Our Team

Dr. Samantha Merz, ND

Dr. Sam Merz is a licensed naturopathic physician in Oregon. After receiving her bachelor’s from the University of Nevada, Reno in analytical chemistry and biology, she graduated from the National University of Natural Medicine in 2021 with a Doctorate in Naturopathic Medicine. 

The human body has an innate wisdom and ability to heal itself that is often neglected in modern medicine. Dr. Sam aims to stimulate this inherent healing power and guide your body back to its natural state of balance. Every person is unique and therefore every person deserves equally individualized treatments. Her clinical focus is integrative primary care for all ages including gastrointestinal, hormone support for men and women, dermatology, acute and chronic conditions as well as mental health which includes extensive experience with ketamine integrative therapy. She is passionate about placing importance on preventative medicine through nutrition, lifestyle counseling and herbal medicine.

Outside of practicing medicine, Dr. Sam loves being in nature, doing yoga and being at home with her two sons and husband where they have a small farm with alpacas and goats. 

A few of her specialties include:

Hormone support for men and women

Mental. Health

Herbal medicine

Homeopathy

Somatic dialogue

Ketamine Therapy for Depression

Nutrition counseling

Lifestyle management

Sleep support

Medication management including controlled substances

Comprehensive lab ordering and analyzing

Dr. Sydney Nguyen, NMD, LAc

Dr. Nguyen is a naturopathic physician and licensed acupuncturist in Oregon. Specializing in pain, injuries, accident care, trigger point injections and PRP therapy.

Dr. Cori Burke, ND

I have been inspired by natural medicine since I was a toddler. My first doctor was a homeopath and I was fascinated by the piles of manila envelopes that my mother kept, each filled with tiny sparkling pellets of magical sounding homeopathic remedies. Growing up, I spent hours in the yard picking bunches of fragrant chocolate mint and pineapple weed to make my own teas and perfumes. Since that time I have had many profound experiences with homeopathy, herbs, and nutrition that have allowed me to develop a deep trust in the healing power of nature. This ultimately led me to pursue my Doctorate in Naturopathic Medicine at the National University of Natural Medicine (NUNM) in Portland, Oregon.

While at NUNM I had the opportunity to participate in a prestigious year-long internship in gynecology and primary care with Dr. Kimberly Windstar, as well as a six-month internship in integrative cardiology and pulmonary medicine at the Center for Natural Medicine. My early love of homeopathy guided me to additional training in Classical Homeopathy through the New England School of Homeopathy in Seattle, Washington. Before attending naturopathic medical school I studied herbal medicine at the Herb Pharm in Williams, Oregon and the Philo School of Herbal Energetics in Philo, California. I am also a practitioner of the Arvigo Techniques of Maya Abdominal Therapy®, a powerful yet gentle massage technique for digestive and reproductive health.

I currently practice naturopathic family medicine and integrative primary care at Love Acupuncture & Wellness Group where I am honored to partner with my patients in their health journeys. I believe in the importance of finding and treating the imbalances underlying disease, rather than simply suppressing symptoms.

With my free time I still love harvesting medicinal herbs to make natural medicines. I also enjoy practicing yoga, hiking the amazing Oregon Cascade Mountains, gardening, creating and cooking healthy recipes, and spending time with friends and family.

Naturopathic Medicine

Naturopathic medicine emphasizes a holistic approach that prioritizes the body's inherent ability to heal. Practitioners utilize a blend of ancient healing traditions and contemporary scientific knowledge, focusing on individualized care that addresses the root causes of health issues rather than merely managing symptoms. With a strong regulatory framework, Oregon supports licensed naturopaths who provide a broad spectrum of therapies, including herbal medicine, nutrition, and lifestyle counseling, all tailored to enhance overall wellness. This integrative approach not only fosters physical health but also nurtures emotional and mental well-being, making it a valuable option for those seeking a comprehensive path to optimal health.