|
What
is Naturopathic Medicine?
Naturopathic
medicine blends centuries-old natural, non-toxic therapies with current
advances in the study of health and human systems, covering all aspects
of
family health from prenatal to geriatric care.
Naturopathic
medicine
concentrates on whole-patient wellness; the medicine is tailored to the
patient
and emphasizes prevention and self-care. Naturopathic medicine attempts
to find
the underlying cause of the patient’s condition rather than focusing
solely on
symptomatic treatment. Naturopathic physicians cooperate with all other
branches of medical science referring patients to other practitioners
for
diagnosis or treatment when appropriate.
Naturopathic
medicine celebrates the healing power of nature.
Naturopathic
medicine is dedicated to the study and celebration of nature’s healing
powers.
It is as old as healing itself and as new as today’s medical
breakthroughs. It
is a dynamic philosophy as well as a profession that recognizes the
interconnection and interdependence of all living things. It utilizes
the most
natural, least invasive and least toxic therapies to treat illness and
to
promote wellness by viewing the body as an integrated whole.
Naturopathic
medicine is defined by principles rather than by methods or modalities.
Above
all, it honors the body’s innate wisdom to heal.
Naturopathic
Principles
Naturopathic
physicians practice the six fundamental principles of naturopathic
medicine:
The
Healing Power of Nature
Trust in the body’s inherent wisdom to heal itself.
Identify
and Treat the Causes
Look beyond the symptoms to the underlying cause.
First
Do No Harm
Utilize
the most natural, least invasive and least toxic therapies.
Doctor
as Teacher
Educate
patients in the steps to achieving and maintaining health.
Treat
the Whole Person
View the body as an integrated whole in all its physical and spiritual
dimensions.
Prevention
Focus on overall health, wellness and disease prevention.
Naturopathic
Physicians Are Trained As Primary Care Providers
Doctors of
naturopathic
medicine (NDs) are trained as primary care providers and, as such,
their scope
of practice may include...
Nutrition
Botanical medicine
Physical medicine
Homeopathy
Physical and clinical diagnosis
Laboratory diagnosis and diagnostic imaging
Emergency medicine
Psychology
Pharmacology
Minor surgery
Hydrotherapy
Natural Childbirth
Acupuncture and Oriental medicine
Naturopathic
physicians learn to treat all aspects of family health and wellness,
from
pediatrics to geriatrics. They tailor their therapies to meet the
individual
needs of each patient, factoring in physical, social, emotional and
spiritual
aspects before prescribing a course of treatment. Because they view
natural
remedies as complementary as well as primary, naturopathic physicians
cooperate
with other medical professionals, referring patients to allopathic
medical
doctors, surgeons and other specialists whenever appropriate.
Dr.
Wilson is
board certified by the North
American Board of Naturopathic Examiners and is a licensed naturopathic
physician in the state of Arizona. Though
naturopathic
physicians are duly licensed as primary care physicians in many states,
the
state of Texas does not provide a means for licensing of naturopathic
physicians. As such, Dr. Wilson does not diagnose or treat medical
conditions
in the state of Texas. Dr. Wilson provides complementary and
alternative
treatment options and counseling for wellness and healthy living.
Naturopathic
Physicians Are Rigorously Trained
Licensed
naturopathic physicians have attended a four-year undergraduate program plus a four-year professional-level
programs at
accredited institutions, where they have been educated in the same
basic
sciences as allopathic physicians. These programs actually require more
hours
of basic and clinical science than many top allopathic medical schools.
During
their first two years of study, the
curriculum focuses on basic and clinical sciences, covering...
Biochemistry
Human Physiology
Histology
Anatomy
Macro- and Microbiology
Immunology
Human Pathology
Toxicology
Neuroscience
Pharmacology
Minor Surgery
For at least
the final two years of their
medical
program, students intern in clinical settings under the close
supervision of
licensed professionals, such as NDs, MDs, and DOs.
Students of
naturopathic medicine use the Western medical sciences as a foundation
on which
to build a thorough knowledge of holistic, non-toxic therapies and
develop
skills in diagnosis, disease prevention and wellness optimization.
While earning
their degree, doctors of naturopathic medicine learn virtually all the
modalities of proven natural therapies...
Clinical
Nutrition
Botanical Medicine
Homeopathy
Acupuncture, Acupressure, and Oriental Medicine
Mental-Emotional and Lifestyle Counseling
Massage
Physical Medicine and Manipulation
Ayurvedic
Medicine
Natural
Childbirth
Hydrotherapy
Graduates from
naturopathic medical schools must pass the comprehensive naturopathic
physicians licensing examinations (NPLEX) to be licensed as primary
care
physicians. Candidates for full licensure must also satisfy all
licensing
requirements for the individual state or province in which they plan to
practice.
Today’s
naturopathic physicians artfully blend modern, cutting-edge diagnostic
and
therapeutic procedures with ancient and traditional methods. They offer
the
world a healing paradigm founded on a rational balance of tradition,
science
and respect for nature.
*Source: aanmc.org
Naturopathic
Medicine Offers Healthy Options for a Changing World
In America, 38
percent of adults and 12 percent of children use complimentary and
alternative
medicine (CAM) regularly. Conditions commonly treated include back
pain, neck
pain, joint pain, arthritis, head and chest colds and, among
children, Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADD/ADHD).
