Anyone ever been to a naturopath???

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el223029
el223029 Posts: 26
in Food and Nutrition
I have always had trouble with weird allergic reactions, skin sensitivities and more recently digestive problems. I have had an allergy test within the last year and it was rather inconclusive. But the other day I was speaking with a friend who had been to a naturopath a couple of months earlier and had been run through all these test and found that she had a low tolerance for wheat (not gluten, just wheat) and has felt a million times better since this diagnosis. I want to go to see if they can shed any light on my weird sensitive body and what triggers my reactions. Has anyone ever been to one? Or know anything about it? Or is it mostly a scam??

Replies

  • CynthiasChoice
    CynthiasChoice Posts: 1,047 Member
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    I want to know, too!
  • momtokgo
    momtokgo Posts: 446 Member
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    I have never been to one, buy my mom swears by hers. She has been going for a few years after her doctor couldn't figure out what was going on, and they finally have everything under control. She has celiac disease, as well as intolerances to red meat, pork, seafood, carrots, soy etc. Lots of things that they sorted out together, as well as figuring out some hormone issues.

    I do think part of it is a scam, they try and push A LOT of supplements/powders/magic potions on her to take, but she doens't buy them all. It is also really expensive (here) I think to be allergy tested it was almost $300 for her, and the supplements she does take are really high priced.

    Shes been trying to convince me to go, but its not for me at this point.
  • el223029
    el223029 Posts: 26
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    Ok thanks for the input. Im just curious as the doctors have not really been able to shed any light onto my problems. But yes I have also heard that they are very expensive. But curiosity may get the better of my wallet....
  • sunnyday789
    sunnyday789 Posts: 309 Member
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    Why don't you try eliminating things from your diet (like wheat). It wouldn't cost you anything to try.
  • BlondeQtTexas
    BlondeQtTexas Posts: 97 Member
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    I swear by them. They have changed my life and helped me to lose 32 lbs.

    I was very sick and developed severe, debilitating asthma after getting pnuemonia 2 times back to back in 2008. I gained 40 lbs in 2 months from the medicine they put me on.

    I was sooo sick I literally thought I was going to die and it was all I could do to get up and down a flight of stairs.

    I started seeing a naturopath 2 years ago. I'm doing 100% better. I am now able to walk for miles and I lift weights 4 times a week. I also have boundless energy.

    I also found out that I have food allergies, etc. I stopped eating wheat, dairy, beef and corn. I not only feel amazing, I dropped the weight. I went from a size 12/14 to a 6 or a 4.

    Yes, the supplements are expensive, but they are also what will make you better.

    My FIL is 94. He also goes to a naturopath. He says he feels better now than he did in his 50's. He still mows his own hilly lawn and walks 2 miles a day and a fast pace.

    They are worth every penny! My husband and I pay $3,000 a year to belong to our medical doctor and I appreciate the service, but I believe and TRUST my naturopath more!

    I strongly believe if not for the naturopaht's I been to I would be bed ridden or dead by now,

    You know they've had to have several years of advanced schooling, just like a doctor.
  • reyopo
    reyopo Posts: 210 Member
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    I've suffered from eczema all of my life. Not one single family practice MD has ever helped me with this in any capacity. All of them prescribed cortosteroids that made the problem worse. Luckily, I have progressive parents and was taken to a Naturopath at 15 that diagnosed me with allergies to wheat, corn, dairy, caffeine and sugar. I was so miserable, that even though I was a freshman in highschool and my diet was terrible (candy, Hostess, fast food, cafeteria food every day), I CHANGED it and eliminated those things. This, along with the few supplements he prescribed, like probiotics and fish oil, was all I needed to heal my awful skin rash. Off and on since, I've strayed from those diet restrictions and was able to self treat when the inevitable symptoms returned.
    A few years ago I moved to Portland, and had one of the worst flare ups ever despite having been gluten-free entirely for a few years. I found a Naturopath here, and I love her. In Oregon, ND's are able to administer any and all the same lab testing as MD's. We have done further testing and realized that I am also sensitive to soy, almonds (and other nuts), tomatoes, mold, juniper and maple. She is also my GYN, and does my annual exam every year. She's been in school for 10 years studying all types of integrative medicine, has had her practice for 5 (which isn't long, I realize, but her husband is also an ND who has practiced for 20 yrs) and I trust her with my very life. MD's are not trained in nutrition, which is essential to prevention. Once symptoms are showing, the disease or condition is already advanced. Doesn't it make sense to learn how to keep ourselves well and healthy to begin with, rather than just constantly treating the symptoms? She inspired me to become a certified nutritionist last year. I feel better than ever, and am totally eczema free! I say find a good one (some take health insurance) and try it!
  • el223029
    el223029 Posts: 26
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    very insightful everyone thank you! I have the same type of skin flare ups your talking about... I had one particularly nasty event last christmas that lasted about 3 weeks, it was practically debilitating I was so uncomfortable and it covered my whole body basically it was awful. I was tested for allergies and they found absolutely nothing. But I always have those types of flare ups and its a huge inconvenience!! I think i will look into finding one!
  • misskerouac
    misskerouac Posts: 2,242 Member
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    I love mine!

