What to Expect from Working With a Naturopath
Summary: Natural Medicine Addresses Causes, Not Just Symptoms
The body is an interconnected system, that is why the 12 steps of Natural Medicine include:
1. Assessment and Planning
2. Testing (as needed)
3. Diet and Environment
4. Hormonal Health
5. Health Psychology and Traumas (bliss and supramental)
6. Deficiencies
7. Internal Organ Optimization Management
8. Toxins (testing and relevant binders)
9. Going Over Test Results and Relevant Recommendations
10. Infections and Harmful Microorganisms
11. Genetic and Epigenetic Sensitivities
12. Anchoring
Introduction
Allopathic medicine relies on pharmacological solutions that disrupt a mechanism of symptomatic expression.
A good doctor will always make lifestyle recommendations too but they are usually simple such as “avoid refined sugar, lose weight, and exercise.” If you take the latter seriously and expand on it with a deepened sense of awareness, you will significantly improve your chances to create better health outcomes for yourself. This is where naturopathy and lifestyle medicine come in. They will prompt you to take a precise look at your mindset, stressors, deficiencies, toxins, and dormant infections — factors that are always interconnected and impactful to your well-being.
The Natural Solution’s Order of Operations
Acute care is addressed by allopathic practitioners. Chronic care must be at least accompanied by natural medicine that is administered via a strict order of operations. Natural medicine addresses causes, not symptoms. That is absolutely essential to successful healing of the five bodies — the physical, the emotional, the mindful, the subconscious, and the spiritual. This is your scope. Your depth flows down vertically to address your interconnected systems… these which impact your digestive and immune responses, endocrinology, neurocrinology, internal organs, and renal function.
One Chronic Disease — Inflammation
Pathogens and irritants provoke an immune system modulated physiological response. The body uses water to flood or restrict movement or provide irrigation. It’s basically deploying firemen to put out the fire or dilute the toxin, so that the defense armies of the body can neutralize it effectively. That water is not simply H2O. It is buffered with minerals such as calcium, magnesium, iron, chromium, zinc, etc. The systemic use of these minerals creates deficiencies. The deficiencies cause malaise, fatigue and disease. This is oversimplified of course, but it offers a conceptual visualization. At the end of the day, all chronic afflictions are caused or aided by one thing — chronic inflammation, as the body is too bogged down and not capable of overcoming its challenges. How do you measure inflammation?
In most cases, you have symptoms. In other cases, homocystine, CRP or ANA tests may be needed.
The Gut Connection
It is true that all diseases start in the gut. If your absorption is off, a cascade of vitamin and mineral deficiencies will ensue. The expression of these deficiencies manifests as a chronic condition. Every chronic condition has a corresponding deficiency. That is why, naturopaths address deficiencies first. Gut healing is an arduous process which includes:
- clean plant-based nutrition,
- sensitivity elimination,
- prebiotics,
- probiotics,
- enzymes,
- demulcents,
- and mucilages.
The Liver Connection
The liver is the toxin buster. It’s imperative that it functions optimally. Sluggish liver function leads to:
- skin rashes,
- hormonal imbalance,
- digestive issues,
- brain fog,
- allergies,
- blood sugar dysregulation,
- depression,
- high cholesterol,
- low energy / fatigue,
- headaches,
- joint and muscle pain, and more.
In the absence of an infection, we address it together with the gallbladder and the pancreas. Bitters, milk thistle, tarts, and a plant-based diet rule this realm.
The Kidney Connection
The kidneys play a special role in elimination and well as heart and hormonal health. Heavy metal toxins accumulate in the kidneys. The kidneys must be cleansed before you attempt a detox. In the absence of an infection, diet, solidago, DE, sodium bicarbonate, and niacin may have a positive impact. You must always consult a physician if you suspect an infection. Do not rely on naturopathy alone.