Source::
National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, December
2008
Naturopathic
Care for Adults
Naturopathy and
Cancer Treatment
- Daily
stress-reducing techniques (yoga-based stretching, breathing
techniques, meditation and guided imagery), walking and psychosocial
support "turn off" many disease-promoting genes in men with early stage
prostate cancer. At the same time, protective, disease-preventing genes
were "turned on" by these same practices.
Source:
Newsweek,
June 2008.
- Gardening and
eating salads reduce lung cancer risk in current and former smokers by
up to 71 percent.
Source:
Holistic Option,
July 2008.
- Yoga decreases
fatigue and sleep disturbances while increasing vigor in women with
early stage breast cancer.
Source:
News & Observer,
November 2008.
- Seven out of 10
adult cancer patients in Western Washington are using alternative
therapies – especially those patients who are female and
college-educated, and most commonly the use of dietary supplements.
Source:
Seattle
Post-Intelligencer, September 2002.
- At least
one-third of cancer patients turn to an alternative or complementary
therapy, most commonly in combination with allopathic treatment.
Source:
National
Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, NIH, June
2001
Naturopathic
Medicine and Women’s Health
Naturopathic
Coverage by HMOs
- Two-thirds of
HMOs (67 percent) offer at least one form of alternative care. Most
HMOs (85 percent) think the relationship between traditional and
alternative medical care will grow closer in the future.
Source:
National Market Measures survey for Landmark Healthcare, Inc., 1999
Naturopathic
Medicine in Hospitals
- America's top
18 hospitals, including Children's Memorial Hospital in
Chicago, the Mayo Clinic, Duke University Medical Center and the
University of California-San Francisco, are embracing complementary and
alternative medicine, offering acupuncture, massage and other CAM
services.
Source:
US News & World Report,
January 2008
- From 1998 to
2000, the number of hospitals offering alternative therapies nearly
doubled to 15.5 percent of all hospitals.
Source:
American Hospital Association
survey, New York Times, April 2002
Naturopathic
Integrative Clinics
- Over 100
hospital-sponsored integrative clinics have sprung up across the
nation, and the number is growing.
Source:
Integrative Medicine Consult, October 2001
Naturopathic
Supplements
- More than
two-thirds of Canadians agree that natural herbal supplements can be as
effective as prescriptions or over-the-counter remedies in the
maintenance, prevention and treatment of health problems.
Source:
Traditional Medicinals Gallup Canada Survey, October 1999
*Source: aanmc.org
Q&A
What's the
difference between naturopathy and homeopathy?
Homeopathy is a system of preparing and selecting medicines
based on
the work of a German physician named Samuel Hahnemann (1755-1843).
Medicines
are selected which in large doses will provoke symptoms similar the
disease but
instead are prepared in minute quantities. Naturopathy is a licensed
medical
profession which for philosophical reasons uses various "natural
therapies" one of which may be homeopathy. Homeopathy fits the
philosophical tenets of Naturopathy. The medicines work by stimulating
the what homeopaths
call the vital force, or in
naturopathic terms the vis medicatrix naturae, the
healing power of
nature. Homeopathic remedies because they are so dilute are a
relatively safe
method of treatment, again fitting the naturopathic tenet of, Primo
non
nocere, or do no harm. At
SCNM, Dr.
Wilson was trained in classical homeopathy.
Are you covered
by my health insurance?
Not likely in the state of Texas.
It is
possible to have alternative healthcare policy rider on your insurance
policy.
Otherwise our patients determine whether their policies cover us and
bill the
companies themselves. The insurance market is changing rapidly so it is
difficult to keep track of which companies are covering our services.
We have
found the best coverage to be from policies written in states which
license
naturopathic doctors. So
check with your
insurance company.
Do you muscle
test?
Rarely. Dr. Wilson completed training programs in Applied and Clinical
Kinesiology and other techniques early during her naturopathic training
and yet
rarely uses the techniques in practice. Lacking
solid scientific evidence that the technique is reliable and always
subject to
practitioner interpretation and biases, it makes sense to use more
scientific
classical time tested techniques: history, exam, and standard lab tests
first
prior to using these techniques.
On the other
hand,
if a question of recommendation comes down to a coin-toss, muscle
testing is at
least as, if not more reliable a method.
Do you
treat (name your disease)?
Not exactly. We
provide naturopathic
wellness plans for people. Everyone has their own individual response
to their
environment and their disease. Let's say we had 10 women come to the
office
concerned about their menopausal symptoms. Each would leave with a
different
naturopathic plan. Dr. Wilson applies the consistent principles of
naturopathy
to each person, and bases her recommendations upon these for every
individual
case. This also
applies to the question,
How do you treat (name your
disease)? There
is no one solution
for everyone.
What should I
expect on my first visit with Dr. Wilson?
Please complete
the New Patient forms and fax, email, or mail them at
least 24 hours prior to your office visit.
You should also send recent laboratory studies or
diagnostic reports
that pertain to your current condition.
The
first office visit with Dr. Wilson consists of a comprehensive medical
history intake
and initial recommendations. This
visit
generally lasts 60-90 minutes.
How much do you
charge?
Although we do not file insurance, most patients find that our fees are
comparable
to their insurance co-pays and co-insurance for a specialist. The initial office visit
for new patients is
$195, and scheduled for one hour.
Follow
up office visits are $50-$100 and are scheduled for 15-60 minutes. For patients working with
Dr. Wilson on
weight loss only, weekly weigh-in visits are $25. Phone appointments are $150 for an
hour. Payment is
due at the time
services are rendered. Cash,
check, and credit
cards are accepted.
|
