Holistic Skincare

Holistic Skincare Practitioners at The Healing Oak

• Kristina Mokhir, ND Naturopathic Medicine Chilliwack, BC

  Dr. Kristina Mokhir is a licensed naturopathic physician and a CAND member (Canadian Association of Naturopathic Doctors). Dr. Mokhir, ND, spent more than ten years in the nutritional supplements indu…

• Chantelle Bousquet, Buccal/TMJ Specialist Buccal Massage Abbotsford, BC

  Chantelle has 8 years of experience training with acclaimed industry professionals, such as Yakov Gershkovich for Buccal massage and Danna Omari from Noy Skin in New York for Gua Sha. She has worked f…

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a naturopath help with acne?

Yes. Naturopathic treatment for acne identifies the internal driver (hormonal, digestive, dietary, or inflammatory) and targets it directly. Many patients who have not responded to topical treatments or antibiotics see significant improvement when the underlying cause is addressed. Dr. Kristina Mokhir, ND, treats acne at the Chilliwack clinic.

What is the difference between holistic skincare and a dermatologist?

A dermatologist diagnoses and treats skin diseases, can prescribe medications (retinoids, antibiotics, immunosuppressants), and performs medical procedures. Holistic skincare addresses the internal drivers of skin conditions through naturopathic medicine, nutrition, and therapeutic facial treatments. The approaches are complementary. Many clients see both.

Is gua sha good for your skin?

Gua sha improves blood circulation, promotes lymphatic drainage, reduces puffiness, and stimulates collagen production. Regular facial gua sha can improve skin tone, reduce fine lines, and relieve facial tension. Chantelle Bousquet provides gua sha treatments at the Abbotsford clinic.

Can gut health affect your skin?

Yes. The gut-skin axis is well-documented. Intestinal permeability, gut dysbiosis, food sensitivities, and SIBO all produce systemic inflammation that manifests as acne, eczema, rosacea, and other skin conditions. Naturopathic assessment of gut health is a standard part of treating chronic skin conditions.

How many sessions does holistic skincare take?

Naturopathic treatment for skin conditions typically shows initial improvement within 4-6 weeks, with significant change over 3-6 months depending on the condition. Therapeutic facial treatments are recommended every 2-4 weeks. Chronic conditions like eczema and psoriasis require ongoing management.

Is holistic skincare covered by insurance?

Naturopathic consultations are covered under most extended health plans. Therapeutic facial treatments may be covered depending on your plan and the benefit category. Check with your insurer for specifics on your coverage.

Do I need to stop my current skincare products?

Not necessarily. Dr. Mokhir reviews your current topical routine as part of the assessment and may suggest changes if certain products are irritating or counterproductive. The goal is to simplify and optimize, not strip everything away.

Can you treat eczema naturally?

Naturopathic treatment for eczema focuses on identifying and removing triggers (food sensitivities, environmental factors), supporting gut health, modulating the immune response, and repairing the skin barrier. Many patients reduce or eliminate their need for topical steroids. Results depend on the severity and chronicity of the condition.

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Related Services

Naturopathic Medicine | Diet & Nutrition | Buccal Massage | Acupuncture | Registered Clinical Counselling

Why Skin Conditions Need More Than Topical Treatment

Most skin conditions have internal drivers. Acne is frequently linked to hormonal imbalance, gut dysbiosis, or inflammatory triggers in the diet. Eczema and psoriasis involve immune system dysregulation. Rosacea has vascular and inflammatory components often aggravated by gut health, stress, and specific foods. Premature aging accelerates with chronic inflammation, nutrient deficiencies, and oxidative stress.

Topical products manage symptoms on the surface. They can reduce redness, control oil production, and provide barrier protection. But if the underlying driver is hormonal, digestive, or inflammatory, topical treatment alone will not resolve the condition. It will recur.

Holistic skincare addresses both layers: the internal biochemistry driving the skin condition and the external therapeutic support that promotes healing, circulation, and tissue health.

Naturopathic Approach to Skin Health

Dr. Kristina Mokhir, ND, treats skin conditions at the Chilliwack clinic by identifying and correcting the internal factors that produce them. Her approach follows a systematic assessment.

Gut-Skin Connection

The link between gut health and skin is well-established. Intestinal permeability ("leaky gut"), dysbiosis (imbalanced gut bacteria), SIBO, and food sensitivities all produce systemic inflammation that manifests on the skin. Dr. Mokhir assesses digestive function and may recommend elimination diets, targeted probiotics, or functional gut testing to identify the connection.

Hormonal Assessment

Hormonal acne (typically along the jawline, chin, and lower cheeks) is driven by androgen excess, estrogen dominance, or insulin resistance. Breakouts that worsen cyclically with the menstrual cycle point to a hormonal component. Dr. Mokhir evaluates hormonal patterns and uses botanical medicine, nutritional protocols, and lifestyle modifications to restore balance.

Inflammation and Immune Modulation

Eczema, psoriasis, and rosacea involve immune system overactivity. Naturopathic treatment aims to identify inflammatory triggers (dietary, environmental, stress-related) and calm the immune response through anti-inflammatory nutrition, targeted supplementation, and stress management.

