Naturopathic medicine is a different style of medicine.

I am not a medical doctor (MD), I am not trying or pretending to be a medical doctor. I have different training and a different degree, a naturopathic doctorate (ND) and a different toolkit. My training was a rigorous, accredited four-year graduate level program at the National University for Natural Medicine in Portland, OR. Here I learned all the same basic science, anatomy, physiology, biochemistry and diagnostics as a conventional medical doctor. Where things were different is that instead of learning about drugs and surgery, I learned about nutrition and herbs, and cranial sacral therapy, and the microbiome. The treatments and the overarching philosophy of care is different.

My treatment toolkit includes natural, non-prescription, items. Things like food, movement, breathing, mind/body work, herbs, vitamins, supplements, etc… I cannot prescribe medication. I cannot change or manage your medications. I can support your body while on medication and, in some cases, work with you (and your prescribing doctor) to get off prescriptions medications.

The principles of Naturopathic Medicine are:

• The Healing Power of Nature (Vis Medicatrix Naturae)

• Identify and Treat the Cause (Tolle Causam)

• First Do No Harm (Primum Non Nocere)

• Doctor As Teacher (Docere)

• Treat the Whole Person (Holism)

• Prevention (Principiis Obsta)

How is your approach to Health different?

The body is a complex interconnected whole, not isolated systems that we can slice up and view only from one perspective. I strive to gather a full, complete picture of your symptoms and health and history. By doing this, I can see patterns and focus treatments on underlying causes that can have benefits body wide. By aiming to address root causes of dis-ease, often the healing is more effective and sustainable. Instead of working to “fight” an illness or disease, usually, I am working to SUPPORT THE BODY so that it can heal itself. Part of the supporting the body is also the idea of "removing obstacles to cure.” If something is getting in the way of healing, or is chronically re-irritating the system it is an obstacle to cure, and should be addressed.

Naturopathic Medicine vs Functional Medicine

Naturopathic medicine and Functional medicine are like two overlapping circles. They have many things that are similar. I have advanced training with the Institute for Functional Medicine, in addition to my Naturopathic Doctorate. I think Functional medicine is a big improvement over your run of the mill 15 min visit with a PCP. Functional medicine comes more out of the MD medical establishment identifying and realizing the need for more thoughtful individualized care, and that things like food and stress and toxins can also impact your health. While each functional or naturopathic doctor will be different, in general, I see naturopathic doctors having more connection with nature, herbal medicine and mind/body/spiritual practices. Naturopathic medicine has a bit more “philosophy” behind it. Because many functional medicine doctors are MDs, it is common for functional MD fee structures to often be higher than NDs and their approaches, while still reasonably personalized, may also have a more programatic or package deal approach.

Learn more about naturopathic medicine here: American Association of Naturopathic Physicians