Can primary care physicians also be naturopaths?

People often ask us, “Why choose a primary care physician who is also a naturopath?” The answer, surprisingly, isn’t as complex as one might think!

In many ways, the current-day relationship between traditional medicine and naturopathy has never been more compatible. For example, conventional doctors presently incorporate into their medical paradigm the idea of using certain foods to prevent diseases such as cancer, though even a mere thirty years ago this connection between food and health had not yet been fully recognized by traditional medicine.

So the fact is, people whose doctors have advised them to eat fruits and vegetables to guard against cancer have been given medical advice that in recent years might have been considered to be alternative medicine. Many people feel that this is only the beginning—that conventional and natural medicines will continue to become less and less at odds, until one day each will fully validate the other.

Certainly for our group of doctors in Arizona, that day has already arrived! At the Rockwood Natural Medicine Clinic, you’ll find our naturopaths and  primary care physicians to be a group of caring and experienced professionals who specialize in keeping an open mind—supplementing the latest treatments in conventional medicine with emerging naturopathic resources that are, more likely, the re-emergence of age-old and time-tested natural traditions.

With the expertise gained from years of experience in both styles of medicine, our team at Rockwood specializes in a blending of perspectives, a merger which we believe strengthens both sides and creates a united front against disease. Don’t hesitate to call us today to learn more about the advantages of choosing a primary care physician who is also a naturopath. Feel free, also, to visit us online at or at your convenience if you’d like more information.

Is a Licensed Naturopathic REALLY a Doctor?

You finally found the perfect complementary and alternative medicine practice – a naturopathic medicine clinic (ND). Your thrilled with your new healthcare guru, until your friend (you know, the one that has no inner “filter”) says, “A naturopathic doctor? That’s not really a doctor, is it?”

Au contraire Mon frère!

• Your naturopathic doctor is not a witch doctor.
  No magic wands. No potions. No tarot cards or magic 8 balls…
• Your naturopathic doctor has a license.
  NDs are licensed in 16 states, 2 U.S. territories, and 5 Canadian provinces. They’ve gone to real medical school and taken real board exams.
• Your licensed naturopathic doctor has had SIGNIFICANT scientific medical training.
  NDs attending accredited naturopathic medical colleges, like conventional medical colleges, need a bachelor’s degree, a competitive GPA in scientific prerequisites, complete comparable course week and training (both in subjects and hours). They learn anatomy, physiology, pathology, and biochemistry, as well as the same labs, physical exams, and medical imaging taught in other medical schools.
• Your naturopathic doctor is licensed to treat a variety of conditions.
  Depending on the state, NDs are licensed to offer everything from dietary advice to pharmaceuticals – they can even suture your wounds!
• Your naturopathic doctor could prescribe prescription medications, but probably won’t except as a last resort.
  They have better tools in their arsenal, favouring natural and low-force intervention such as dietary changes, exercise, supplements, herbs, and homeopathy.
• Your naturopathic doctor is not against “conventional” medicine.
  Naturopathic doctors understand that health care is best provided by a team. Specialists and other medical providers are necessary for many conditions outside their scope, such as emergency situations, surgeries, and cardiology.

So your friends not in the know – give them the 4-1-1. If they’re not hearing it, it’s their loss. Naturopathic medicine is real, and it works. The proof: it’s increasingly becoming more “conventional” every day. Ignore your filter-less friend, and stay the course. You’ll be well on your way to health, and they’ll be rethinking their preconceived notions as they watch you flourish.

Why Conventional Healthcare May End Up Sitting on the Sidelines PART 2

CONTINUED FROM  PART 1

Additional advantages to alternative medicine include…

• An open-minded approach.
  Practitioners of naturopathic medicine are quick to identify the need for multiple therapeutic approaches in meeting patients’ healthcare goals. That it is logical to incorporate health strategies from a wide array of proven approaches, and thus are willing and able to work in tandem with multiple practitioners and modalities.
• More personalized practitioner/patient relationships.
  Naturopathic practitioners recognize the critical nature of their relationship with patients. Not only is the amount of time doctors spend with patients associated with overall patient satisfaction, naturopathic physicians recognize this time investment as necessary for piecing together a complete knowledge base for each patient. They understand rushed, impersonal meetings do not create an adequate picture – or produce adequate results.
• Natural solutions counter consumer distrust of prescription medicines.
  Inflated pricing of much needed medication. Direct to consumer marketing. Mandatory vaccinations. Side effects and adverse reactions leading to prescription drugs becoming the 4th leading cause of death in the U.S. with over 100,000 deaths per year. All these things and more are leading today’s savvy consumer to the safer, far less costly alternatives naturopathic medicine offers.
• Proven efficacy.
  As major medical journals continue to publish research on the efficacy of complementary and alternative treatments, patients aren’t the only ones climbing on the bandwagon. Conventional physicians are increasingly recommending treatment and incorporating naturopathic medicine into their clinics as well.

Don’t get benched by your health issues. Naturopathic medicine can help. Find a quality naturopath practitioner in your area today!

Why Conventional Healthcare May End Up Sitting on the Sidelines PART 1

Naturopathic medicine is booming in AZ, its popularity fueled by the many advantages it offers over the traditional healthcare model. Disenchanted with many facets of standard all medical care, individuals yearning for a patient centered doctors, more individualized approach and more NATURAL approach to their healthcare needs are finding those needs met in Arizona naturopathic alternatives in medicine.

Who is nuzzling up to naturopathy?
According to studies from multiple sources, including the NIH, NCCIH, and CDC, people are becoming increasingly aware of the benefits of naturopathic medicine, flocking to providers to find relief to issues from stress and chronic pain to more serious internal conditions. How commonly is it used? A 2008 study showed approximately 4 in 10 adults and 1 in 9 children use some form of complementary and alternative medicine – and those numbers are expected to rise significantly.

What are the advantages of going alternative?

• A focus on health and wellness – not sick care.
  As opposed to merely reacting to disease and imbalance, the goal of naturopathic medicine is the maintenance of health and wellness through the restoration of balance or homeostasis. This is accomplished by  addressing the needs of the whole body from mind and spirit down to the flesh, bones, and organs. Naturopathic physicians take a holistic approach that is a more logical and desirable solution than an hour office wait, 10 minute doctor consult, and the dispensing of side-effect ridden prescriptions.
• Immersion in a healthful lifestyle.
  Personal responsibility in the form of adequate exercise and sleep, proper diet, sufficient sun exposure, stress reduction, and nurturing the self and relationships form the foundation for health in natural and alternative medicine.
• Customizable treatment options.
  Naturopathic medicine does not take a one-size-fits-all approach. “Illness A” does not automatically equate to “antibiotic or drug B.” Treatment plans and options vary from person to person based upon individual presentations and needs rather than the same disease, same treatment protocols commonly encountered.

What else are naturopathic and alternative medical practitioners offering that is rallying the team in communities nationwide?
Stay tuned for: Why Conventional Healthcare May End Up Sitting on the Sidelines PART 2…