naturopath doctor?

ganttgang
ganttgang Posts: 5
edited September 26 in Health and Weight Loss
I am seriously considering switching to a naturopath doctor and was wondering if any of you do and your thoughts about them. I am not happy with my primary care dr. mostly because he just ignores my concerns and won't even take the time to listen to me.
I am trying to figure out what is going on with my body.. and a friend of mine switched to a naturopathic dr and she loves it!
What are your thoughts?

Replies

  • jcm214
    jcm214 Posts: 157
    I'm interested in hear this too. I've thought about switching to an osteopathic doctor.
  • racergirl1991
    racergirl1991 Posts: 422 Member
    My experience has been that they are amazing..they look at all aspects of your life instead of just your "symptoms". Good ones will send you to a specialist if they are unable to diagnose something. Give it a try...cant hurt...may help!
  • trimformecmb
    trimformecmb Posts: 257 Member
    i agree...they are great,,,BUT......many of them will not accept insurance.....so it's an out of pocket payment, but maybe worth it!!! I work with a few and love them....
    good luck!
  • aeckels616
    aeckels616 Posts: 210 Member
    My MIL just got her PhD in Naturopathic Medicine (at least, I think that's what it's called). It's amazing what they learn that traditional doctors know nothing about. My friend the pharmacist says that traditional doctors actually know very little about medicines. They just prescribe what the drug reps tell them to, based on the symptoms. This bugs me because I've had doctors prescribe things that are 3x as expensive as medications that are a little older but do the exact same thing.
    Anyway, I've found that naturopathic doctors have a much greater tendency to try to diagnose the root cause of an issue and address that, rather than loading you down on medications to treat symptoms. They are also more likely to be aware of any vitamin/mineral deficiencies caused by any medication that they do prescribe. Since drug companies aren't required to disclose this information to doctors, most traditional doctors don't even think about it. But the truth is that the majority of prescription medications can lead to some kind of a deficiency, so you're trading one problem for another if it's not managed.
  • Kityngirl
    Kityngirl Posts: 14,304 Member
    One of my best friends is an ND and is amazing in her knowledge of symptoms, herbs, medicines, treatments and such. She's actually the president of one of the boards of alternative medicine in Ohio attempting to get licensing for NDs in the state. I can't afford to see one because they are not covered by insurance here, but luckily my NP (nurse practitioner) is awesome about wanting to know every thing that is going on and really getting to what is actually causing any issues I have.
  • ericapledger
    ericapledger Posts: 32 Member
    YES YES YES!! The naturopath I go to has also been a medical doctor. He says he would never go back to the medical field. They actually take time to figure out what is going on with you instead of throwing another prescription at you.
  • susyj
    susyj Posts: 28
    One of my best friends is an ND and she is fantastic. My grandfather was an ND. I also roomed wtih two ND students while I was in college. Like the others said, they take the time to get to the root cause of the problem, not just covering up the symptoms. Most have 8- 10 years of school under their belts. My friend is on the board in Idaho and is fighting for ND's to be licensed there, as they should be!!! Most people are unaware that not all ND's are licensed. This is terrifying. So if you are considering one, do your research and make sure they went to a good school. You can Google naturpathic schools, but a few good ones are Bastyr, National College of Naturopathic Medicine, and another one in Arizona (I don't remember the name.) Good luck to you!!
  • VixFit2011
    VixFit2011 Posts: 663 Member
    I think that's good....one with medical background also is what I think is best. Dr. Weil is a doctor who was just medical and combined it with naturopath. Check out his website. very informative.
  • a_stronger_steph
    a_stronger_steph Posts: 434 Member
    I'm probably going to get hated on for this, but...

    speaking as a scientist (though most certainly not a biologist/doctor), naturopathy simply doesn't hold up. A "special energy" that guides bodily processes? I'm a physicist, and my alarm bells go off when people start to talk about "special energies" that science can't detect.

    I would advise you to stick with evidence-based medicine. But I would also say find a new medical doctor if you can - if yours isn't listening to you, that is DEFINITELY a problem. I know many people swear by naturopaths because they listen to you, and that is one thing they do right, but sadly the rest of it just doesn't seem to have much basis in reality. So I would start asking for referrals to a new general physician, personally.

    Best of luck whichever route you go.
  • tjwanek
    tjwanek Posts: 10 Member
    No hating here. A naturopath simply isn't a doctor, any more than a chiropractor is. At best, they are sort of a adjunct to actual doctors.

