Meet Our Experts


Katolen Yardley, MNIMH, CHT, RNP, RHT

Is a medical herbalist in private practice and the owner of Alchemy and Elixir Health Group, a holistic wellness centre in downtown Vancouver, BC whose team of holistic practitioners seek to educate, empower and support the health of the whole person to achieve a greater balance within the mind, body and spirit; offering a variety of holistic services to the public including acupuncture, art therapy, thai yoga massage, herbal medicines, reflexology, and infrared sauna.

Katolen sees clients for wellness consultations both in Vancouver and Port Moody and works with herbal medicine, nutrition and lifestyle modifications. She specializes in women’s health issues, skin dis-ease, digestive and nervous system disorders and believes in providing usable tools for healing through inspiration and education.

Since 1998 she has appeared monthly on Global Televisions ‘Ask an Expert’ segment providing information on herbal medicine and nutrition to the public, she appears in print in numerous industry magazines. Katolen is an instructor at Langara College, the Canadian School of Natural Nutrition, and a guest lecturer at Boucher Institute of Naturopathic Medicine. She is a director of the Canadian Herbalist’s Association of BC.

Katolen Yardley is currently accepting new clients at Alchemy & Elixir Health Group. Appointments can be booked at 604 683 2298, or at:
www.alchemyelixir.com. Katolen's personal website can be found here:
www.katolenyardley.com.


Curtis Christopherson

Came screaming onto the health and fitness scene as a professional training coach. A Simon Fraser University graduate and a former member of the Canadian National Water Polo Team, he is no stranger to rolling up his sleeves and diving into hard work. Since then, Curtis has gone on to become the General Manager of Innovative Fitness after he opened the first Innovative Fitness franchise in White Rock, British Columbia and at the same time has lead himself and others to many challenging fitness destinations.

Some of his athletic accomplishments include: 8 National Water Polo Championships, the 100km Del Sahara desert run, and competing in numerous Half Ironmans and marathons in locations such as Vancouver, New York, and Honolulu. Curtis is also an avid outdoorsman and has achieved adventure race podium finishes and tackled international hikes such as the West Coast Trail in a single day in addition to Machu Picchu and Mt. Kilimanjaro. In 2007, Curtis was also a part of a team of 6 riders that rode their bikes from Halifax to Vancouver in 7 days to raise 1 million dollars for the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation.

For more information, Curtis can be reached by phone at 604.536.1355 or online at the following website:
www.innovativefitness.com.


Dr. Arjuna Veeravagu, ND

Is a naturopathic physician and registered acupuncturist who graduated from the National College of Naturopathic Medicine (NCNM) in Portland, Oregon. He completed a four-year doctorate degree in naturopathic medicine as well as a three-year masters degree program in classical Chinese medicine at NCNM, which included over 3000 hours of academic and clinical training in acupuncture, classical Chinese herbalism, and qi gong.

Dr. Veeravagu's practice combines western and Chinese herbal medicine, acupuncture, clinical nutrition, homeopathy and lifestyle counseling to address the root cause of symptoms and disease utilizing the vis medicatrix naturae, or "healing power of nature". He has a general naturopathic practice with a focus on digestive wellness, stress-induced illness, hormonal imbalances and detoxification. He also completed his naturopathic thesis on the extremely common but largely unrecognized condition of non-celiac gluten sensitivity.

Dr. Veeravagu is available for patient consultations Monday through Friday each week. He may be contacted at Sage Clinic at (604) 697-0397 or by email at:
info@sageclinic.com.


Dr. Allison Patton, ND

Received her Honors Bachelor of Science Degree in Biochemistry and Psychology from the University of Victoria. She became licensed as a Naturopathic Physician upon graduation from the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine where she was awarded the John Plante Scholarship for demonstrating outstanding leadership.

Dr. Patton is Board Certified in Chelation and Intravenous Therapies (including Intravenous Vitamin C) and acupuncture. She has completed additional training and certification in Bowen Therapy and Facial Rejuvenation Acupuncture. Dr. Patton is a member of the British Columbia Naturopathic Association and the College of Naturopathic Physicians of British Columbia. She is also a First Line Therapy Lifestyle Consultant, a contributor to the Natural Health Education Journal and co-publisher of Metanoia Magazine.

Dr. Patton views the relationship with her patients as sacred and essential to the healing process. She uses her tools of assessment and diagnosis along with her listening skills to determine what specific therapies are most indicated for each patient. Dr. Patton has a special clinical interest in infertility, salivary hormone testing and balancing, Peri-Menopause and Menopause, osteoporosis management, adrenal fatigue, vaccination consultations, pediatrics and weight loss programs. Conditions that she addresses in her practice include Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, infertility, pregnancy related health issues, Candida overgrowth, ADHD, Autism, frequent colds and infections and weight management. Dr. Patton practices at Mountainview Wellness Centre in South Surrey; to learn more, visit:
www.mountainviewwellnesscentre.ca.