thoughts on naturopaths?

[Anonymous]

Do you go to one, has it helped?

My friend swears by it.
I am thinking about it.

Please dont say its quackery unless you tried it.

WHat has your experience been? WHat did it help with or not help with?

[Anonymous]

My BIL is a naturopath and I think 95% of his work with his clients is based on psycho-semantic, all based on what he has relayed to me about this practice.

[Anonymous]

I've been seeing onefor about the years and I like it. I wanted to get pregnant and she's also a midwife so it was a good fit that way too. I like that she really spends time with me, getting to know me and developing a relationship I've never had with an md. She can prescribe all the same things an MD can buy the difference is they usually try nutritional things first. she prescribed Clomid and antibiotics when it was warranted. she helped me kick my diet coke addiction too. She has overall helped me to seethe importance of eating better and I feel a lot better. I go get to check my cholesterol, blood sugar etc and she prescribed a natural thyroid medicine. an MD wouldn't have prescribed that because mylevel was in normal range, but holy crap I feel a thousand times better with it. She hit the nail on the head with that. There are done things she can't help with,like my chronic shoulder pain, but she has referred me to someone who can help with that. Overall I'm happy with my experience, and I like that treatments are nutritional first because at least for me that has helped me feel better overall and I get sick a lot less often with an improved diet. I'd recommend giving it a try OP.

[Anonymous]

Please dont say its quackery unless you tried it.

If someone thinks it's quackery, why would they try it in the first place?

The simple answer is that, from a medical perspective, there is no peer reviewed study demonstrating that what naturopaths do is any better than placebo.

Now, talking to someone in detail about your diet/health/etc. does have benefits, and the level of detail you go into when discussing things with a naturopath may have some stress-relief benefits.

There is also some societal/economic study evidence that going to a naturopath may prevent you from taking meds that a MD might prescribe (e.g., reducing the overprescription problem), but that doesn't do anything that you couldn't do yourself by paying attention and actively discussing treatment with your MD.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do you go to one, has it helped?

My friend swears by it.
I am thinking about it.

Please dont say its quackery unless you tried it.

WHat has your experience been? WHat did it help with or not help with?

A relative of mine is a doctor in a community on the west coast where naturopaths are about as common as MDs. What she has said is that in her observation, the naturopaths in her community are very quick to order many expensive tests for conditions that do not necessarily require them and suggest therapies (aromatherapy, homeopathics, herbal medicine, etc.) for things that are serious conditions. There are naturopaths who are NOT total quacks, but from what I've observed, if someone says it's quackery, that's not going to be 100% incorrect.

I think it's important to find a healthcare provider that you have a good rapport with, however they are trained.

[Anonymous]

I go to one and I like her approach. She made a lot of diet change suggestions and also had access to some functional blood and stool tests that were very useful in helping me figure out why my stomach was always off. (This is after I visited a gastro doc and got a full battery of tests that turned up nothing). I've also gotten acupuncture from her.

[Anonymous]

What she has said is that in her observation, the naturopaths in her community are very quick to order many expensive tests for conditions that do not necessarily require them and suggest therapies (aromatherapy, homeopathics, herbal medicine, etc.) for things that are serious conditions. There are naturopaths who are NOT total quacks, but from what I've observed, if someone says it's quackery, that's not going to be 100% incorrect.

Basically a question of does he/she know his/her limitations as a health care provider. There's no evidence that homeopathic medicines do anything better than a placebo (and the principles of homeopathy would, if true, violate physical laws).

If a naturopath is focusing on diet, exercise, health and general wellness - probably not a quack.

If a naturopath is getting you on homeopathic meds, prescribing lots of tests, etc. and really taking on the role of a medical doctor - probably a quack.

[Anonymous]

naturopaths go to medical school just like a medical doctor. there are a lot of ignorant people posting here. of course you should exercise due care when choosing an ND just like you should an MD. there are good and bad in both categories. there are Drs who overprescribe tests and medicines or homeopathics in both categories. you can't flatly say well they're an ND so they're a quack.Louis of truly crappy mds out there who just prescribe a bunch of chemicals to cover your symptoms instead of making an effort to figure out what's really wrong. lots of nds out there prescribing homeopathics and diet changes for bona fide medical conditions. be judicious in whatever you choose.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've been seeing onefor about the years and I like it. I wanted to get pregnant and she's also a midwife so it was a good fit that way too. I like that she really spends time with me, getting to know me and developing a relationship I've never had with an md. She can prescribe all the same things an MD can buy the difference is they usually try nutritional things first. she prescribed Clomid and antibiotics when it was warranted. she helped me kick my diet coke addiction too. She has overall helped me to seethe importance of eating better and I feel a lot better. I go get to check my cholesterol, blood sugar etc and she prescribed a natural thyroid medicine. an MD wouldn't have prescribed that because mylevel was in normal range, but holy crap I feel a thousand times better with it. She hit the nail on the head with that. There are done things she can't help with,like my chronic shoulder pain, but she has referred me to someone who can help with that. Overall I'm happy with my experience, and I like that treatments are nutritional first because at least for me that has helped me feel better overall and I get sick a lot less often with an improved diet. I'd recommend giving it a try OP.

