Alternative Health Care

DISCLAIMER: This information is general in nature and is not meant to substitute for the advice provided by your own physician or other medical professional

In my experience, I have found that the finer points of some health issues - like weak digestion, skin issues, allergies, chronic fatigue, heartburn, or yeast infections - are often overlooked or ignored by allopathic or Western medicine. I didn't just want to react to symptoms; I wanted to proactively address the root of the issue.

I have found that taking a integrative, holistic approach has been most successful, and have been lucky to find a great network of healthcare providers from a variety of healing modalities. I owe a huge part of my healing to my naturopath and acupuncturist, as well as my chiropractor, kinesiologists, and a mind-body centering practitioner. These healing modalities look beyond symptoms. They address the whole person. We are not just a body, we are a mind-body-spirit. An imbalance in any one of these areas causes a ripple effect in the other two. In order to stop the ripples, you must find what is making the wave.

CHOOSING AN ALTERNATIVE HEALTH CARE PROVIDER

I was told by one naturopath that at the end of the day, no matter how many doctors we see, we each need to be our own general practitioner. Listen to your body, and it will tell you what it needs. But once we learn to listen, we often need help learning to interpret what we hear.  This is when an alternative health care provider is most helpful. 

NATUROPATHIC MEDICINE

Naturopathy (also known as naturopathic medicine or natural medicine) is an eclectic alternative medical system that focuses on natural remedies and the body's vital ability to heal and maintain itself. Naturopathic philosophy favors a holistic approach and minimal use of surgery and drugs. Naturopathic ideology focuses on naturally-occuring and minimally-invasive methods, trusting to the "healing power of nature." Such treatments as "synthetic" drugs, radiation, and major surgery are avoided, and rejection of biomedicine in favor of an intuitive and vitalistic conception of the body and nature is common. Prevention through stress reduction and a healthy diet and lifestyle is emphasized.

In the United States and Canada, the designation of Naturopathic Doctor (ND) may be awarded after completion of a four year program of study at an accredited Naturopathic medical school that includes the study of basic medical sciences as well as natural remedies and medical care. [1]

Resources for Finding a Practitioner