Empowering & Partnering for Sustainable Health

Why Naturopathic Medicine?

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This article was originally published in October 2010 in the Arizona Networking News.  I wrote this article during my senior year in naturopathic medical school. I am sharing this content with you on my website because it is still a relevant question today.

photo of woman on bridge by Jake Melara on Unsplash
Deciding which way to go

Tired of fighting disease?

Would you like to learn how to attain good health rather than how to fight disease? Or, how about having a supportive and empowering relationship with a doctor who is willing to spend more than 5 minutes with you?  If your answers are “yes,” you may be interested to know that this is not a dream, but in fact a reality.

Imagine being part of a health care system where you work with your doctor to find solutions tailored to your individual needs and a medical system that empowers you through education and treatment options – where the focus is on health rather than disease.  This is no longer a dream for the future of medicine; it is a reality of the 21st century and can be found in naturopathic medicine.

The theories and practices of naturopathic medicine are borne out of the beliefs that within our bodies lay innately powerful healing processes.  Furthermore, the role of the physician is to help bring the body back into balance, which then allows you, the patient, to begin to heal.

This brilliant approach to medicine combines the wisdom of nature with the rigors of modern science to create individualized treatment  plans that enable people to move from disease to wellness and stay there.

Naturopathic medicine is distinguished by the six principles that underlie and guide its practice.  First is “do no harm,” which serves as a powerful reminder that therapies should be as minimally invasive and as maximally effective as possible.  Second, “the healing power of Nature” reminds us that the role of the physician is not to invade but rather to assist the body in the process of healing through the use of natural, non-toxic therapies.

The third principle, “treat the cause,” recognizes the fact that recovery and healing can only be achieved by identifying and eliminating the underlying cause of disease. Fourth, “treat the whole person” acknowledges that humans are complex beings, and healing requires agreement from mind, body and spirit.

“Physician as teacher,” the fifth principle, reminds us that the physician’s major role is to educate, empower and motivate the patient to take responsibility for his/her own health, which achieves sustainable well-being. Finally, “prevention is the best cure” tells us that it’s far better to be proactive than to watch-and-wait.

You may not know this, but naturopathic physicians have a lot in common with conventional physicians, including their basic medical education. Naturopathic physicians are trained at four-year postgraduate naturopathic medical schools, which are accredited by the Council on Naturopathic Education and the Higher Learning Commission. These are regional accrediting bodies of the U.S. Department of Education, just like conventional medical schools.

Another commonality is the curricula. Conventional and naturopathic medical students learn all the same basic and clinical sciences. Outside of the classroom, both receive training under the supervision of physicians in a clinical setting for two years. At the end of training, both take national board exams.

Finally, both naturopathic and conventional physicians are licensed to practice medicine in Arizona. This means that, as licensed primary care physicians, naturopathic physicians can order labs, prescribe medications, perform physical exams and minor surgery, refer to specialists and diagnose and treat disease. In fact, naturopathic physicians have been licensed in Arizona since 1934 and have much in common with their conventional counterparts. So, what sets naturopathic physicians apart?

First, they receive additional training in clinical nutrition, botanical medicine, physical medicine, Traditional Chinese Medicine,environmental medicine, hydrotherapy, homeopathy, IV therapy and counseling. Second, their approach to treating disease is to restore health.

Naturopathic physicians blend the ancient wisdom of natural medicine with modern science to create a form of medicine that is effective and sustainable.

If you would like to receive individualized care for the recovery, promotion and optimization of function on all levels of health through the use of safe and natural methods, then naturopathic medicine is for you. If you value diet and nutrition, and would like a professional to guide you in choosing what is right for your body, then naturopathic medicine is for you. If you are searching for alternatives to prescription drugs or surgery, or are in need of supportive care, then naturopathic medicine is for you.

There is hope, there are options and wellness can be achieved.

Is it ok to be a “little” anemic??

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symptoms of anemia

First of all, what is anemia?

Technically it means a reduction in red blood cell count, a reduction in hemoglobin and a reduction in hematocrit. Any reduction in these values indicates that there is also a reduction of oxygen getting to your brain.

Anemia also suggests that you may have a deficiency of iron or vitamin B12 & folate. Iron is necessary for activating thyroid hormone and vitamin B12 & folate are essential to the function of your nervous system. So, is a little anemia ok? Is a little less oxygen to your brain ok? NO!! If you are tired, can’t lose weight and are having trouble focusing ask your doctor to check for anemia and iron deficiency. Even a “little” or “slight”anemia needs to be corrected. Fix that and see how your health improves!

got acne? don’t drink the milk

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Acne may be one of the most common forms of skin problems affecting both teens and adults.

It is a chronic, inflammatory condition affecting the sebaceous gland of the hair follicle that can be very distressing for acute and chronic sufferers alike.  Conventional medicine often focuses on topical treatments, but who says beauty only goes skin deep??   If you really want to clear up your acne, you’ve got to go deeper and get to the source — inflammation, which we now know is an inherent component of every aspect of acne formation.  Inflammation can arise from various sources including stress, hormone imbalances and poor diet – specifically milk & high-glycemic foods (i.e. sugar).

In 2008, a study published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology showed an association between dairy & high-glycemic food intake and the development of acne in teenage boys.  Individuals prone to

Acne

breakouts are known to secrete a greater quantity of lipid-rich fluid called sebum via the sebaceous glands in the skin.  Insulin & Insulin-like Growth Factor-1 (IGF-1) have direct effects on these glands causing increased sebum production.  IGF-1 also stimulates the production of androgen hormones, like dihydrotestosterone (DHT) which stimulates the production of sebum and the enlargement of sebaceous glands causing acne formation.

A 2009 study published in Experimental Dermatology found that milk consumption resulted in a significant increase in insulin and IGF-1 serum levels which was comparable to high-glycemic food intake.  Furthermore, researchers have suggested that the hormones in milk, which include IGF-1 and 5-a-pregnanedione, may survive milk processing.   5-a-pregnanedione is a precursor of DHT.  So, if you are suffering with acne consider eliminating dairy from your diet for a week or two and see if your skin improves.  Dairy includes anything made from cow’s milk including milk, cheese, ice cream, yogurt & cottage cheese.  Many baked and prepared foods contain milk so check your ingredient labels.

Luckily there are many alternatives to cow’s milk on the market.  Go to any grocery store, even Walmart, and you can find almond milk, coconut milk & yogurt, flax milk, hemp milk, and cheese made from almonds.  Vegan products are another alternative as long as they are made from non-GMO soy.  There are also numerous websites available with non-dairy recipes that are free for you to enjoy.

Does having a drink of water help you think?

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YES, it does!

Lemon Water PitcherResearchers in the School of Psychology at the University of East London performed cognitive tests on 23 children.  Forty minutes later, half of the children were given a bottle of water to drink as desired, and the other half were not.  The cognitive tests were repeated 45 minutes later.  The water group had significantly higher scores on visual attention and visual search compared to the no-water group and they had higher ratings on a scale that measured happiness.

These results suggests that staying hydrated enhances cognitive function and general well-being.  In fact, being dehydrated by just 2% impairs performance in tasks requiring attention and memory skills.

Children and the elderly are more vulnerable to dehydration, so if you notice your child is having trouble paying attention or your parent or grandparent is showing signs of memory loss, consider running to the kitchen for a large glass of water before running to the doctor for a prescription.

Reference:  Edmonds CJ et al.  Appetite. 2009; 53(3): 469-72