Naturopathic Medicine Doesn't Work

People tell me every day, I tried Naturopathic medicine and it didn’t work for me. Then they proceed to tell me how a healthfood store clerk made a recommendation... or they tried a protocol they saw on the Internet.... or they followed a suggestion a friend made.... and because it didn't work, 'Naturopathic Medicine' didn't work for them.

Naturopathic Medicine IS natural medicine, but not all natural medicine is Naturopathic. Naturopathic Philosophy and training sets apart a group of healing professionals trained to deliver a system of healthcare that often works where other systems fail. Because of the success of this system, many people imitate it or claim it.

There are many options for natural care and many types of practitioners. This is essential and necessary because of the diversity found in human kind and the wide range of potential ailments. But be clear about the difference between professional Medical Care by a physician and medical advice by a lay person or someone with a limited education. Education is not the only criteria that determines skill level; but generally by the time people have started to seek out medical advice they realize that their condition needs more expertise.

Internet and it's role in Modern Healthcare

When I started my practice, we did not have access to the Internet. People used physicians as a source of essential knowledge for healthcare. One of the great advantages of the Internet is that it has raised our medical IQ. Not just for patients, but for physicians as well.

This has affected the role of the physician in several way. First of all it has allowed for a more equal playing field where patients have easy access to information and the ability to talk intelligently about a diagnosis or treatment option. It has highlighted the possibility of medical errors and misconceptions, and allowed patients to participate more fully in the process of creating a safer, better experience. And it has allowed people with obscure conditions to connect, find support, share ideas. These are excellent applications of the Internet that improve the quality of health and the experience for patients.

The Internet has forced many physicians to change and has clearly decreased our dependence on the 'Dr is always right' mentality. In my own practice where education has always been my focus, the Internet has benefited me and supported the concept of access to information being essential to improving health.

Now the focus of my practice has switched from, 'where can I get more information' to 'I saw this on the Internet, is it true?' The information overload, conflicting advice and information, data provided without context, and potentially false information crafted to look credible are all hazards of this new tool in healthcare.

The Internet, like almost everything else in life, has the capacity for health or harm. But which side of the fence you come down on has everything to do with your own personal choices. Essentially everything relating to health on the Internet is true for someone. The question is: is it true for you? Here are some things to consider. Figure out the purpose of your Internet use, to self treat or to gather more knowledge, and use that to modify how seriously you take what you read. If you are in a fact-seeking mode, simply review a wide range of opinions and make a decision about what you think. Make a list of questions to run by your physician next visit.

Using the Internet to self diagnose and treat is a bit more risky. On the Internet you often bypass the cautions and risks that are a part of the practitioners knowledge. Because of this people often call in crisis after trying something that went wrong. Lots of the medical advice and ideas printed are frankly dangerous. On the other hand, saving money and time and hassle by figuring something out on your own can be pretty empowering and assist you on your journey to becoming more self reliant in healthcare.

Match the seriousness of your condition with the risk of the treatment. Almost anyone can try a remedy for an occasional headache. But no one should be tackling the complex interplay of hormones by slathering on some natural cream they bought online. Endocrinology is much more complex than that and the effect of upsetting hormone balance is significant. Think cancer risk.

Consider how Internet access has changed your views on healthcare and affected the healthcare you access. Identify things that have benefited you and look for ways to expand those habits. Recognize how Internet Information has adversely affected your health and set some guidelines to protect yourself. Used correctly and with a little bit of caution, this tool can be a significant benefit.

Last Resort Doctor

I am sure that being the 'last resort' could be viewed much like the last pick when choosing teams for softball.... And may not be very flattering. But that's not how I choose to look at it. After several years in private practice I started to notice my 'best' patients were the ones who came in after they'd already seen everyone else.... And not really gotten the help they needed.

It's frustrating to be told there's nothing you can do....or worse....that there is nothing wrong when you KNOW all is not well with your body. People who experience this often feel that they are a failure instead of recognizing that our medical system has failed them.

Our medical system is designed for people who fit neatly into a diagnostic box and respond well to suppressive therapy. And honestly, we would not be able to even have a healthcare system unless the majority of people in this country accepted this system as their best option. But what about the ones who don't fit neatly into a box? Or that don't respond as expected? Or that just want something more from their healthcare?

Well, the people outside of the box actually 'fit' in our practice because we ARE out of the box thinkers. We look at healthcare from a different perspective and we treat people, not diseases. Challenging cases require more effort and time.... So we have set up a different way of interacting with our patients, a unique and individualized approach to better health called Global Care. No elaborate claims or promises, our goal is to help you reach your potential in good health.