How Naturopathic Medicine Works

I recently had the privilege of seeing an "elder" Naturopathic Doctor speak at a conference. An elder means that the doctor has been in practice for over 15-20 years. In other words, he knows stuff about what I want to know stuff about.

I only saw part of his lecture because I had to leave for Europe for a BodyTalk Conference. This is a picture of me climbing a church dome in Florence, Italy. I'm still pretty jet-lagged as I type this so please forgive any errors.

I loved the part of the lecture I did see.

He told me nothing new. But I still loved it.

I enjoyed the reminder of what I do and how I do it. Dr. Jared Zeff was inspirational to me as a student and every day in my practice as a doctor.

He wrote about the "Therapeutic Order," which we had to memorize in school. I remember feeling that nothing made more sense than that list. It was so much more than just an answer on a test to me. It was the foundation for my work every day. I still have the article. Slowly as I become more experienced I shed my notes from when I was formally learning. But that article will likely never be recycled. It is far too important to me.

Back then, as a student, the words were full of optimism. Full of promise. They allowed me to believe that I could make a difference in this world, by helping people - individuals - come BACK into a healthy body, mind, and spirit.

And if you've been poking around this site you know my passion is helping busy, super-people make time for what's important by teaching them how to look after themselves. The end result? Healthy, happy people doing what they love, and thereby contributing to world peace.

But back to this.

Beneath the Therapeutic Order are the following assumptions (which I also love) and I mostly quote:

1. The Universe is ordered, intelligent, wise, and benign (ie, it's not out to hurt you.)
2. Health IS the constant and natural state of being
3. Ill health is an adaptive response to disturbance in the organism (generally in relation to its environment)
4. The return of normal health is based upon the reduction of factors which are disturbing the health, and enhancement of factors that generate health
5. Appropriate treatment should involve the least intervention necessary to restore health

So here it is.

The THERAPEUTIC ORDER:

1. Establish Conditions For Health

• Identify, remove or moderate root cause(s) of disease or health-disturbing factors

• Institute a more healthful regimen.

The most important step is the first step. What are the main 3 health-disturbing factors? Stress. Toxins. Nutrient Deficiencies.

This first step includes:

• optimizing the diet,

• incorporating consistent (fun) movement,

• nurturing rest and sleep

• improving digestion,

• decreasing stress,

• and supporting the spirit to thrive.

As you can see this step involves putting together a healthy (nutrient-rich, anti-inflammatory), sustainable eating plan and lifestyle.

2. Stimulate the organism's self-healing mechanisms.
Ah yes. The Vis Medicatrix Naturae (aka the healing power within). This is done with various treatment modalities including biological medicine, acupuncture, and Brain-Based Transformation Coaching.

3. Support and repair damaged systems, organs, tissues, cells.
Various individualized supplements can be used for this. We apply natural remedies and therapies to strengthen the immune system, decrease toxicity, normalize inflammation, optimize metabolic function, balance regulatory system (aka hormones), enhance tissue regeneration, and harmonize you with your life force. Hello spiritual alignment!

4. Correct structural integrity.
This means assessing and correcting how the bones, muscles, connective tissue and nerves interact to allow the body to function optimally. I've got tons of tools to help you in this step: acupuncture, adjustments, biopuncture injections.

5. Address Pathology.
This is the first time in the order that the symptoms are actually addressed. That is if they still exist. Often patients are symptom-free by this point. The first 4 steps are that effective.

6. Suppress Pathology.
Sometimes we have to make the symptoms go away - so the patient can be more comfortable. Often medical doctors and sometimes even Naturopathic ones start here. But as you can see, this is a grave mistake. Cure can only happen when the previous steps are followed completely. Without them, improvement, if any, will be short-lived.

When I heard him say the words in person, they were just as powerful as they were to me as a student. I joyfully reflected on my experience in my practice to date. The therapeutic order has been my road map for each puzzling patient case.

This my interpretation and how I apply it in my practice:

Listen attentively. Start simply. Go gently. Listen attentively. (Re)Assess constantly. Adjust accordingly. Listen attentively...

I hope this gives you a good sense of my methods. It's why when people come to see me it may seem like I'm ignoring their main concerns because I'm not addressing them directly. But when we follow the therapeutic order, not only do the symptoms go away, but a superior level of health beyond your imagination results.

Here's to your healthy, thriving, delightful life!