    I had hives for 2 months and my GP would only just prescribe pills for the itchiness, started seeing a naturopath, she had me eliminate dairy, eggs, citrus and wheat, my hives got SO much better, I then got a food panel blood test and then I got taken off a bunch more stuff, hives are gone. ( I have some right now because of the spring weather but they are going away again)

    I'm off a bunch of things for a year, then after that there are only 5 or 6 things I have to continue to avoid. The rest I can have in moderation. She's been tremendous in telling me what supplements to take to support my liver while this is going on to help lower my histamine levels.

    She was 10000x more helpful than my GP.

    AND no drugs :)
  • islandnutshel
    islandnutshel Posts: 1,143 Member
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    Yes, and they were the first to inform me that I had a wheat allergy. However a decade later I finally get it figured out that it is celiacs.
    So I reccomend seeing a naturopath but not missing out on other forms of medical advice. (was diagnosed in the end by a general practioner) Had been mis-diagnosed by intenest specialist. (I knew it wasn't IBS)
    It was a relief to get it figured out because just eliminated wheat only got rid of half of my problems. After eliminating gluten, all sorts of thing got better, including my iron level, immune system, white blood count, rashes, headaches, mood swings.......
    Hope you find what works for you.
  • nickyfm
    nickyfm Posts: 1,214 Member
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    I used to go to a naturopath all the time when I had glandular fever (mono). I don't think I would have ever recovered if it wasn't for her. I was really badly sick with it.

    As long as you go to a good one, they will find whatever your imbalance is in your body, and correct it naturally with vitamins and stuff.

    She also really helped to clear up my acne caused by my PCOS.

    But in saying that, naturopathy is no 'quick fix' like Western medicine. It takes a lot of hard work and attention on your part, because you're normally prescribed a lot of vitamins, and recommended certain foods to eat, and others to omit from your diet. It can also get pretty expensive.

    So if you're willing to put in some effort and actually listen to your naturopath, then you will probably end up feeling 100x better physically and mentally, without any medical intervention needed :).

    Good luck!!
  • misskerouac
    misskerouac Posts: 2,242 Member
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    Why don't you try eliminating things from your diet (like wheat). It wouldn't cost you anything to try.

    This can be a great place to start for sure.
    Tests (like a food panel) are great after that so you know exactly what to avoid and what to make sure you only have in moderation, the reason I feel like that is important is because for someone like me who doesn't need to avoid gluten all together but have it in moderation I won't be needlessly making my life harder. A food panel will tell you how intolerant you are to different things.
  • Funsoaps
    Funsoaps Posts: 514 Member
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    Yes, my Npath is the only person who has helped me be successful in making my thyroid work properly. She is the ONLY person who did a blood prick (ELISA) test on my son for food allergies, he is intolerant of wheat/gluten, dairy, goat's milk, citrus, egg and mildly to sugar. He had chronic ear infections and surgeries because of it. It has saved our sanity to have him not misbehaving because of it and having health issues all the time.

    Personally, I have a stomach condition and won't do gluten or dairy and have been for a few years now. I'm a pro at it, I am not allergic to them, though but did find out through my Naturopath that I was allergic to bananas, oysters and asparagus of all things so I have to avoid those. She is the only person who told me that coffee would make my stomach condition worse and has given me great idea to help with acid reflux, etc without having to take medicine from doctors that have major side effects.

    If you can't get anyone to do a test on you, there are labs online you can do it yourself and pay and send it in (blood prick tests) and/or you can try the elimination diet (google it)...just eliminate dairy and wheat for a month and then add one back in and see how you feel, etc.
  • Funsoaps
    Funsoaps Posts: 514 Member
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    very insightful everyone thank you! I have the same type of skin flare ups your talking about... I had one particularly nasty event last christmas that lasted about 3 weeks, it was practically debilitating I was so uncomfortable and it covered my whole body basically it was awful. I was tested for allergies and they found absolutely nothing. But I always have those types of flare ups and its a huge inconvenience!! I think i will look into finding one!

    My NP is the only person who can find out mysterious things on me and fix them and actually takes 45 minutes with me per appt. My doctors spend 5 mins, and do all these unnecessary, expensive tests then prescribe medication with side effects, an NP will look into "why" you have your issues and get to the root of the problem rather than prescribe you something to cover the problem up.
  • nickyfm
    nickyfm Posts: 1,214 Member
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    My NP is the only person who can find out mysterious things on me and fix them and actually takes 45 minutes with me per appt. My doctors spend 5 mins, and do all these unnecessary, expensive tests then prescribe medication with side effects, an NP will look into "why" you have your issues and get to the root of the problem rather than prescribe you something to cover the problem up.

    completely agree. Mine used to sit with me for up to an hour each appointment. My GP used to rush me out the door in 5 minutes...I changed GPs, but I still don't get anywhere near the time and care that I get with my Naturo.

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