Is Naturopathic Medicine Right for Me? – Dr. C.M. Gibson, Naturopathic Doctor

Naturopathic medicine is becoming more popular all the time – and with good reason. But is it right for you? There’s a good chance the answer is yes.

Why Do I Need a Naturopath?

People choose the care of a Naturopathic Doctor for many different reasons. They may be:

drawn to more natural solutions for common ailments
seeking a healthier start in life for their children
having unexplained health issues
experiencing persistent pain or fatigue
feeling overwhelmed by normal stresses
worried about declining health as they age
concerned about growing dependence on drugs
tired of temporary fixes

All of these are good reasons to seek out Naturopathic care. But sometimes, we tell ourselves that we don’t need to bother anyone else. Maybe you’ve had your concerns dismissed as “normal” before, and are afraid of being brushed off again. Maybe you think you should be able to handle your problem yourself. That you can’t afford professional help. Or maybe you’ve convinced yourself that nothing is wrong.

Trust Your Instincts

But when it comes to your health, you should trust your instincts. When something is out of balance, our bodies tell us. Sometimes, we know what is causing the imbalance, and can correct it ourselves. More often, we can see the problem, but not the solution. Or maybe we can’t figure out what’s wrong to begin with. At those times, it’s best to ask for help from someone you can trust. We can waste a lot of time & energy trying to fix ourselves through trial & error. Even worse is ignoring the problem, letting it grow into something bigger, more expensive, and more difficult to reverse.

Get Help from Someone who Cares

A Naturopathic Doctor will never brush off your concerns. We know that you are the expert when it comes to your own body. We’re trained to help you interpret the clues your body is sending you, to get to the root cause of your illness, and to identify what your body needs in order to get well. And then to guide you every step of the way toward that goal.

I may be biased here, but in my opinion, everyone needs Naturopathic Medicine.

What is Naturopathic Medicine?

Naturopathic medicine blends the old and the new. It uses the wisdom of past generations to help people navigate today’s health challenges.

Naturopathic medicine has its roots in the Nature Doctors of Europe in the 1800’s. The 1st Nature Doctors used water to encourage healing. Later Nature Doctors added light, air, diet, herbs, and homeopathy, as well as expanding the ways to use water.

Today, Naturopathic medicine has adopted 6 guiding principles:

1. Do No Harm

Naturopathic Doctors take this one seriously. We see the harm that is caused by using more force than necessary. So we use the gentlest interventions possible. We consider the side effects, not just the benefits, and choose therapies that are safe, as well as effective. One of the reasons we use natural methods is that they are almost always the safest.

2. The Healing Power of Nature

Does a Band-Aid heal a cut? Of course not. When your skin is cut, it grows new skin to cover it up. The Band-Aid just provides protection and support for this miraculous process.

Your body was designed to heal itself. It just needs the right conditions. We’re not here to heal you, but to support your natural healing ability. And we believe the best tools for this are found in nature.

3. Identify & Treat the Cause

What happens if you pick a dandelion, without digging out the root? It grows back. In the same way, if you cover up your symptoms, but don’t treat the root of your illness, it will show up again.

Naturopathic Doctors are expert diggers. We can help manage symptoms, but whenever possible, we try to get to the root of the problem. That’s why we ask a lot of questions – even some that may seem unrelated to your health concerns. Illness can start in all sorts of places: your food, physical activity, environment, relationships, and other areas of your life. If we can discover the causes of poor health, we can then begin to address them. But if we don’t get to the bottom of it, you’re not going to get better.

4. Treat the Whole Person

Naturopathic medicine does not begin and end with physical health. We recognize that there are many aspects to health. This is why we treat not just the physical, but also the mental, emotional, and even spiritual.

We also treat you as an individual. We treat people, not disease. You might have the same illness as someone else, but you are not the same. You experience illness in a unique way, and your treatment should also be unique. Your Naturopathic doctor will choose treatments that are individualized, based on your specific health history, your life circumstances, and your health goals.

5. Doctor as Teacher

As a former teacher, this is one of my favourites. I will never hand you a prescription that you don’t understand. I’ll never give you a diagnosis without an explanation. This is a partnership. As you tell me about yourself, I get to share my knowledge with you, so that you are better informed about your health, your options, and what to expect next.

6. Prevention

Many of us don’t think about our health until it begins to break down. But preventing illness is easier and less expensive than treating it after disease has developed. A Naturopathic Doctor can help you prevent illness later by optimizing your health now.

We know that neglecting our health is a recipe for trouble. Unhealthy living exhausts your body’s resources and leaves you vulnerable to both acute and chronic disease. On the other hand, a healthy lifestyle protects, nourishes, and strengthens your body’s resilience to the normal stresses of life. In addition to possibly preventing illness, you enjoy a multitude of benefits that come from achieving your best level of health: higher energy, increased mental clarity, emotional stability, and spiritual connection. With this foundation in place, you can begin to reach your full potential.

How can I benefit from Naturopathic medicine?

In my opinion, everyone can benefit from Naturopathic medicine. Here are some of the benefits it can offer you:

optimal health
improved immunity
increased energy
reduced stress
pain relief
weight management
improved fitness, strength, and endurance
faster recovery from illness
improved mental and emotional well-being

What does Naturopathic medicine treat?

Naturopathic medicine can be used to treat all kinds of health concerns, through all stages of life: acute & chronic conditions, physical & psychological concerns, minor injuries & disabling illnesses. Below are just some of the conditions that may benefit from Naturopathic treatment.