Privacy Policy
This Privacy Policy describes how Nigella Health ("we", "us", "our") handles personal information collected through this website (the "Site") and through the delivery of our naturopathic wellness services across Ontario, Canada. Please read it carefully.
1. Our Commitment to Privacy
Protecting the privacy and security of your personal information is a priority at Nigella Health. As a regulated health practice in Ontario, Nigella Health is bound by the Personal Health Information Protection Act, 2004 (PHIPA) and, where applicable, the federal Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA). We gather and use personal information only for purposes that a reasonable person would consider appropriate given the circumstances.
Your use of this Site constitutes your agreement to the practices described in this Privacy Policy. This Privacy Policy forms part of our Terms of Use, and by accepting those terms you are also agreeing to the handling of your personal information as described here.
2. Scope of This Policy
This Privacy Policy applies to personal information gathered through the Site and in connection with our online wellness services. It does not cover information collected offline or through other channels. It also does not govern the handling of clinical records, appointment history, or other patient health data ("Patient Data") collected during the course of a professional practitioner relationship. Patient Data is subject to PHIPA and the standards of the College of Naturopaths of Ontario (CONO), and our Practitioners are independently responsible for complying with all laws and regulations governing its use.
3. Your Consent
By submitting personal information to us, you consent to its collection, use, disclosure, and retention in accordance with this Privacy Policy and as otherwise permitted by applicable law. Where you provide information on behalf of another person, you represent that you have their authority to do so. You may withdraw consent at any time, subject to legal or contractual limitations, by contacting us using the details in Section 12 below.
4. What Personal Information We Collect
"Personal information" refers to any details about an identifiable individual — information that could reasonably be used to identify or contact that person. When you use the Site, we may collect the following types of personal information that you choose to provide:
- Identifying details such as your name, date of birth, and country of residence
- Contact information including your email address, phone number, and mailing address
- Payment details such as credit card information, processed securely through our payment providers
- Any other information you voluntarily submit to us through forms, messages, or other interactions
You may choose to withhold certain information, but doing so may limit your ability to purchase products or services, or to access certain features of the Site.
Personal Health Information (PHI)
When you receive naturopathic care from us, we may also collect personal health information, including:
- Health history, presenting concerns, symptoms, and diagnoses
- Medications, supplements, and prior treatment records
- Laboratory and diagnostic results
- Clinical notes and care plans
- Health insurance and billing information where applicable
5. How We Use Your Information
We use your personal information for purposes connected to our relationship with you and the delivery of our services, including to:
- Communicate with you about your transactions, bookings, and use of our products and services
- Provide you with updates on announcements, promotions, upcoming events, new offerings, and special features
- Process orders, facilitate transactions, and handle payments for products or services you purchase
- Respond to your questions, comments, and requests, and to manage our ongoing relationship with you
- Personalise and enhance your experience while navigating the Site
- Administer questionnaires, contests, or promotional activities you choose to participate in
- Create and maintain your account
- Develop, refine, and improve our products, services, and communications
- Provide, coordinate, and follow up on naturopathic care
- Process payments and maintain accurate billing records
- Meet our legal and regulatory obligations, including those under PHIPA and standards set by CONO
We will not use your information for any other purpose without your express consent, except as required or permitted by law.
We may also transform personal information into non-personal, aggregated, or anonymised data that cannot be linked back to an identifiable individual. Such non-personal information may be used, shared, or retained for any purpose.
6. Cookies and Tracking Technologies
We may employ cookies and similar technologies — such as web beacons, pixel tags, and action tags — to help us improve our products, services, communications, and your overall experience on the Site. A cookie is a small data file stored on your device by your browser.
If your browser allows it, you may choose to refuse or disable cookies; however, this may affect certain features or functionality of the Site. We do not use tracking cookies for advertising profiling purposes, and any analytics tools we deploy are configured to minimise the collection of personally identifiable data.
We may also use web beacons or pixel tags to confirm whether email messages have been delivered and opened. You can opt out of receiving marketing emails at any time as described in Section 10 below.
Information gathered through cookies and similar technologies may be processed by us or by our trusted third-party service providers.
