Health Care is Changing

Patients are demanding to be seen as whole persons, not just a list of symptoms. They want time from their physicians, they want control over their own health, and they want preventive medicine, not quick fixes.

Modern medicine calls for doctors who know their science yet honor the body’s innate wisdom to heal—doctors who function as teachers as well as healers, who acknowledge the value of time-honored traditional therapies and who recognize that, when given the chance, nature is the greatest healer of all.

The majority of patients who come for naturopathic care fall into one of four categories:

*Patients who also see conventionally trained providers. We may be one of a cadre of providers including a medical doctor, a chiropractor, etc.

* Patients for whom we are their primary care providers. Most of these patients respond well to interventions such as diet and lifestyle modification and natural therapies. Sometimes a higher level of intervention is required. In a perfect world, we could refer that patient to a provider with special expertise in this type of patient. However, it may be months before that patient can get in to see a specialist in Alaska. In the meantime, he or she may be walking around with dangerously high blood pressure, blood glucose, etc, and we need to be able to stabilize this patient in the interim.

* Patients who are, for whatever reason, leery of conventional medicine and would not go to a conventional provider short of in an ambulance. Most of these patients would accept prescription medication from a naturopathic physician while we address the underlying causes of their conditions.

* Patients who are already on multiple prescription medications and are having problems due to interactions and side effects. We need the flexibility to be able to adjust their dosages while we incorporate diet and lifestyle changes to reduce the need for prescription medications in a safe way.

Based on epidemiologic estimates, it may be that 20-30% of patients seen in a conventional provider’s office are using alternative/complementary medicines. Twenty percent of adults who take prescription medicine also rely on herbal products ; whether or not the prescriber knows or approves of this fact. Americans spend in excess of $10 billion annually on herbal and dietary supplements , often without the guidance of a health care professional or awareness of potential interactions with conventional therapies. Naturopathic physicians have taken the lead on writing the texts on integrating the best scientifically validated complementary and alternative therapies along with conventional medicine . This can be done safely to the benefit of the medical community and, more importantly, for the communities we serve.

Eisenberg, et al, Unconventional medicine in the United State—prevalence, costs and patterns of use.” N Engl J. Med 1993, 328:246-252.

Eisenberg, et al, Trends in alternative medicine use in the United States, 1990-1997: Results of a follow-up national survey, JAMA, 1998; 280: 1569-1575.

Pizzorno, Joseph, The path ahead: education, evolution and collaboration, Integrative Medicine, vol. 3, #2, April/May, 2004, pg. 6.

Including but certainly not limited to: Herb Contraindication and Drug Interactions, Francis Brinker, ND, Eclectic Publications, 1998; Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine, Joseph Pizzorno, ND and Michael Murray, ND, Prima Publishing, 1990; Clinical Botanical Medicine, Eric Yarnell, ND, Mary Ann Liebert, Inc, 2003; Women’s Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine, Tori Hudson, ND, McGraw-Hill, 1999; Managing Menopause Naturally, Emily Kane, ND, Basic Health Media, 2004.

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Alaska Association of Naturopathic Physicians

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