NATUROPATHIC DOCTOR IN ONTARIO
Naturopathic Treatment for PCOS
A Comprehensive Approach to Treating PCOS
Understanding the Root Cause of PCOS
If you’ve been diagnosed with PCOS — or suspect you might have it — you’ve probably already spent hours in the Google rabbit hole. You’ve read conflicting advice about diet, supplements, and birth control, and maybe left your doctor’s office feeling like your only options were metformin, the pill, or “come back when you want to get pregnant.”
You deserve more than that.
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome is one of the most common hormonal conditions in women, affecting roughly 1 in 10 — yet it remains widely misunderstood and under treated. At Sequence Wellness, we take a comprehensive, evidence-informed naturopathic approach to PCOS that goes beyond managing symptoms. Our goal is to understand what is actually driving your PCOS and build a personalized plan that works with your body, your life, and your long-term health.
What Is PCOS?
PCOS is a hormonal and metabolic condition defined by a combination of symptoms — not a single test result. To receive a diagnosis, you typically need at least two of the following three features (known as the Rotterdam Criteria):
- Irregular menstrual cycles — cycles longer than 35 days, or fewer than 8 cycles per year
- Elevated androgens — signs of high testosterone such as acne, excess facial or body hair, or hair thinning, confirmed on exam or through bloodwork
- Polycystic ovary morphology — 12 or more small follicles visible on ultrasound, or increased ovarian volume
Importantly, other conditions that can look like PCOS must first be ruled out — including hypothyroidism, hyperprolactinemia, non-classical congenital adrenal hyperplasia, hypothalamic amenorrhea, and premature ovarian insufficiency. A thorough assessment is essential before the label sticks.
Not All PCOS Is the Same
One of the most important things to understand about PCOS is that it is not one condition — it is a syndrome with multiple possible underlying drivers. This is why the same treatment doesn’t work for everyone, and why your friend’s success with a particular supplement or diet may not translate to your experience.
At Sequence Wellness, we work to identify which type (or combination of types) of PCOS is present for you:
Insulin-Resistant PCOS is the most common form, affecting the majority of people with PCOS. When cells don’t respond properly to insulin, the pancreas produces more of it — and elevated insulin directly stimulates the ovaries to produce excess testosterone, disrupting ovulation. This type is closely linked to weight changes, cravings, fatigue after meals, and metabolic concerns.
Inflammatory PCOS is driven by chronic low-grade inflammation, which can also stimulate androgen production independent of insulin. It may be associated with skin issues, joint discomfort, fatigue, and inflammatory markers on bloodwork. Diet, gut health, and environmental exposures often play a key role here.
Adrenal PCOS involves elevated DHEA-S — an androgen produced by the adrenal glands rather than the ovaries. This type tends to respond less to insulin-focused treatments and more to stress management and adrenal support. It’s often seen in people who experienced the onset of symptoms during a period of significant stress.
Post-Pill PCOS can emerge after stopping hormonal contraceptives, as the body recalibrates its own hormonal signalling. Cycles may be irregular for months after stopping the pill, and androgen-related symptoms can temporarily flare. This form often resolves with time and targeted support.
Understanding which type (or types) applies to you shapes every recommendation — from which labs to run, to what to eat, to which supplements are most relevant.
How We Assess PCOS at Sequence Wellness
A thorough assessment is the foundation of effective PCOS care. We don’t start with a protocol — we start with your story.
Our intake process explores the full timeline of your symptoms: when they began, what has changed, what you’ve already tried, and what your goals are — whether that’s regulating your cycle, managing acne or hair concerns, supporting fertility, or protecting your long-term metabolic health.
From there, we use Ontario laboratory testing (through Lifelabs and Dynacare) to build a complete picture. Depending on your presentation, this may include:
- Fasting insulin and glucose (and sometimes a 2-hour glucose tolerance test)
- Full androgen panel: total and free testosterone, DHEA-S, SHBG
- LH and FSH ratio
- Thyroid function (TSH, free T3, free T4, thyroid antibodies)
- Prolactin
- Full metabolic panel: lipids, fasting glucose, HbA1c
- Inflammatory markers: hsCRP, ferritin
- Nutrients commonly affected in PCOS: vitamin D, iron studies, B12
Ultrasound findings from your GP or OB/GYN are also reviewed when available.
This level of investigation allows us to see not just that you have PCOS, but why — and ensures we’re not missing anything that needs attention.
The Naturopathic Treatment Framework for PCOS
Naturopathic care for PCOS works on multiple levels simultaneously — addressing the underlying drivers while supporting the body’s natural regulatory systems. Here’s what that looks like in practice.
Nutrition & Blood Sugar Regulation
For the majority of people with PCOS, food is one of the most powerful tools available. The goal isn’t a rigid diet — it’s an eating pattern that supports insulin sensitivity, reduces androgen production, and sustains energy throughout the day.
This typically involves prioritizing protein and healthy fats at meals to blunt glucose spikes, reducing refined carbohydrates and ultra-processed foods, eating in a way that supports a stable energy pattern, and for those with inflammatory PCOS, reducing dietary triggers of inflammation (such as excess omega-6 fats and processed foods while increasing anti-inflammatory foods like fatty fish, vegetables, and olive oil).
