Natural Medicine Services Provided: Individual Healthcare Consultations: A first consultation includes 60 minutes of comprehensive history taking. This allows me to get to know the various aspects of someone's life that contributes to their health - from details about their condition to what they eat to who is involved in their support network. Considering all these aspects helps me better understand who the person is physically, mentally,emotionally and spiritually to develop the best treatment plan. Follow-up visits typically are 30-60 minutes. |
Nature Source Care
Q: What is a Naturopathic Physician? A naturopathic physician specializes in the use of natural methods to treat patients. Q: How is naturopathic medicine different from allopathic (conventional) medicine? We have a different philosophy, tools and thought process and so are able to provide a unique, comprehensive approach. Q: What are the 6 principles of naturopathic medicine philosophy that guide my practice? 1) Nature has the power to heal 2) Do no harm 3) Treat the whole person 4) Treat the underlying cause 5) The best cure is prevention 6) The doctor is primarily a teacher Q: How does someone become a licensed naturopathic physician? Completion of a 4 year medical program after an undergraduate program, pass two national board exams and apply for licensure with the state. The second two years of medical school involve over 1327 hours of clinical training under supervising doctors. There are currently 5 naturopathic medical schools in the US and 2 in Canada. Someone can become a licensed naturopathic physician in 16 states, Washington DC, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Q: How is naturopathic medical education different than conventional training? Our first two years are actually very similar. We also take basic science classes such as anatomy, physiology and biochemistry and clinical classes such as pharmacology and minor surgery. The second two years we also take classes such as cardiology and gynecology but from a natural medicine perspective. In addition, we learn how to use different natural therapies, such as: massage, palpation, naturopathic manipulation, oriental medicine/acupuncture, homeopathy, environmental medicine, therapeutic nutrition, therapeutic exercise, counseling, botanical medicine and hydrotherapy. Q: How does the naturopathic medical profession as a whole stand currently? It shows strong signs of growth. The US public spent $36 billion out-of-pocket healthcare dollars (10% of total) on complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in 2007. Visits to CAM practitioners have been measured to be more than 425 million visits per year. 15 million adults have taken prescription medications with herbs or high-dose vitamins. Naturopathic physicians are uniquely trained to guide patients in using natural therapies to eliminate risk of adverse events while increasing therapeutic effectiveness. Naturopathic medicine can often be integrated with conventional medicine to create better outcomes for patients. |
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photo: FM Gulmen, "wild strawberry"