I think you are mixing up osteopath with naturopath.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:naturopaths go to medical school just like a medical doctor. there are a lot of ignorant people posting here. of course you should exercise due care when choosing an ND just like you should an MD. there are good and bad in both categories. there are Drs who overprescribe tests and medicines or homeopathics in both categories. you can't flatly say well they're an ND so they're a quack.Louis of truly crappy mds out there who just prescribe a bunch of chemicals to cover your symptoms instead of making an effort to figure out what's really wrong. lots of nds out there prescribing homeopathics and diet changes for bona fide medical conditions. be judicious in whatever you choose.

I am the poster who mentioned excessive tests.

For one thing, naturopaths do not "go to medical school just like a medical doctor." They have a different degree. I am not saying they are not trained, but they do not attend medical school, they are not required to go through residency the way a medical doctor is, and while they do sit for a licensing exam, it is not the same as being board-certified in a specialty. I don't know where you're getting that information.

For what it's worth, I actually know a couple of great naturopaths (not local or I would recommend). They are just trained in different things than a medical doctor. Many times, a person can see a naturopath and get great care that addresses their concerns (whatever those are). You can also get great care that addresses your concerns from a medical doctor. There are also obviously terrible practitioners in both categories.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've been seeing onefor about the years and I like it. I wanted to get pregnant and she's also a midwife so it was a good fit that way too. I like that she really spends time with me, getting to know me and developing a relationship I've never had with an md. She can prescribe all the same things an MD can buy the difference is they usually try nutritional things first. she prescribed Clomid and antibiotics when it was warranted. she helped me kick my diet coke addiction too. She has overall helped me to seethe importance of eating better and I feel a lot better. I go get to check my cholesterol, blood sugar etc and she prescribed a natural thyroid medicine. an MD wouldn't have prescribed that because mylevel was in normal range, but holy crap I feel a thousand times better with it. She hit the nail on the head with that. There are done things she can't help with,like my chronic shoulder pain, but she has referred me to someone who can help with that. Overall I'm happy with my experience, and I like that treatments are nutritional first because at least for me that has helped me feel better overall and I get sick a lot less often with an improved diet. I'd recommend giving it a try OP.

I think you are mixing up osteopath with naturopath.

nope. I know the difference. a naturopath can prescribe medication add I mentioned above. my Dr is a naturopath and midwife.

[Anonymous]

naturopaths go to medical school just like a medical doctor. there are a lot of ignorant people posting here.

And since the statement about the equivalence of MDs and naturopaths is patently false, I'd say this poster is being self-referential.

Any doctor should know their limitations - that's why GPs refer people out to specialists. Naturopaths should know their limitations, too. According to the University of MD Medical Center website:

Most naturopathic doctors use a variety of therapies and techniques (such as nutrition, behavior change, herbal medicine, homeopathy, and acupuncture).

There are 2 areas of focus in naturopathy: one is supporting the body's own healing abilities, and the other is empowering people to make lifestyle changes necessary for the best possible health. While naturopathic doctors treat both short bouts of illness and chronic conditions, their emphasis is on preventing disease and educating patients.

http://umm.edu/health/medical/altmed/treatment/naturopathy#ixzz2qJb6D3lK

There is no evidence from any peer reviewed clinical study that homeopathic remedies are any better than placebo. However, the other treatments naturopaths provide have been shown to be beneficial (although the jury's still somewhat out on acupuncture).

Neither MD or VA have a licensing requirement for naturopaths. In other words, unlike your GP, your naturopath is not required to be licensed in MD or VA, while
DC does have a licensing requirement. In states that do not license naturopathic doctors, people who have taken online courses can call themselves N.D.s.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've been seeing onefor about the years and I like it. I wanted to get pregnant and she's also a midwife so it was a good fit that way too. I like that she really spends time with me, getting to know me and developing a relationship I've never had with an md. She can prescribe all the same things an MD can buy the difference is they usually try nutritional things first. she prescribed Clomid and antibiotics when it was warranted. she helped me kick my diet coke addiction too. She has overall helped me to seethe importance of eating better and I feel a lot better. I go get to check my cholesterol, blood sugar etc and she prescribed a natural thyroid medicine. an MD wouldn't have prescribed that because mylevel was in normal range, but holy crap I feel a thousand times better with it. She hit the nail on the head with that. There are done things she can't help with,like my chronic shoulder pain, but she has referred me to someone who can help with that. Overall I'm happy with my experience, and I like that treatments are nutritional first because at least for me that has helped me feel better overall and I get sick a lot less often with an improved diet. I'd recommend giving it a try OP.

I think you are mixing up osteopath with naturopath.

nope. I know the difference. a naturopath can prescribe medication add I mentioned above. my Dr is a naturopath and midwife.

Not in Virginia.

[Anonymous]

I know a doctor who is an M.D., with specialty in family practice. She runs what is basically a naturopathic practice. Best of both worlds, though some of her tests are wacky.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My BIL is a naturopath and I think 95% of his work with his clients is based on psycho-semantic, all based on what he has relayed to me about this practice.

Uh, the word is psychosomatic.