Heavy Metals, Organic Toxins, and Radiation
We come into contact with over 100,000 toxins every single day. Many of them are known health disruptors. This is a vast topic; the science of eating clean, using clean water, products and surroundings is multidimensional and can be overwhelming. Wi-Fi radiation is a known threat to human health. The symptoms of heavy metal overload are the same as those of Lyme:
- fatigue (although you do not appear lethargic)
- numb feed, face or hands
- tingles / pins and needles
- anxiety
- tremors
- joint or muscle pain
- digestive problems
- headaches
- chronic inflammation and more
Genes and Viral Exposure
In the presence of toxins and deficiencies, discomfort will often express via your weakest link, which may be potentiated by your genetic predispositions, over-saturation (too much of something could as bad or worse than too little) and previous infections. The medical literature is clear on the links, although the effective mechanisms are poorly understood. For example, there are well established links between EBV and Hashimoto’s, roseola and fibromyalgia, and chicken pox and rheumatoid arthritis. A body weakened by irritants, toxins, deficiencies or a bacterial infection (like Lyme Disease) may be affected by an autoimmune condition linked to a previous infection.
A person with an MTHFR genetic mutation, for example, may suffer with allergies, fatigue, neurological symptoms such as encephalopathy, psycho-motor delay, gait disorder, epilepsy, and thrombotic events. These mutations can be genetic or epigenetic. In addition to addressing deficiencies caused by them, modalities that induce parasympathetic response go a long way there.
Harmful Microorganisms
Some naturopaths refer to these as parasites. They are technically not wrong because a parasite is an organism that benefits from a host, while the host suffers. The FDA wants a clear separation because the public imagines things like worms and flukes. (These may be problematic too.)
We all host 380 trillion viruses and just as many bacteria — their harmful takeover takes hold when our immune system is unable to keep the attacks at bay. Symptoms of harmful microorganisms also include:
- fatigue (although you do not appear lethargic)
- numb feed, face or hands
- tingles / pins and needles
- anxiety
- tremors
- joint or muscle pain
- digestive problems
- headaches
- chronic inflammation and more
Understanding what is going on is key.
Hormonal Balance
All tenets of naturopathy lead to hormonal balance. That is a solid component of dysbiosis, poor assimilation, encumbered internal organs, insomnia, toxic overload, and deficiencies. You cannot treat one without the other.
Both endo and neurocrinology have much to do with the performance your glands. Everything impacts your hormonal health and all else cascades from there. It’s a vicious cycle that must be disrupted through lifestyle, nutrition, hormone signaling herbs and active relaxation.
The Takeaway
The body in an interconnected system and chronic afflictions have an effect that is vast and deep. Addressing symptoms provides a temporary relief. Your key to sustainable health lies in balanced nutrition, homeostasis, a smoothly functioning detox processes and maintenance. It’s a lifestyle, not a diet. That is why, working with a naturopath is a process, not a single appointment. The good news is that once good habits are formed, the process itself becomes easy and pleasurable. Here is what you need to know:
- You don’t have pay an arm and a leg for coaching — a full course of 12 appointments (over the course of a year) should be under $2,000. Your FSA/HSA should cover these costs.
- Make sure you are working with a truly educated person — everyone wants to be a coach these days, only a few qualify.
- Your tests should not impoverish you — know upfront what the entire course will cost you. Some of these tests may be covered by insurance.
Naturopathy is a habit and a lifetime commitment. Getting an herb for this or that will not do in the long run. If you are looking for a quick fix, contact an MD and be ready to live with your chronic conditions for life. Without getting to the root course of your malaise, there is no cure, only maintenance, although sometimes one chronic disease morphs into another.
Naturopathy (Health Psychology, Plant-Based Nutrition, Balance, Energy and Lifestyle Medicine) is the only discipline that offers drug-free, lasting results.
To your health!
Next: Functional Medicine and Integrative Care
Legal Disclaimer:
The statements on these pages are not evaluated by the FDA and are for informational purposes only. Nothing on this page intends to treat, diagnose or prevent disease. Dr. Sodt is a nationally registered health educator with a doctorate in Natural Medicine; she is not an MD. Consult your physician before taking supplements or changing your diet.