    I'm always very suspicious of any area where people make a lot of claims about hidden knowledge, ancient practices from (insert inaccessible location here), and how Western medicine doesn't treat the whole person. If all this stuff is so good, how come life expectancy was historically so low?

    Now, there is certainly some truth to the benefits of more healthy eating habits, and it's also true that there are many, many herbs and such with beneficial effects. The problem is that it's very hard to quantify the amount of herbal remedy x you are getting, as nothing is standardized. I've been to Bastyr, and while they seem a lot like going to a doctor's office, the fuzziness of the advice is a real warning sign for me.
  • ganttgang
    ganttgang Posts: 5
    Don't worry about "hating"... I want to know what people think! Thats why I asked.
    The office I am looking at in town has 3 Dr's and they will take my insurance. I am "sketchy" about them as well. I don't know much about them but I have the image of : "a tree hugging, hippee looking, dreadlock wearing ,crunchie -telling me to take this vitamin and that herb and eat tofu and everything will be fine" in my head.
    I know thats not the case... LOL!
    I am just very frustrated with my doctors (OB and primary) and would really like some answers. My primary won't even give me a physical to check my cholestrol or blood sugars because I am under 40 and "there is no need". I guess I just want someone who will listen to what I have been going thru and act like they care and would want to help me instead of brushing me off.
    My good friend recommends the practice and told me to go see them... I figure it can't hurt to check them out I guess.
  • FairyMiss
    FairyMiss Posts: 1,812 Member
    Don't worry about "hating"... I want to know what people think! Thats why I asked.
    The office I am looking at in town has 3 Dr's and they will take my insurance. I am "sketchy" about them as well. I don't know much about them but I have the image of : "a tree hugging, hippee looking, dreadlock wearing ,crunchie -telling me to take this vitamin and that herb and eat tofu and everything will be fine" in my head.
    I know thats not the case... LOL!
    I am just very frustrated with my doctors (OB and primary) and would really like some answers. My primary won't even give me a physical to check my cholestrol or blood sugars because I am under 40 and "there is no need". I guess I just want someone who will listen to what I have been going thru and act like they care and would want to help me instead of brushing me off.
    My good friend recommends the practice and told me to go see them... I figure it can't hurt to check them out I guess.

    serously?? alot of people under 40 have high cholestrol , mine was borderline since my early 20's. and as far as blood sugers, hell there is no age limit on that being screwy. you definatly need a new doctor. i have a good doctor who is an MD. (the first i have liked usually go more for the DO myself)
  • Enigmatica
    Enigmatica Posts: 879 Member
    Don't worry about "hating"... I want to know what people think! Thats why I asked.
    The office I am looking at in town has 3 Dr's and they will take my insurance. I am "sketchy" about them as well. I don't know much about them but I have the image of : "a tree hugging, hippee looking, dreadlock wearing ,crunchie -telling me to take this vitamin and that herb and eat tofu and everything will be fine" in my head.
    I know thats not the case... LOL!
    I am just very frustrated with my doctors (OB and primary) and would really like some answers. My primary won't even give me a physical to check my cholestrol or blood sugars because I am under 40 and "there is no need". I guess I just want someone who will listen to what I have been going thru and act like they care and would want to help me instead of brushing me off.
    My good friend recommends the practice and told me to go see them... I figure it can't hurt to check them out I guess.

    You might check into an MDVIP doctor www.mdvip.com. There's an annual fee to be a member of their practice but my experience with them has been WONDERFUL. The annual fee includes an extensive physical and a number of other benefits. The doctors limit the number of patients they accept - instead of the usual 3,000 patients HMO doctors typically need in order to pay the bills, an MDVIP dr usually limits to 600. This gives them plenty of time with you, and almost always allows for same day appts. The doctor gives you their cell phone and email contacts and a whole lot more. Mine has been fabulous - she listens to me, she considers my suggestions and explains things until I'm satisfied. And it was my doctor who got me started on MFP, lol.
  • susyj
    susyj Posts: 28
    I'm probably going to get hated on for this, but...

    speaking as a scientist (though most certainly not a biologist/doctor), naturopathy simply doesn't hold up. A "special energy" that guides bodily processes? I'm a physicist, and my alarm bells go off when people start to talk about "special energies" that science can't detect.

