needed or financially available for all. That’s when seeing a well educated naturopathic doctor can help you sort through the pesky symptoms you’ve been experiencing. In my opinion, nothing over rides a good patient intake, manual exams and clinical experience. In the end, we’re treating a patient and not a sheet of paper with results. With a good ND you’ll feel heard and included in the detective work to solve your case.

12/31/2023

Reflecting on the past year brings back many beautiful memories; from the big events, to simple moments, time with family & friends, to adventures far & wide. Here’s my top 7 moments of 2023:

1. Surprising close family and saying “i do” to the love I’ve waited a long time for ❤️

2. Finally getting my little gremlin of a pup herding sheep, her life’s purpose is now complete 🐑

3. Turning water to insta-clouds during the -40 deep freeze ☁️

4. Cherishing many moments with my inquisitive, zestful, loving niece; from swim classes to museum adventures 👩‍👧

5. A bittersweet goodbye to my beehives after 8 years of urban beekeeping, time to open space for something new 🐝

6. A bicycle adventure to the remote Magdalen Islands in the middle of the gulf of st lawrence. My legs will never forget the winds! 💨

7. Lots of time spent with good friend, still reconnecting after the throws of COVID. A recent trip to Newfoundland to spend time with a few kindred spirits stands out 🪨

There were a lot of challenges to overcome this year no doubt. Sitting in gratitude is something I need to prioritize as the world becomes more chaotic, including my own life at times. I hope you’re able to find a few cherished memories to lock in from this past year and take with you into 2024!

12/20/2023

Oh hey there! It’s been a while, & I’ve got big news to share. 2024 is bringing lots of change, one of the biggest shifts will be my return to full time school this January! I’ve been accepted into the inaugural Masters of Physician Assistant Studies program at Dalhousie University. If you’re wondering what this is, why I’m going this route, & what it means if you’re a patient, please keep reading below :)

For my patients: No need to fret, I’ll still be working reduced hours come the new year. I’ll still have amazing & seasoned NDs in-house: Dr. Sarah Park ND, plus I’ll be introducing another new ND addition very soon for extra coverage. My hours will be in flux, but as of now, I’ll be having virtual visits Tuesday & Thursday evenings with in-person visits available Saturdays.

What are PA’s? This two year intensive program will prepare me to work as a PA. PA’s are a newer addition to the medical scene in NS, however the profession started in 1965. They are licensed health care providers who practice medicine with a licensed physician supervisor. They work directly with patients to assess, run tests, diagnose, treat, prescribe & even perform medical procedure’s in a variety of medical specialties. They can participate in medical research & education. Ultimately they are imperative to reducing wait times in our overwhelmed health care system & improving patient satisfaction.

Why the shift? To shake things up! I’ve been in a small private naturopathic practice for 13 years. Time to connect to the bigger picture. I’ve seen a shift in the folks coming in my door: more patients are without a GP, they’re not getting timely care or comprehensive treatment, necessary procedures & surgeries have unacceptable wait times. I’ve always strived to be part of positive change, part of making things better for others. If folks aren’t getting their basic medical needs met, how can we properly focus on “optimizing” health? The PA program is my answer. My hope is to keep up my private ND practice long term while embarking on this new path & eventual career. Plus, I’m excited to study the medical basics again & share my insights to better help my current & future patients 💛

06/05/2023

05/16/2023

What do Eddie Vedder, ice cubes, and the tingler have in common? The Vagal Nerve! Check out my chat below to learn more ; )

11/02/2022

~Treatment Room for Rent in Dartmouth Wellness Centre~

2 MONTHS FREE RENT!* (please feel free to share)

This is a beautiful, storefront, fully equipped clinic with parking ideal for a compassionate and independent practitioner.

Our team currently consists of a licensed acupuncturist, a TCM doctor, a naturopathic doctor and a full time office manager.

We're seeking an ND, RMT, Osteopath or similar practitioner. An interest in digestive wellness or vagus nerve health is a bonus.

Dr. Tara Lapointe ND, the founder and director of DNHC, has been in practice for over a decade and has a large patient base for cross referrals.

Option for full-time rent $650/mth, part time rent, or a split based arrangement. Please contact for more info and a viewing:

info@dartmouthnaturopathic.ca

*Two months of free rent with a 12-month rental agreement!

11/02/2022

2 MONTHS FREE RENT!*

This is a beautiful, storefront, fully equipped clinic with parking ideal for a compassionate and independent practitioner.

Our team currently consists of a licensed acupuncturist, a TCM doctor, a naturopathic doctor and a full time office manager.

We're seeking an ND, RMT, Osteopath or similar practitioner. An interest in digestive wellness or vagus nerve health is a bonus.

Dr. Tara Lapointe ND, the founder and director of DNHC, has been in practice for over a decade and has a large patient base for cross referrals.

Option for full-time rent $650/mth, part time rent, or a split based arrangement. Please contact for more info and a viewing:

info@dartmouthnaturopathic.ca

*Two months of free rent with a 12-month rental agreement!

06/29/2022

We're Hiring!

06/29/2022

I have a few rare openings this Thursday. Snag 'em well they're hot : )

Booking Link 👉 https://www.optimantra.com/.../patientaccess/servicesall...

Dr. Tara has a couple openings on Thursday June 30th! Join her for an:
🌷initial visit - (first time patients)
🌷follow up - (recurring patients)
🌷relaxing acupuncture sleep session (recurring patients)

Appointments are first come first serve. These openings are rare, if you've been looking to get in but haven't been able to find an appointment, use the booking link above to schedule your appointment today! 🙂

05/20/2022

Here's the replay of my talk about everything blood work. Stay tuned to the end for a special offer! TIP: if you're short on time you can go to the little settings button and increase the playback speed!