According to a new survey from the Harvard MedicalSchool, more than one in three Americans uses some form of alternative therapy. Whether it's the taking of echinacea during cold-and-flu season or utilizing more expansive naturopathic techniques, Americans have made the leap to a more holistic approach of healing.
The question, then, is why, after decades of contentment with Allopathic medicine, have so many people become increasingly interested in natural medicine?
Although naturopathic therapy dates back to ancient times, it didn't hit the United States until the beginning of the 20th century. But the rise of ground-breaking medicines like antibiotics, the commercialization of the medical system and the advent of widespread use of pharmaceuticals all led to a decline in the use of natural medicine.
By the 1970s, however, people across the United States were becoming displeased with the limitations of traditional allopathic medicine as well as the rising costs of mainstream medical care, so they began to turn back to the therapies associated with naturopathic medicine.
Naturopathy is a set of medical approaches that rely on natural healing forces as the focus of health restoration as well as disease prevention and treatment. Naturopathic physicians offer a variety of treatments determined by the specific needs of their patients, including clinical nutrition advice, botanical remedies, homeopathic treatments, in-office surgery (e.g., cyst removal), physical medicine and Oriental medicine, as well as lifestyle and stress management. With additional certification naturopathic doctors can provide child-birthing services as well.
Claire, 41, is currently using acupuncture for stress and anxiety as well as to become pregnant. Although she went to an M.D. first, she wasn't happy with the treatment. "I was really dissatisfied with the way fertility specialists want to pathologize everything and suggest that I get started immediately on Clomid," she explained.
For Claire, the change with acupuncture has been dramatic. "My cycles have completely regulated," she said. "My anxiety levels have dropped significantly."
The whole-system approach of naturopathy appeals to Claire, who said she feels as though she's being proactive rather than obsessive about getting pregnant. She receives a lot of support from her husband, and her friends are curious about the treatment. She is less inclined to share this choice with family members, she said, being unsure that they would understand her preference.
As with many alternative therapies, education is often a key component to understanding and acceptance. Claire's experience was positive enough that she would choose alternative therapies again, and would recommend them to others.
To achieve their licenses, naturopath students attend a four-year graduate naturopathic medical school. Educated in the same way as a traditional doctor, naturopaths also receive instruction in holistic and nontoxic approaches to well-ness and disease prevention. In states with licensure, all naturopathic doctors are required to attend a four-year, nationally accredited school as well as pass state and national board exams.
However, only 13 states currently have licensing laws for naturopathic doctors. Washington state offers licensure and boasts one of the top three naturopathic schools in the country, Bastyr University.
Jennifer Lush is a naturopathic doctor here in Seattle, a graduate of Bastyr University and co-owner of Glow Natural Health Center in the Madison Valley. She became a naturopath because she doesn't feel that allopathic medicine addresses what's going on for patients at a core level.
Lush said she believes that healing of chronic illness can be done only by the individual - for instance, when someone is so stressed out that her immune system is suffering. Obvious lifestyle changes must be addressed by the patient with the help of the naturopath.
Lush said that in school one of her professors told her that most people will disclose not only their problems but their own treatment needs within the first 15 minutes of a session. She said she has found this to be exactly the case: "People will come into my office and will share with me that they know they need to de-stress or change their eating habits or exercise more."
During a visit, which traditionally lasts an hour, it is Lush's job to formally diagnose a patient and help her make the changes necessary to bring about optimum health.
In keeping with the values of naturopathic medicine, naturopathic doctors function with an integrated philosophy and will refer patients to an allopathic doctor - an oncologist, say, if that course of action appears most beneficial. Lush said that she wouldn't want to live in a world without allopathic medicine, as the two disciplines complement each other so well. Without a pause, Lush said that she still uses allopathic medicine herself and would encourage a patient to do so if necessary.
In one case, it became apparent that in order to confirm a cancer diagnosis a patient needed immediate blood work, which required admittance to a hospital. Although Lush can run lab tests and diagnose illness, as a naturopath she cannot admit patients to the hospital. So she spent several hours that day finding a doctor who would see her patient before the end of the business day, in order that the patient wouldn't have to wait over a weekend.
Although that situation worked out well, it is not always easy with the traditional medical system, and collaboration isn't always forthcoming. "Sometimes it's a hard road," Lush said. "After all, we are alternative medicine; I've called trying to brainstorm on patients before and been hung up on. [But] other doctors are wonderful. It seems the older doctors and general practitioners, the ones who have seen more and know what does and doesn't work, are the ones who, on the whole, respond."
There are many reasons to consider naturopathic medicine. Kevin, who has taken echinacea, St. John's Wort, valerian and kava kava for various ailments, said he appreciates the holistic aspect of naturopathic treatment. "I like the promise of a gentler remedy that works in harmony with the body," he said. "I think [naturopathy's] focus on the whole patient, rather than on just one or two isolated systems, is the right one.
"At the end of the day, though," Kevin added, "I want to see scientific evidence that it works."
Which brings up a very good question: Is there scientific evidence that naturopathy works? Studies have shown mixed results as to the efficacy of herbal remedies such as Echinacea - but the same could be said about many traditional medications. Not all therapies work with every patient, and it seems that with any remedy, the "proof is in the pudding."
Bree, a 33-year-old Seattle woman, said: "I probably started using homeopathic remedies about 10 or more years ago. For example, I use Calms pills when I fly, which help relax me. I don't believe that allopathic medicine has all the answers, and I believe our bodies can do a lot to heal themselves.
"Homeopathic remedies assist the body," Bree went on, "as does a healthy diet and exercise. However, I do use Advil, and I have benefited greatly from the technology and knowledge of Western medicine, so I believe in the ability of doctors to heal. I just believe that I have a responsibility to my body to do what I can to help myself before needing to see a doctor."
Laurie, 34, took Chinese herbs to treat menstrual irregularities. "I chose that route because I totally believe that health is much more than the treatment of disease," she said. "I think the entire system - psychological, immune, emotional, nutritional, physical - all have to be working together in order to stay healthy."
Choosing a naturopathic physician is much like choosing any other practitioner. One of your best routes is to seek a referral from a friend or family member. Primary-care physicians, or other practitioners, are often excellent referral sources.
In Washington, another option is to utilize the Washington Association of Naturopathic Physicians referral Web site - www.wanp.org - which offers referrals by name, specialty and Zip code.
Once you've identified a physician who seems appropriate for you, compile a list of questions to bring to your first appointment. Don't be afraid to ask questions about where licensure was obtained and how insurance works. And getting a second opinion is always acceptable.
Many clinics offer exceptional treatment at a lower cost by supervised student practitioners. If money is a consideration, you might consider calling the clinic closest to you and inquiring about whether they offer such things as sliding-scale services.
Above all else, remember that, as with allopathic medicine, there's no cutting corners. Beware of seductive advertising in the back of slick magazines. Whether it's the promise of immediate weight loss, an herbal supplement guaranteeing penis or breast enlargement or a tincture that is the fountain of youth, don't forget that Mother Nature may be able to work wonders, but there are no miracle cures.
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