How Naturopathic Doctors can Help you Live a Better Life

It is the year 2017 yet there remain many people who scratch their head or shrug when hearing the term ‘Naturopathic medicine’.  What if I told you that modern concepts and principles of Naturopathic Medicine actually date back to over 2000 years ago?  My goal here is to help the general population better understand the ways in which Naturopathic Medicine can help people like you, live a better life.

Naturopathic Medicine takes on a holistic approach to patient care in an attempt to determine the cause of your concern(s); there is more to assess than just the aches and pains, heartburn, bloating, or fatigue you may be experiencing right now.  Don’t get me wrong, physical health is important; but it is equally important to consider the mental, emotional, and spiritual aspects of health as well.  This holistic approach likely varies from the one used by your general practitioner or family doctor.   You can expect a Naturopathic Doctor to spend anywhere from an hour to an hour and a half with you to assess overall health and identify any obstacles to cure.  In brief, it’s time to share your life story and disclose relevant case information. Don’t worry though; your Naturopathic Doctor will prompt you with relevant questions.

Naturopathic Medicine has many tools at its disposal to help patients.  This means that, for instance, if one person is not very responsive to acupuncture treatments then there are other modalities that may be used in conjunction with, or instead of the acupuncture.  Modalities that Naturopathic Doctors use in practice include: diet and lifestyle, acupuncture, nutrition, botanical medicine, hydrotherapy, and homeopathy. 

Naturopathic Doctors order and interpret blood work, just like your general practitioner does!  Naturopathic Medicine is a form of preventative medicine, and as such, Naturopathic Doctors interpret laboratory values differently.  Reference ranges can be quite broad to begin with; Naturopathic Doctors detect deficiencies or excesses in blood work early enough to help you restore your health to an optimal state before conditions deteriorate.

So if you’re looking for a well-rounded approach to healthcare, take the time to invest in your health! Book an appointment with a Naturopathic Doctor today.