Your Naturopathic Doctor
About Dr. Midori Barker
My path into naturopathic medicine began with my own experience of being that patient.
Following the removal of my thyroid due to a cancer diagnosis, I began noticing significant changes in my menstrual cycle. When I brought it up, it was dismissed as unimportant. But I knew something was off. When I finally sought out a naturopathic doctor, I learned that what I was experiencing wasn't random. It was driven by thyroid dysfunction, stress, nutrient deficiencies, and poor blood sugar control. Everything was connected. Nobody had looked at it that way before.
Living without a thyroid has meant coming to terms with having a chronic health condition, one that I continue to navigate and learn from. It's taught me that health isn't a destination. It's something I choose to engage with every day. That ongoing experience shapes how I show up for my patients, and it's why I take seriously what people bring to appointments, even the things they've been told not to worry about.
My Philosophy:
I don't believe in all-or-nothing approaches to health. In fact, that cycle of locking in, falling off, and starting over is one of the things I see most often in practice, and one of the things I'm most interested in helping people move through.
What I've found is that consistency becomes possible when your body actually has what it needs to support it. We focus on building that foundation first. From there, we work on small sustainable habits that your future self will actually benefit from. Not a perfect plan, but a realistic one that holds up when life gets busy.
I also try to practice what I recommend. I have bad days too. Being kind to yourself isn't optional, it's part of the work.
A few things about me outside the clinic:
I grew up in Toronto but have made Thunder Bay home. Depending on the season you'll find me cross-country skiing, hiking, biking, doing yoga or lifting weights at my home gym. I've learned that moving with other people is what actually keeps me consistent, so I try to make it a social event.
Dr. Midori Barker, ND is in good standing with the Canadian Association of Naturopathic Doctors (CAND) and the Ontario Association of Naturopathic Doctors (OAND), and is a practicing member of the College of Naturopaths of Ontario (CONO).
Interest Areas:
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This autoimmune condition is the most common cause of hypothyroidism. Common symptoms include cold intolerances, weight gain, constipation, low mood, fatigue, menstrual changes, hair loss, dry skin, brittle nails. There is often gut dysbiosis and nutrient deficiencies that need to be addressed.
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Common symptoms include anxiety, hair loss, changes to menstrual cycle, frequent loose stools, insomnia, heart palpitations, weight loss. Hyperthyroidism can occur due to thyroid autoimmune conditions most commonly graves disease, but can occur transiently in the progression of Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, post partum, or after a viral infection.
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Previously known as PCOS, PMOS commonly presents with irregular menstrual cycles, cysts on ovaries and signs of high androgens (unwanted hair growth and acne). The underlying cause is different for everyone and proper assessment is needed to guide treatment. There is often insulin resistance, inflammation, liver & gall bladder issues and gut dysbiosis involved.
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Burnout can stem from a lack of support, putting yourself last, lack of boundaries, hormone imbalances, nutrient deficiencies, blood sugar dysregulation, gut and liver issues, and/or living out of alignment with your values.
When addressing burnout I always support the nervous system and focus on the foundations of health like nutrition, movement and sleep, while we work to identify other ways to move you out of burnout.
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Irregular cycles are an important symptom to pay attention to. Proper assessment is needed here! Common reasons for changes to your cycle include but are not limited to are under fueling, high stress, thyroid dysfunction, high prolactin, PCOS, and over exercising, etc.
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Anxiety and depression are commonly seen in connection with other health concerns. Looking at nutrition, time in nature, living in alignment with your values, nutrient deficiencies (iron, vitamin d) and ruling out other health conditions are key. Every appointment I talk about mental health because almost every treatment plan requires some nervous system support. We are living in such a fast paced environment where we are pulled in a million directions. Our nervous systems are becoming less flexible and we’re stuck in a state of fight/flight/fawn with no tools to get into a state of rest/digest. High levels of stress hormones can drive blood sugar issues and inflammation and push us into disease.
A holistic approach to care.
My Values
My values are balance, consistency, self-respect and connection.
My Mission
I aim to create a safe space for you to disclose your health history and to educate you on health & wellness so you have the tools to live a long and happy life.