7. Third-Party Analytics and Advertising
We may engage third-party analytics or advertising services on the Site. Those providers may independently collect your IP address and general location, along with data about how you navigate the Site, in accordance with their own privacy policies. They may use their own cookies and data-gathering tools to improve your experience, understand how people use the sites they support, and for other purposes outlined in their respective policies. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any such third-party services.
8. Disclosure of Your Information
We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information. We may share it only in the following circumstances:
- With your consent: for example, to liaise with another healthcare provider involved in your care
- As required by law: for example, in response to a valid court order, subpoena, or where mandatory reporting obligations apply — we will not disclose more than is minimally necessary
- For payment and billing purposes: as needed to process insurance or third-party billing with your authorisation
- To service providers: we work with a limited number of trusted vendors (including website hosting, payment processing, customer communications, data management, and marketing platforms) who are contractually obligated to protect your information and to use it solely as directed by us
Any transfer of personal health information to a third-party agent is conducted in compliance with PHIPA, with appropriate data processing agreements in place.
9. Social Media and External Links
The Site may contain links to social media pages or third-party websites. If you post or share personal information on those external platforms — including through any member groups or linked social accounts — that information becomes visible to others and may be collected, used, or shared by those third parties, including for purposes such as unsolicited messaging. By following such links, you leave our Site and enter a third-party environment governed by its own privacy policy. We encourage you to read the applicable policy before sharing personal information on any external platform. We are not responsible for how third parties handle information you share in those contexts, and their use of your data falls outside the scope of this Privacy Policy. Please exercise caution when sharing personal information in public or semi-public online spaces.
10. Online Booking and Third-Party Platforms
Our appointment booking system may be operated by a third-party scheduling platform. When booking, you may be directed to that platform's interface. Please review its privacy policy before submitting personal information. We endeavour to select service providers whose privacy practices are consistent with the requirements of PHIPA.
11. Retention, Storage, and Protection of Your Information
We retain your personal information for as long as necessary to fulfil the purposes described in this Privacy Policy, or as required or permitted by applicable law. Records are securely destroyed once the applicable retention period has elapsed.
Your personal information may be stored and processed in Canada, the United States, or other countries, where privacy laws may differ from those of your home jurisdiction.
We apply reasonable physical, administrative, and technical safeguards appropriate to the sensitivity of the information, including encrypted data transmission, secure electronic health record systems, and access controls limiting information to authorised personnel. No method of electronic storage or transmission is completely secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute protection of your personal information.
12. Your Privacy Rights
Subject to applicable law, you have the right to access your personal information held by this practice, request corrections to information you believe is inaccurate or incomplete, and withdraw consent for the collection, use, or disclosure of your personal information. To exercise any of these rights, please contact us using the details in Section 14 below.
13. Children's Privacy
This Site is not directed at individuals under the age of 18. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 18 through the Site without the consent of a parent or legal guardian. If you believe we have inadvertently collected such information, please contact us immediately using the details below. Upon learning of any unintentional collection of a minor's personal information, we will make reasonable efforts to delete it from our systems promptly. Minors seen in a clinical capacity are governed by the consent provisions of PHIPA and applicable Ontario health law.
14. Unsubscribing from Marketing Communications
All promotional and marketing emails we send include an unsubscribe link. You may remove yourself from our mailing list at any time by clicking that link within any email you receive from us. Please note that transactional and administrative communications relating to your care or account may continue even after you opt out of marketing messages.
15. Other Websites and Third-Party Services
The Site may include links to external websites or provide access to products and services offered by third parties whose privacy practices we do not control. When you visit a linked site or engage with third-party products or services through the Site, any information you provide is governed by that party's own privacy policy. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of third-party sites and encourage you to review their policies before submitting personal information.
16. Changes to This Policy
We may revise this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or in applicable law. Any updates will be posted on this page with a revised effective date. Your continued use of the Site or our services after changes are posted constitutes your acceptance of the updated policy. We encourage you to review this page periodically.
17. Contact — Privacy Officer
Questions, concerns, or requests relating to the handling of your personal information should be directed to our Privacy Officer:
- Name: Privacy Officer, Nigella Health
- Email: privacy@nigellahealth.ca
- Location: Mississauga, Ontario, Canada