Treatments

Nutritional Therapy

By taking into account your symptoms, age, gender, heritage, lifestyle, laboratory testing, and other factors, I try to tailor nutritional guidelines to optimize your health. I investigate for nutritional deficiencies by evaluating your diet, your symptoms, and through laboratory testing. Testing for food sensitivities and nutrient deficiencies can allow me to customize your diet. Then I recommend an eating plan and key nutrient supplements that will help you feel your best and that works for you.

Counseling

Due to the inter-dependent relationship of the mind and the body counseling is often a very supportive treatment to optimize health and healing. Incorporating counseling techniques into the treatment process can catalyze profound changes in physical, mental, and emotional health. As a naturopathic doctor I have a strong understanding of physiology and conventional medical diagnosis while at the same time I have a deep appreciation for the relationship of physical, mental, and emotional health. This gives me the unique opportunity to utilize counseling and counseling techniques to address physical problems in an in-depth way. My understanding of physiology and disease allows me to offer this distinct counseling approach to healing.

Time and again I am amazed at the profound changes that occur once I begin this exploration of the mind-body connection with patients. Chronic health conditions such as eczema, acne, psoriasis, herpes, headaches, chronic pain, digestive problems, and allergies can all be improved by focusing on this mind-body connection. Through a series of counseling sessions we explore physical complaints. I often give homework to work on for the following visit and tools to utilize at home to empower patients to connect to and tap into this amazing mind-body connection. I often will incorporate homeopathy and continue to utilize other naturopathic therapies such as diet, herbs, lab testing, and supplements to expedite the healing process.

Homeopathy

I frequently see patients for mental health concerns such as anxiety, depression, grief, or post-traumatic stress and find that homeopathy is a gentle yet often very effective method for addressing these conditions. Similar in some ways to a counseling visit, homeopathy visits are focused on letting the patient express their symptoms in depth and in their own words. This itself can be very therapeutic.

Homeopathy acknowledges your unique experience of your symptoms in order to find a very individualized medicine. Homeopathy is based on the idea of like cures like and uses small doses of natural substances to stimulate healing without side effects. Homeopathy is safe for all ages and a wide variety of health concerns such as colds, flus, headaches, eczema, psoriasis, anxiety, hot flashes, PMS, and low self-esteem.

Botanical Medicine / Herbs

I have studied botanical medicine (herbs) for over 15 years and have a deep appreciation for their healing capabilities.  Herbs have complex constituents and therefore have multi-faceted therapeutic effects on our physiology.  I love herbs for their ability to modulate our physiology such that our health is improved and strengthened even after we discontinue taking them, unlike many medications.  Herbs can be used for a variety of infections, to boost immune function, for hormonal imbalances, for anti-oxidant effects, to slow the aging process, to improve digestion, and to counter stress. 

Optimizing Digestive Health

The health of the digestive system can have profound impacts on the rest of one\'s body. Many symptoms originate in faulty digestion or digestive infections. I investigate for food allergies, Celiac\'s disease, and intestinal infections that may contribute to your symptoms. Many skin conditions such as acne, eczema, and psoriasis will improve by addressing digestive health. I also evaluate diet and lifestyle habits that may be compromising digestion. Optimizing digestive health will improve the nutrition of the rest of your body to help you feel your best.

Laboratory Testing

· Allergy testing (blood antibody test) - foods, inhalants, herbs, spices
· Gastrointestinal testing for parasites, yeast overgrowth, pathogenic bacteria
· Celiac disease testing
· Hormone testing (adrenal, thyroid, female and male hormones)
· General screening blood work (cholesterol, blood sugar, liver function, etc.)
· Nutrient testing (vitamins, minerals, essential fatty acids)
· Anemia testing
· Lyme\'s disease
· Oxidative stress markers
· Cardiovascular health markers

Lifestyle Counseling

I often recommend improvements in lifestyle habits to help you feel your best. For example, I may suggest things that can be done to improve air quality in the home for people with allergies. For skin conditions such as acne, eczema and psoriasis I may make suggestions on topical products and bathing habits. I also may recommend sauna therapy, changes in sleep habits, or specific movement therapies.

Bodywork - Massage, Cranial-Sacral Therapy, Hydrotherapy

I blend a combination of swedish massage, cranial-sacral therapy, and hydrotherapy.  I have found massage, cranial sacral therapy, and hydrotherapy to be helpful for many health conditions.  Since stress makes almost any illness worse, bodywork  can support healing of many health concerns because it is very relaxing, restorative, and stress-relieving.  Massage is also pivotal in facilitating healing of musculoskeletal conditions such as chronic neck or back pain, strain-sprain injuries, arthritis, TMJ, plantar fascitis, fibromyalgia, etc. 

Cranial-Sacral Therapy

Cranial-Sacral therapy is a gentle therapy that uses light touch to release bony restrictions in the skull and spinal collumn.  Tension in the brain and spinal cord can compromise function of the central nervous system and many other systems in the body.  Cranial-Sacral therapy releases these tensions with distinctive light-touch techniques allowing the central nervous system to perform at its best.  Cranial-Sacral therapy can be useful for migraines, headaches, chronic neck or back pain, brain and spinal cord injuries, epilepsy, fibromyalgia, TMJ, scoliosis, ADD/ADHD, and PTSD.

Prescription Medications

While I attempt to address most health concerns with natural treatments such as herbs, supplements, and homeopathy, I do prescribe prescription medications when necessary. For example I prescribe thyroid medication for hypothyroidism, unique compounded topical formulations for skin conditions, and antibiotics for severe infections.