Specific dietary patterns with good evidence in PCOS include a low-glycemic approach and the Mediterranean diet. We’ll help you translate these into something realistic and sustainable for your life — not a list of foods you can never eat again.
Targeted Supplementation
Supplementation in PCOS should be strategic and based on your specific lab results and presentation. Evidence-supported options we frequently consider include:
Myo-inositol and D-chiro-inositol are among the most well-researched supplements in PCOS. They improve insulin signalling at the cellular level, support ovarian function, reduce androgens, and can improve menstrual regularity — with a particularly strong evidence base for insulin-resistant PCOS.
Berberine is a plant-derived compound with insulin-sensitizing effects comparable in some studies to metformin, without the gastrointestinal side effects. It also has anti-inflammatory and androgen-lowering properties.
N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) supports insulin sensitivity and has antioxidant effects that may reduce inflammation and improve ovarian function.
Magnesium is commonly depleted in insulin-resistant states and plays a role in blood sugar regulation, cortisol management, sleep, and mood.
Zinc helps regulate androgen levels and supports skin health — particularly relevant for acne and hair concerns.
Vitamin D is frequently low in women with PCOS and has been linked to insulin resistance, inflammation, and cycle irregularity.
Supplements are not a substitute for addressing the underlying drivers — but used strategically alongside dietary and lifestyle changes, they can make a meaningful difference.
Herbal Medicine
Botanical medicine has a long and growing evidence base in PCOS management. Herbs we commonly incorporate include:
Vitex (chaste tree) supports progesterone production and LH regulation, and may help with cycle regularity — particularly in post-pill PCOS.
Spearmint tea has demonstrated anti-androgenic effects in clinical studies and can be a simple, daily tool for reducing hirsutism and androgen levels.
Peony and licorice (Shakuyaku-kanzo-to) is a traditional Japanese formula with growing evidence for reducing testosterone and supporting ovulation in PCOS.
Saw palmetto inhibits the conversion of testosterone to its more potent form (DHT), making it relevant for hair thinning and acne in androgen-driven PCOS.
Herbal treatment is individualized and always considered in the context of your full health picture, including any medications you’re taking.
Stress & Nervous System Support
The relationship between stress and PCOS is bidirectional and significant. Cortisol — the primary stress hormone — directly stimulates androgen production from the adrenal glands. Chronic stress disrupts the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis that coordinates ovulation, and it worsens insulin resistance. For adrenal PCOS in particular, stress management isn’t just self-care — it’s medicine.
Depending on your situation, this pillar may include adaptogenic herbs (such as ashwagandha or rhodiola), sleep support, movement recommendations that balance blood sugar without driving cortisol higher, and practical nervous system regulation strategies.
Conventional Treatment Has Its Place
We want to be clear: there is no problem with using conventional treatment options. Metformin, spironolactone, and hormonal contraceptives all have a role to play for some people with PCOS — and we work collaboratively with your GP or specialist, not against them.
What naturopathic care offers is a layer of investigation and intervention that conventional medicine often doesn’t have time for: understanding why your androgens are elevated, addressing the metabolic underpinnings of your condition, and building habits and tools that support your health regardless of what else you’re doing.
PCOS and Your Long-Term Health
PCOS isn’t just a reproductive concern — it’s a whole-body metabolic condition with implications that extend well beyond your menstrual cycle and fertility. People with PCOS have higher lifetime rates of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Endometrial cancer risk is elevated in those with long-standing irregular cycles. Sleep apnea is more common than is often recognized.
The good news is that many of these risks are modifiable. Early, proactive management of insulin resistance, inflammation, and androgen excess significantly reduces long-term risk — which is why we encourage women to take their PCOS seriously even when fertility isn’t a current goal.
[Link: Read more about the long-term health risks of PCOS →]
What to Expect Working With Us
At Sequence Wellness, we offer virtual naturopathic care across Ontario — which means you can access comprehensive, personalized PCOS care from wherever you are in the province.
Your initial visit is a full intake — typically 75 to 90 minutes — where we review your health history in detail, discuss your goals, and begin building a picture of what’s driving your symptoms. From there, we order lab testing, review results with you, and build your personalized treatment plan.
Naturopathic PCOS care is not a quick fix — sustainable change takes time. But with the right foundation, most women begin to notice meaningful shifts in their cycles, energy, skin, and wellbeing within three to four months of consistent treatment.
Ready to Get Started?
You don’t have to figure this out alone. Whether you’ve just received a PCOS diagnosis, have been managing it for years, or are wondering whether PCOS might be behind your symptoms, we’d love to help.
Book a free 10-minute chat — a no-pressure call to find out if Sequence Wellness is the right fit for you.
Book a first visit — if you’re ready to get started.
All Sequence Wellness naturopathic doctors are board certified and licensed by the College of Naturopaths of Ontario (CONO). We provide secure virtual naturopathic care across Ontario, supporting patients in Ottawa, Toronto, Hamilton, Kitchener, London, and communities throughout the province.
Dr. Janna Fung, Naturopathic Doctor
Dr. Janna Fung is a licensed naturopathic doctor with a special interest in dermatology and women’s health. She has a passion for evidence based preventative medicine and strives to empower patients with the knowledge to achieve their optimal health. She understands collaborations is the only way to develop realistic sustainable health/wellness results and strives to develop individualized health goals with patients.