    I would advise you to stick with evidence-based medicine. But I would also say find a new medical doctor if you can - if yours isn't listening to you, that is DEFINITELY a problem. I know many people swear by naturopaths because they listen to you, and that is one thing they do right, but sadly the rest of it just doesn't seem to have much basis in reality. So I would start asking for referrals to a new general physician, personally.

    Best of luck whichever route you go.

    As with any physician, you should expect them to practice evidence based medicine...be that allopathic, naturopathic, chiropractic, whatever. In response to the 'special energies' statement above, I don't know of a single naturopath that uses "special energies" to heal people. They simply look holistically at a person and using natural resources for their medicine (which by the way can be just as dangerous as pharmaceuticals...you have to be careful). I am sure there are whackos out there, just as in any profession. Do your research and make a decision from there. There are plenty of providers in any discipline willing to take your money. One you feel comfortable with and listens to you is key. Even knowing five ND's personally who are really great people, both professionally and personally I would be skeptical and "interview" the doc before committing. A good one will understand your trepidation and respect you as well, whatever your decision. Good luck.
  • Grokette
    Grokette Posts: 3,330 Member
    YES YES YES!! The naturopath I go to has also been a medical doctor. He says he would never go back to the medical field. They actually take time to figure out what is going on with you instead of throwing another prescription at you.

    My NDoc is also an MD too and she says the same thing. I have made far more progress since I switched then I ever did going to a convential thinking MD............
  • Grokette
    Grokette Posts: 3,330 Member
    I'm probably going to get hated on for this, but...

    speaking as a scientist (though most certainly not a biologist/doctor), naturopathy simply doesn't hold up. A "special energy" that guides bodily processes? I'm a physicist, and my alarm bells go off when people start to talk about "special energies" that science can't detect.

    I would advise you to stick with evidence-based medicine. But I would also say find a new medical doctor if you can - if yours isn't listening to you, that is DEFINITELY a problem. I know many people swear by naturopaths because they listen to you, and that is one thing they do right, but sadly the rest of it just doesn't seem to have much basis in reality. So I would start asking for referrals to a new general physician, personally.

    Best of luck whichever route you go.

    You are talking about Homeopathy, not Naturopathy...........

    The majority of these doctors out here don't care about finding out what is wrong with a person, they are worried about writing enough prescriptions to get their next golf vacation or cruise at the expense of the Pharmaceutical companies..........

    That is why Doctors are so quick to tell a patient that when they start xxx prescription that they will be on it for life, when in reality they never needed to be put on it at all because there are many ways of healing the body through proper nutrition.

    I have started healing my hormonal imbalances with NO conventional medications.

    I started going to a Naturopathic Dr (who is also an MD) because when I interviewed her, she lives by the words of Hippocrates......

    Let food be thy medicine, and let thy medicine be food." Hippocrates

    We can heal the majority of our ailments with getting the proper nutrition. Food should be our medicine. Not some pill made in a lab.
  • DianaPowerUp
    DianaPowerUp Posts: 518 Member
    Today I am starting my journey along those lines as well. My dr. is actually an MD (first ER physician, then pediatrician, and now in adult hormone therapy (bio indentical)/homeopathy), so he takes my insurance, which is a tremendous help.

    Unfortunately, Western medicine (and I can say this as a dr. as well) is now taught as - "Patient comes in to exam room, what symptoms do they have? What medicine/drug will "fix" it?" The problem with that is that every time you add some chemical to your body, you get some undesired effects (along with the desired ones). There certaintly is a place to use medicine/drugs, don't get me wrong. But many, many ailments that we suffer today are related to poor nutrition, our toxic environment (be it stress or whateever you just sprayed around in your living room), lack of sleep and exercise, hormonal imbalances, to name a few.

    I am already half way on my journey - eating well, and exercising. Today, I am going to see what bio-identical hormones I need to replace, to fine tune myself. I would rather take something that the body recognizes as a natural supplement, than some man-made frankendrug. My ob/gyn wants to put me on synthetic progesterone. Yes, the kind that increases your rate of breast cancer. No thanks. I'd rather see first what other options are available, which are less harmful to my body.

    I think you're wise to try a new approach. Don't let others poo-poo you out of it. For all of your naysayers - start googling alternative medicines. You'll be surprised to find how many MDs are actually jumping ship, and realizing that there is more to a person's health (holistically) than just making them pop another pill.
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