Naturopathic doctor doula nature trees park bees durga birth postpartum prenatal care

Alignment of Mind/Body/ Spirit with a Gentle, Heart-centered Approach.

About me and my practice - Turtles All the Way Down

Origins

Pronunciation: “KEER-agh” Savard

My call to natural medicine has its roots in my upbringing on the land in Pennsylvania, surrounded by animals. I spent time every year in Northern Ireland with my grandparents and felt very connected to the sea, mountains, greenery, and rain there. Growing up on a farm gave me early opportunities to witness healing and the cycles of life. My blueprint and ancestry has always drawn me in to the transformation of maiden to mother and the magic realm of birth.

When I was in my teens, a loss of life sent waves through my family that had a lasting ripple effect. It set me on my own healing journey where I found reconnection to source and discovered the healing arts and naturopathic medicine and their value in this world. All this to say, I’ve been on the path myself and now I’m here today to walk beside you on yours.

In my practice, I work to get to the heart of your health concerns, and I am mindful of offering counseling on the accessible, free medicines of this world (e.g. adjustments to lifestyle) ahead of recommending other more costly supports.

I do what I do because I believe that healing happens in community with others rather than alone, the same way that dis-ease in the body is often stirred up in relating. It’s the law of similars and also about choosing integration over isolation, even when you may be spiraling and want to protectively shut the world away. In kind, it’s why I support growing families in and around childbirth-from the first seed planting (intention setting, calling in babe) all the way along the path through postpartum.

I have an integrated mind/body/spirit approach to practice, utilizing well-loved naturopathic modalities as well as other healing arts where appropriate. It’s important to me that my patients and clients feel heard, empowered, and well-informed.

My intention is to provide an inclusive, safe container where all are welcome through the door and where nature & nurture-focused care is accessible. 

Trust the spiral of your life. Reach out for support when you feel the instinct to. 

“Turtles All the Way Down” refers to story about a woman countering a scientist by saying the Earth rests on a turtle, which rests on another turtle, and so on, popularly associated with Bertrand Russell or Stephen Hawking. It speaks to how healing is not linear and the root cause to address is multifactorial and layered. It embodies my yin medicine of naturopathy. Slow and steady wins the race, unwinds the spiral. Consistency and commitment and certainty in the process. It’s an honor to be a part of anyone’s stack of turtles or community of care.

.

Credentials and Certifications

  • Bachelor of Science in Wellness and Alternative Medicine-Northern Vermont University (formerly Johnson State College)

  • Doctor of Naturopathy Degree - Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine

  • York Region Naturopathic Doulas certification

  • Mentorship with Your Downtown Doula

  • Gilligan’s Guide certified doula - maternal positioning for optimal fetal position doula certification

  • Acupuncture in Labor and Pregnancy with Kaleb Montgomery TCMP

  • Foundations of Esoteric Acupuncture

  • Beames Craniosacral Therapy

Memberships

  • The College of Naturopaths of Ontario (CONO)

  • The Ontario Association of Naturopathic Doctors (OAND)

  • The Canadian Association of Naturopathic Doctors (CAND)

On a personal Note

Outside of clinic or a birth portal, you’ll find me happiest with a warm cuppa & candle beside me, a podcast or music in my ears, moving my body outside on a walk, through a farmer’s market, or on a new adventure, weight lifting, or sprawled most leisurely at a café, bookshop, or park. It’s hard to say where I’m from, but I can say that home is where my fiancé, dog, and out-of-this-world sphynx cat are.

“Lessons from the ocean: go with the flow but crash when you need to, be beautiful on the surface but have depths far below, touch as many foreign lands as possible but belong to none, sparkle all day but be reflective by night, be soft but unstoppable.” - Spirit Daughter

naturopathic Medicine

yarrow chamomile farmer's market junction toronto baird park kindred folk wildflowers herbal medicine botanical homeopathy flower essence naturopathic energetic protection healthy boundaries wound healing digestion bitter roncy's apothecary

As a licensed Naturopathic Doctor, I offer:

  • Acupuncture according to Traditional Chinese Medicine assessment; Traditional or lymphatic cupping; Moxibustion; Esoteric acupuncture

  • Herbal medicines can be crafted for you in custom tincture or tea form and prepared for you for pick-up at or delivery from Roncy’s Apothecary and Clinic. I also like working with glycerites, syrups, capsules, and other formulations out there. We work together to find the best-fit herbal ally for you.

    Essential oil aromatherapy in-visit optional

  • Health history information gathering; investigation of symptom picture, mental, physical, spiritual, emotional aspects of well-being, life purpose and support systems; physical examinations; requisitioning and interpreting blood and other lab (stool, saliva, urine, hair, breath, & various swab) testing; interpretation and communication on any lab work you may already have in your health history files; discussing and facilitating “optimal” versus “within range” lab values.

  • Including in-person constitutional hydrotherapy sessions as well as home care hydrotherapy recommendations; basic massage techniques, foot massage; TENS

  • Gentle, energetic signature or frequency modalities that can help shift our states and perspectives and create freedom and space for healing.

  • Mindfulness practices and other daily wellness suggestions in sync with nature’s rhythms, activity, exercise, and sleep guidance, consideration of connectedness in relationship and purpose; stress management; guided meditations; Recommendations for building, optimizing, & maintaining muscle mass throughout the ages.

