Naturopathic Medicine

Overview

Naturopathy is a system of healing that aims to provide holistic or whole body healthcare by drawing on treatment methods from several traditional systems of medicine. Naturopathy emphasizes optimal wellness, disease prevention, patient education and the use of natural, non-toxic remedies to support the body’s inherent healing processes. As such, the cause of the disease is sought rather than simply suppressing the symptoms, which are viewed as the body's natural attempt to heal.

The choice of treatments varies based on the patient and practitioner. Treatment approaches usually involve nutritional medicine, herbal medicine, counseling, and may also include acupuncture and massage therapy.

Philosophy

The six tenets of Naturopathic Medicine:

Primum no nocere: first, do no harm. This means that the most gentle and natural remedies will always be chosen first and that the suppression of symptoms will be avoided, since this can lead to the illness being pushed deeper into the body.

Vis medicatrix naturae: the healing power of nature. The body has an amazing inherent ability to maintain and restore health. Naturopathic doctors believe that their role is simply to facilitate the body’s own healing, using natural remedies and treatments.

In perturbato animo sicut in corpore sanitas esse non potest: treat the whole person. This principle is based on the fact that every person is a unique individual. All aspects of a person must be taken into consideration and addressed in order for healing to occur.

Tolle causam: identify and treat the cause. Rather than treating symptoms, which are signs from the body that illness is occurring, Naturopathic Medicine strives to find and treat the true underlying cause of disease.

Docere: doctor as teacher. Your medical care should be a joint venture between your doctor and yourself. Naturopathic Doctors educate patients about their health and what they need to do to heal.

Principiis obsta: sero medicina curatur: prevention. The true goal of Naturopathic medicine is to help patients remove any causes of disease and maintain a healthy, happy body in order to prevent illness.

Conditions Commonly Treated

Naturopathic principles may be applied to almost any health concern, acute (e.g. colds and flu) or chronic. Chronic conditions may particularly benefit because of their connection to diet and lifestyle behaviors. Conditions such as acne, asthma, chronic fatigue, eczema, psoriasis, migraine, irritable bowel syndrome and inflammatory bowel diseases, male and female infertility, rheumatoid arthritis, female reproductive problems such as endometriosis, menopausal symptoms, premenstrual syndrome, and polycystic ovarian syndrome respond well to naturopathic treatment. Naturopathic consultations are generally not covered under health insurance.

What To Expect During A Treatment

In the initial visit, which typically lasts an hour, a thorough history is taken. This includes an exploration of diet, lifestyle, stress, and environmental factors. Physical examination, clinical and laboratory diagnostic tests may be performed or recommended. Patients are encouraged to be involved in their care, and a treatment plan usually includes lifestyle modifications (e.g., sleep, exercise and relaxation practices), dietary recommendations, herbal and/or nutritional supplements.

What is Naturopathic Medicine

Naturopathic Medicine is a holistic medicine that aims at treating the person and not the disease. Using natural remedies to optimize the body’s own healing force, Naturopathic Medicine is effective for treating any condition as well as preventing illness.

Training

Naturopathic Physicians complete a four year medical degree at accredited medical schools and are trained in alternative modalities in addition to traditional healing methods. Herbal medicine, Homeopathy, Nutrition, Physical Medicine, Counseling and Chinese Medicine are the primary treatment modalities used by most Naturopathic Physicians.

Principles

Based on six healing principles, Naturopathic doctors search for the root cause of illness instead of only treating symptoms so that true healing can take place.

Bowen Therapy

Bowen Therapy is gentle physical therapy first developed in Australia that helps the muscles of the body 're-set' so that pain and disease are released, and the body’s own healing force is stimulated.

Each treatment consists of a set of soft tissue manipulations that work on the muscles, nerves, tendons and fascia, interspersed by short pauses that allow the body to integrate the effects. Muscles are not pulled or pushed but "challenged"; this sends a message to the brain to re-set the muscle and it resumes its default position. Tight muscles relax and stretched muscles regain their tone.

Bowen is so gentle it can be used on anyone - from newborns to the fragile elderly - and benefits a wide range of conditions. Amazingly effectively for acute injuries and chronic pain, Bowen can also be used to treat gastrointestinal, gynecological, respiratory and endocrine problems. Soothing and restorative, Bowen therapy reduces physical, emotional and mental stress, improves joint mobility, increases the circulation of lymphatic and venous fluids, enhances the assimilation of nutrients and aids toxin elimination.

Dr. Allison Bachlet, Manakai O Malama’s Naturopath, is a certified Bowen Therapist as well as Naturopathic Physician. Her unique training allows her to provide the best natural care available for your health concerns.

Frequently Asked Questions

What can I expect at my first visit with a Naturopath?

The purpose of the comprehensive initial visit is to share your health history and goals with the doctor. They will ask you a number of questions in order to review all your current symptoms and perform any relevant examinations. As Naturopathic Physicians believe that it is important to treat the whole person, a comprehensive interview is necessary. At the end of your first visit you will be given a personalized treatment plan to start you on your journey to health.

How is seeing a Naturopathic Physician different from seeing my regular medical doctor?

Naturopathic Physicians (NDs) are trained differently than MDs and their approach and treatment of most health problems reflects this. Naturopathic Physicians always seek to find the cause of a health concern and correct it at the source. They will always utilize the most natural and safe remedy, whether an herb, supplement or pharmaceutical agent, to tackle a health problem and always work to remove any obstacles to cure. The goal of Naturopathic Medicine is always to utilize the natural healing force of the body in order to obtain optimal health.

How often will I need a follow up visit?

This will depend on you and your specific health concern. Often patients require a few visits to establish healthy habits and then just 'check-in' whenever necessary.

What type of specialty lab testing is available?

A Naturopathic Physician might recommend specialty lab testing if she feels it will be beneficial to your future treatment. This might include salivary or urine testing to evaluate hormone levels, or blood testing to explore food allergens. Most of the labs Manakai O Malama works with are located on the mainland and offer specialty testing not available through traditional laboratories here in Hawaii. Specific Tests Available Include:

Urinary Steroid Hormone Analysis
Salivary Hormone Levels
Adrenal Stress Testing (Salivary)
Gluten Sensitivity Testing (Stool)
Comprehensive Stool Analysis
Food Allergen and Sensitivity Testing
Heavy Metal Analysis (Hair)

The cost for each of these tests vary and are often not covered by insurance.

Why doesn’t my insurance cover my visits with a Naturopath?

Unfortunately, the decision to cover Naturopathic Medicine is at the discretion of the insurance company. Several companies do cover Naturopathic services, but many still do not. If you are not certain if your visit will be covered, contact your insurance company directly. If your plan does have coverage for Alternative Services but Dr. Bachlet is not a direct provider, she can provide you will a receipt and billing codes that you may then welcome to submit to your insurance company for reimbursement.

If you have any additional questions, please don’t hesitate to contact Dr. Bachlet or Manakai O Malama.