Nutrient Status

Skin health depends on adequate levels of zinc, vitamin A, vitamin D, essential fatty acids, and antioxidants. Deficiencies in any of these produce visible skin changes. Dr. Mokhir assesses nutrient status through clinical evaluation and, where indicated, lab testing, and corrects deficiencies through diet and supplementation.

Therapeutic Facial Treatments

Chantelle Bousquet provides hands-on facial treatments at the Abbotsford clinic. Her background includes 8 years of experience, training with Yakov Gershkovich (buccal massage) and Danna Omari of Noy Skin in New York (gua sha), and a psychology degree that informs her understanding of stress-related skin conditions.

Gua Sha Facial

A traditional technique using smooth tools to scrape gently along the skin, promoting blood circulation, lymphatic drainage, and fascia release. Regular gua sha reduces puffiness, improves skin tone and texture, and stimulates collagen production. Particularly effective for dull skin, facial tension, and early signs of aging.

Lymphatic Drainage Facial

A gentle technique that stimulates lymphatic flow in the face and neck to reduce puffiness, fluid retention, and under-eye swelling. Useful for clients with sinus congestion, post-surgical facial swelling, and chronic facial puffiness. The technique is similar in principle to manual lymphatic drainage but focused on the face and decolletage.

Buccal Massage for Facial Tension

Intra-oral and external massage targeting the muscles of the face, jaw, and neck. Releases deep tension in the masseter, temporalis, and pterygoid muscles. Beyond TMJ relief, buccal massage improves facial symmetry, reduces tension lines, and promotes circulation to the skin. More detail on the therapeutic applications is available on the buccal massage page.

Myofascial Release

Targeted work on the facial fascia to release adhesions, improve tissue mobility, and restore natural facial contour. Facial fascia becomes restricted from stress, clenching, sleeping positions, and aging. Releasing these restrictions improves blood flow to the skin and reduces the appearance of fine lines.

Conditions We Treat

Acne - hormonal, cystic, inflammatory, and comedonal acne. The naturopathic approach identifies whether the primary driver is hormonal, digestive, dietary, or stress-related, and targets that driver. Therapeutic facial treatments support healing by improving circulation and lymphatic drainage.

Eczema and dermatitis - naturopathic treatment addresses gut health, food sensitivities, immune modulation, and barrier repair. Many patients with eczema have identifiable dietary triggers that, when removed, produce significant improvement.

Rosacea - identifying vascular and inflammatory triggers (alcohol, spicy food, temperature extremes, gut health, specific bacteria like H. pylori) and managing them through dietary modification and anti-inflammatory protocols.

Psoriasis - immune-mediated and complex, but nutritional and lifestyle interventions can reduce flare frequency and severity. Gut health is a particular focus since intestinal permeability is common in psoriasis.

Hormonal skin changes - breakouts, dryness, and changes in skin texture related to menstrual cycles, perimenopause, menopause, or thyroid dysfunction. Addressed through hormonal assessment and targeted naturopathic treatment.

Premature aging - oxidative stress, chronic inflammation, nutrient deficiency, and sun damage. Nutritional support (antioxidants, collagen support, essential fatty acids) combined with therapeutic facial treatments that stimulate circulation and collagen production.

Hyperpigmentation - post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation and melasma. Naturopathic treatment addresses inflammation and hormonal drivers while topical and facial treatments support skin cell turnover.

Insurance and Coverage

Naturopathic consultations for skin conditions are covered under most extended health benefit plans in BC under the "naturopathic medicine" or "naturopath" category.

Therapeutic facial treatments (gua sha, buccal massage, lymphatic drainage facial) may be covered under different benefit categories depending on the practitioner's credentials and your plan. Check with your insurer for specifics.

Direct billing is available for some insurers. If not, you pay at the time of appointment and submit receipts for reimbursement.

What to Expect

Naturopathic skin consultation (Chilliwack, with Dr. Mokhir): Initial visits are 60 minutes. Dr. Mokhir reviews your full health history, not just the skin. She assesses digestion, hormones, stress, sleep, diet, medications, topical products, and previous treatments. She may recommend functional testing (food sensitivity panels, hormone testing, gut health assessments). A treatment plan is built around the findings.

Therapeutic facial treatment (Abbotsford, with Chantelle): Sessions are 45-60 minutes. Chantelle assesses your skin, facial tension patterns, and concerns, then provides a combination of techniques (gua sha, lymphatic drainage, buccal massage, myofascial release) tailored to your needs. Skin may appear flushed immediately after treatment. This is normal and resolves within a few hours.

Combined approach: For best results with persistent skin conditions, clients can see Dr. Mokhir for the internal protocol and Chantelle for the external therapeutic support. The two approaches complement each other. No coordination referral is needed between practitioners.

Related Services

• Naturopathic Medicine - Dr. Mokhir's full naturopathic scope for conditions beyond skin (digestive, hormonal, immune)
• Buccal Massage - Chantelle's dedicated TMJ and buccal massage service for jaw-related and facial concerns
• Diet & Nutrition - for clients who want focused nutritional therapy as part of their skin treatment plan
• Acupuncture - for stress management, hormonal regulation, and facial acupuncture
• Registered Clinical Counselling - for stress and anxiety that contribute to skin flare-ups

No referral needed. Book directly at the Chilliwack or Abbotsford clinic.