  • Individualized dietary recommendations, including seasonal and Traditional Chinese Medicine-based approaches; Recommendations for building, optimizing, maintaining muscle mass throughout the ages; Supplement recommendations with natural health products, tailored to your concern and mindful of any other supplements or medications you may be taking.

  • A reiki session offers relaxation and stress reduction and works on an energetic level to help facilitate the body’s natural inclination to healing. This is traditionally a gentle, Japanese healing art that aligns with the naturopathic principles of the healing power of nature and the consideration of the whole person (mind, body, and spirit) with respect to health and well-being.

*Naturopathic appointments and naturopathic doula services may be eligible for coverage under extended health care benefits.

Naturopathic Doula

In and around childbirth, my role is to deliver holistic care to the emotional, physical, and educational needs of families. 

  • “Primemester” nutrition, supplementation, lab testing, acupuncture, herbal medicine, and lifestyle recommendations; pregnancy safe guidance and movement and posture suggestions; naturopathic care for pregnancy-related health concerns; labor preparation acupuncture & Traditional Chinese Medicine approaches (moxibustion, acupressure, acupuncture) for breech presentation; pre-birth appointments or private classes to share information on the stages of labor and birth, breathwork, and tools for comfort and ease during delivery; 34 weeks and onwards- guidance on birthing parent’s movement and postures for optimizing baby’s position in the womb for increased likelihood of safe, smooth delivery. Gilligan’s Guide Certified Doula in Ontario + Greater Toronto Area (GTA).

  • Virtual on-call service from 38 weeks gestation to 2 weeks postpartum + in-person birth attendance (or virtual support), offering calm presence, physical, emotional, & educational support, advocacy, encouragement, and bridge of communication between healthcare providers and families. Bringing naturopathic principles and modalities along with me in my birth bag. Utilizing principles of maternal positioning for optimal fetal position during labor to encourage smooth, safe delivery. Gilligan’s Guide Certified Doula in Ontario + Greater Toronto Area (GTA).

  • Recommendations for birthing parent and babe on tissue healing, breastfeeding, sleep, nutrition etc; mental/emotional support; postpartum doula day and/or night support to ease this major life transition for new parents. Please contact me via email for postpartum doula day and night rates in the GTA.

Where to Find Me

  • empower support educate Gilligan's Guide Maternal positioning for optimal fetal position hypobirthing birth preferences birth spirit babies pregnancy conception postpartum lactation sleep consultant hospital midwife midwives home birth birth center

    Greater Toronto Area

    YDD is a naturopathic doula collective, providing premiere pregnancy, birth, and postpartum care in-person in the Greater Toronto Area + virtual fertility, prenatal, and postpartum care throughout Ontario.

    Email: ciara@yourdowntowndoula.com

    Book
  • birth education supplements prenatal and postpartum car nutraceuticals lymphatic cupping naturopathic medicine birth doula birthkeeper acupuncture esoteric acupuncture reiki cupping botanical herbal medicine homeopathy flower essences muscle testing

    In-person Oakville, ON + virtually throughout Ontario

    Why Choose
    Holistic Med Group?

    A Women’s Healthcare Hub by Women, for Women

    Female-Focused Care: Our entire clinic is run and managed by women who understand the unique health journeys of women at every stage of life.

    Holistic Approach: We focus on Mindfulness, Nourishment, + Movement to address the root causes of discomfort and disease.

    ​Personalized Treatment Plans: From prenatal care to perimenopause support, we tailor each treatment to help you live a balanced, fulfilling life.

    Community-Driven Philosophy: Be a part of our #HealthyGirlEra, a growing community encouraging holistic health and mindful living.

    Book

Follow For Creative Insights

@doctorciara.nd

The best teachers & mentors I know move from a heart-centered, well-intentioned place. May we know them, be them, raise them. ~Naturopathic medicine’s tenet docere is to teach~ ~Part of a doula’s role, too, is to provide education~
If life were a video game, this year so far, particularly these last few weeks, has been giving “final boss” energy and this new season might just be “next level, unlocked.” If what we’re facing now still has the flavo
Mood board to wrap the week^ >Have you ever noticed when you’re calling in something big or a level up in your life (ie a new, more aligned career path/job, an addition to your family, a new relationship or an evolution of your current one
Can you feel it? All the change afoot? 🥀🐇 Spring equinox has past but some days still feel wintry. We’re in the middle of one of the eclipse cycles that happen 2x a year. The Easter weekend we’re having is tied to these lunar cycles an
Birthdays are such powerful portals. They have a capacity to shift and activate so much within and around us. They can remind us to play and tap into the levity of life. Play is a safe zone to practice for what’s to come, for all life stages. W
S P A C E Some of the biggest healings and transformations in life come out of what we let go of rather than what we what we add in. Space in our days to feel to heal. To be creative. To check in with ourselves. To excavate a thing or two. To vis
Nature, by design, gives most of us 9 months give or take to grow a baby. We’re given the better part of a year as humans to prepare for birth and parenthood. I love being able to work with families leading up to birth to help prepare from th
I never met Cordella but she bestowed me with a gift all the same. She has had me reflecting on the origin of the word courage being “cor” (Latin for “heart). This first month of 2024 has reminded me again and again how fragile/res
Downloads on unraveling 🧶 Sometimes naturopaths refer to the menstrual cycle as the 5th vital sign. I think at times that maybe another subtle sign of healing is becoming more connected to or expressed as our inner child, more in touch with our hi