The role of a naturopathic doctor is to diagnose, treat, and prevent acute and chronic illness. They use a range of therapies, which aim to restore and establish optimal health and promote self-healing. You can learn more about the benefits of naturopathy here.
Naturopathy focuses on treating each person as a whole, meaning their mind, body, and spirit. It also aims to heal the root causes of an illness rather than just suppressing symptoms.
Naturopathic doctors treat a broad range of ailments from allergies, hormonal imbalances, and digestive issues to chronic pain, obesity, and heart disease. They work with patients to identify the underlying causes of illness and disease and to develop personalized treatment plans to address them.
Principles of Naturopathic Medicine
Naturopathic doctors focus on six main principles:
- The healing power of nature– working with patients to identify and remove obstacles to healing and recovery, and to facilitate and enhance the self-healing process.
- Find the root cause – To identify and treat the underlying causes of illness, rather than trying to mask or suppress symptoms.
- First, do no harm– a set of guidelines to avoid harming the patient by utilizing methods and medicinal substances that minimize the risk of harmful side effects, using the least force necessary to diagnose and treat, avoiding suppressing symptoms wherever possible, and acknowledging, respecting, and working with individuals’ process of self-healing.
- Treat the whole person – using a holistic approach that takes into account individual physical, emotional, genetic, social, environmental, and other factors.
- Doctor as teacher– to educate patients and encourage self-responsibility for health and to recognize and employ the therapeutic potential of the doctor-patient relationship.
- Prevention– An emphasis on disease prevention by assessing risk factors and creating appropriate interventions in partnership with the patient.
What Can I Expect with Naturopathic Care?
Naturopathic doctors aim to remove obstacles that can disturb health and lead to disease. They may address areas such as poor diet, digestive disturbances, stress, and individual disharmony. They then work with patients to construct a healthy regimen to change and improve areas and help alleviate symptoms and prevent ill health. Systems that have become weakened and in need of repair are addressed using a range of therapies personalized to suit the needs of the patient.
At your first consultation with a naturopathic doctor, they will take the time to get to know you by carefully evaluating your health history and considering different aspects of your life, such as your diet history, lifestyle habits, exercise history, as well as social/emotional factors, in order to fully assess your needs. They may ask questions about your health, family health history, stress levels, and lifestyle choices. They may also carry out a physical examination and, if required, order lab or imaging tests. This in-depth evaluation can open doors to new treatment pathways and options.
What Therapies and Treatments are Used by Naturopathic Doctors?
In order to stimulate and strengthen your body’s self-healing mechanisms, naturopathic doctors embrace a range of different therapies. They practice integrative medicine, combining naturopathic treatments with aspects of conventional medicine. Their practice can include the following diagnostic and therapeutic modalities:
- Diagnostic tools, such as evaluating health/disease/medication histories, physical exams, laboratory testing, and medical imaging
- Nutritional medicine
- Regenerative medicine, such as platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy and prolozone therapy
- Exercise and lifestyle interventions
- Botanical medicine
- Pain-relieving therapies, such as microcurrent neurofeedback (MCN)
- Homeopathy
- Acupuncture
- Constitutional hydrotherapy
- Orthomolecular medicine (which optimizes levels of nutrients, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that occur naturally in the body, to ensure the body is getting the proper amount)
- Hygiene
- Counseling
- Minor surgery
- Prescription medication
- Intravenous and injection therapies
- Naturopathic obstetrics (natural childbirth)
- Public health measures
Physical modalities such as massage therapy, spinal manipulation, and craniosacral therapy are also used to help improve and maintain the integrity of the skeletal and muscular systems.
Although the primary objective of a naturopathic doctor is to restore health, they are also able to utilize safe, effective, natural remedies and pharmacologic substances if a specific illness or disease needs to be addressed -with the aim of not placing additional strain on the body.
A naturopathic doctor may liaise with other types of doctors or specialists when necessary to ensure patients receive the best level of care. If a patient requires an invasive modality, such as surgery or chemotherapy, a naturopathic doctor can provide complementary or supportive therapies to help reduce side effects and increase the effectiveness of those treatments.
Why Choose a Naturopathic Doctor?
There are many reasons for considering a naturopathic doctor, including:
- Want to see a doctor who provides holistic care, and focuses on treating all of you, not just your illness?
- Receiving a personalized treatment plan tailored to your unique health requirements, goals, and lifestyle.
- Treating the underlying cause of an illness, not just its symptoms.
- Wanting to be actively involved in managing your own health?
- Having chronic pain and seeking a more natural, long-term solution to pain management.
- Having exhausted conventional medical options for diagnosing and treating a health condition.
Licensed naturopathic doctors treat all medical conditions and can provide both individual and family healthcare. They can work as primary care providers and as part of an integrated healthcare team to ensure you get the care you need.
Naturopathic doctors focus on holistic, proactive prevention, and comprehensive diagnosis and treatment. They utilize protocols that minimize the risk of harm and help facilitate the body’s ability to restore and maintain optimal health.
Naturopathic Doctor Near Me in Mankato, MN
If you are interested in finding out more about how naturopathy could help you, visit Between the Bridges Healing Center in Mankato. Our board-certified healthcare providers offer comprehensive integrative, holistic healthcare to help you optimize your health.
We provide a range of treatments and therapies for acute and chronic medical conditions. To learn more, call us at (507) 388-7488. Alternatively, you can use the online appointment request form to request a consultation.
