Naturopathic Medicine: The Medicine of the Future

Here in the United States, our medical system is changing. Since the 1960s the focus of healthcare has been progressively shifting from curing diseases to disease prevention. One reason for this is the recent push toward healthier lifestyles, such as eating less fast food, stopping tobacco use and getting regular exercise. In addition, prevention of disease is critical to lowering healthcare costs, as people will spend less time in the hospital and will spend less money on never ending treatments and medications. For example, despite the fact that purchasing a treadmill or a gym membership is not always cheap, and healthy food always seems to be more expensive than processed food, these costs are nothing compared to what it might cost you if you develop Heart Disease or Diabetes later in life. Not only would the financial burden of treatment be difficult, but you could end up paying with time as well.

For years practices like Chiropractic, Acupuncture, Naturopathy and other preventative medicines were labeled as non-credible or fake. This was in large part thanks to John D. Rockefeller's consolidation and monopolization of medical schools and medical practice in the early 20th century. (Further explained in this interesting podcast by James Corbett).

John D. Rockefeller, Sr., seen here in 1930, died at the ripe old age of 97.

Proof that having an abundance of leafy greens in your daily life does wonders for your health.

However, I won't throw all the blame in one place, there have also been countless instances where people claiming to be well versed in trades like Traditional Chinese Medicine and herbal medicines in fact had no idea what they were talking about and made many of the professionals in these fields look bogus. Luckily, today holistic, or non-evasive, practices are once again on the rise as viable options for healthcare seekers. One such practice that many people have never heard of, or have misunderstood, is Naturopathic Medicine.

What is Naturopathy?

Bastyr University, one of the leading natural medicine universities in the United States, describes Naturopathic medicine, sometimes call Naturopathy, as, "a distinct system of primary health care that emphasizes prevention and the self-healing process through the use of natural therapies." Naturopathy is holistic and is based on a combination of traditional herbal home remedies that were passed on through the generations, as well as current research on a wide variety of medicinal sciences and practices, including conventional medicine, homeopathy, clinical nutrition, psychology and more. A Naturopathic Doctor (ND) is trained in primary care and receives education in the same fundamental sciences as a Medical Doctor (MD). In order to become a licensed doctor in a jurisdiction, just like MDs, NDs must pass difficult board exams and complete a lengthy internship in a licensed clinical setting.

According to Dr. Robert Coleman, Goodyear Health Center's Nationally Board Certified Licensed Naturopathic Physician, Naturopathic Medicine is the healthcare of the past and the healthcare of the future. At the core of his Naturopathic beliefs lay the ideals NDs follow: do no harm, stimulate nature's healing powers, address the causes of disease, work to heal the whole person and to teach the fundamentals of a healthy lifestyle. Utilizing this framework, Dr. Coleman specializes in Detoxification, Vitamin & Nutrient therapy, Physical Medicine, Therapeutic Bodywork, Homeopathy & Herbal Supplements and Energy Balancing & Mind-Body Medicine.

Now, I know what this sounds like. It sounds like an episode of Portlandia where all the flower children are trying to sell you their home grown herbs, and convince you that you should take up yoga, change your wardrobe to tie-dye and replace your music collection with The Rolling Sones discography. However, Naturopathic Medicine is based on years of treatment trials, observation and scientific research. But is Naturopathy right for you? Well, for one thing, Naturopathy is a good idea for someone who has seen a Medical Doctor to no avail. For example, if a patient came to Dr. Coleman complaining of acid reflux, rather than hand him a bottle of Tums and a prescription for an acid reducer, he would advise adding an acid found in food to the patient's diet instead (combining homeopathy and nutrition). So basically, Naturopathic Medicine is more than just a prescription to make symptoms better, it is a lifestyle change to make symptoms disappear, whether you suffer from headaches, stomach problems, anxiety, physical pain, insomnia, or more serious issues. It is best for people looking to find long-term solutions to their problems with a minimum amount of medication and a commitment to making the necessary changes. A Naturopathic Doctor will listen to you, will never judge you, and will set you on the right course for treatment based on your lifestyle.

Thomas Edison was not only a fantastic inventor and businessman,

he could also see into the future...

Finally, despite the fact that Naturopathy has come a long way since the reign of Mr. Rockefeller, NDs are still not recognized as licensed doctors in a number of states, including Wisconsin. However, progress is being made, and hopefully the state's legislation will change in 2014.

For more information on Naturopathy visit here: www.naturopathic.org, or contact us here at Goodyear Health Center and we can set up an appointment for you to talk to Dr. Coleman in person.