Elaine Louise McHugh, ND

Media Releases

Get to know Naturopathic Physician Dr. Elaine Marquez McHugh, who serves patients in Vista, California.

A passionate naturopathic physician, Dr. McHugh sees patients at Olympus Movement Performance in Vista, California. Her passions in medicine include regenerative and anti-aging medicine, sports and performance medicine, mind body medicine, integrative medicine, and functional medicine.

She specializes in prolotherapy, PRP joint injections, PRP facial rejuvenation, IV drip therapy, vitamin shots and biofeedback. She also treats a wide range of ailments seen in primary care to more complex chronic disease and stealth infections such as mold infections and Lyme disease, as well as mental health, stress, anxiety, and adrenal fatigue.

Living a naturopathic lifestyle without even knowing naturopathic medicine existed, Dr. McHugh avoided antibiotics and other medication until truly needed and found more natural treatments first. She always believed the human body possessed the innate ability to heal itself and that everyone should be treated as individuals. Since having her own health issues which resulted in prescriptions for medications at a young age that are typically prescribed for older adults, she has always searched for and finds value in treating the root cause and treating the whole person.

Olympus Movement Performance is an integrated health and wellness facility, focused on naturopathic and functional medicine, along with physical therapy, fitness, and sports performance. The Integrated Wellness team helps active adults perform ‘life’ at an optimal level by addressing the root/ underlying causes of symptoms such as fatigue, brain fog, difficulty losing weight and sleep issues, to name a few. The Performance Sports Rehab and Physical Therapy AND Fitness Programs offer teens, teams, and adults alike everything they need to perform at the highest levels day in and day out.

Regarding her educational background, Dr. McHugh received her Bachelor of Arts degree with a double major in Integrative Biology and Art Practice from the University of California, Berkeley. She then went on to graduate with Honors from Bastyr University California, an accredited four-year naturopathic medical school, in 2020.

Prior to attending medical school, she was a Certified Nursing Assistant, a CPR and First Aid Instructor for the American Red Cross, and a stay-at-home mother while her husband pursued his career as a Navy Diver.

As an athlete herself, a Cal Dance Team Alumni at UC Berkeley, surfer, and weekend warrior, Dr. McHugh hopes to achieve optimal performance in athletes and her patients at Olympus with her knowledge of naturopathic medicine and the human body, mind, and spirit. 

Among her professional affiliations, she is an active member of the California Naturopathic Doctors Association, the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians, the  Academy of Integrative Health & Medicine, and the Institute for Functional Medicine.

The practice of naturopathy includes modern and traditional, scientific, and empirical methods. Naturopathy is a distinct health care profession, emphasizing prevention, management, and optimal health through the use of natural therapeutic methods and substances that encourage individuals’ inherent self-healing process. Naturopathic doctors focus on prevention and root cause identification of acute and chronic imbalances to understand, restore, and establish optimal health.

A San Diego native, Dr. McHugh was born and raised in Oceanside. She is a mother of two and enjoys spending time with her family, especially at the beach. In her spare time (which comes rarely these days), she enjoys dancing, surfing, reading, baking cupcakes, and lifting weights with her husband.

Recommended Articles

• Holistic Treatments for Infertility

  Millions of women in America suffer from infertility according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Approximately 7.5 million women between 15 and 44 years old are having a difficulty staying pregnant or getting pregnant. Fortunately, there are a number of natural treatment...

• What Is Farro: Health and Nutrition Benefits

  What is farro?Farro an ancient wheat grain, which is also called as emmer. It has been eaten for thousands of years around the world. Its scientific name is Triticum turgidum dicoccum. It is found in a number of Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, and Ethiopian restaurants.Farro was a popular grain among...

• Top 5 Natural Supplements for Parkinson's Disease

  What is Parkinson’s disease (PD)?Parkinson’s disease is a chronic and progressive neurological movement disorder, which means that the symptoms of this disease gradually get worse over time. The exact cause of the disease is still unknown. There is also no cure for this medical condition, but...

• The Benefits of Buckwheat

  Buckwheat is not actually a wheat. Although it is a whole grain it is neither a grain or a cereal.  Similar to quinoa, buckwheat is derived from the seeds of a flowering plant. It is naturally gluten free making it a great ingredient in many dishes and smoothies. Buckwheat originated in the...

• The Many Uses of Coconut Oil for Your Health

  What is coconut oil?Coconut oil is also known as copra oil. It is a famous type of oil that is used primarily for cooking at many households, which is extracted from the meat of matured coconuts and is usually reaped from coconut palm trees.Coconut oil has several uses apart from being a type of...

• Natural Treatments for PUPPP Rash

  PUPPP RashPUPPP stands for pruritic urticarial papules and plaques of pregnancy. It is also known as PUPPS or PEP (polymorphic eruption of pregnancy) in the UK. The rash usually appears as small, itchy red bumps on the skin, particularly in the stretch marks found on the belly of pregnant women. A...