Take Charge of Your Health By Ann Aresco, ND T
he TV in the living room just isn’t cutting it anymore. So what do we do? It’s a big
purchase, so of course we research before buying. We go online, read reviews, and start shopping around to see what’s out there. So why don’t we invest that time when it comes to our health?
Patients Should Not Partake In One Stop Shopping With Their Health
Shouldn’t you know what the various
treatment choices are before you make a decision on your health care? Everyone should. There is never just one answer when it comes to a health care problem. The best medical professionals, whether they are MDs or NDs, realize that it takes an entire team of professionals to diagnose, treat, and support the health of an individual. Our health is a mosaic of many components: diet, exercise, hydration, vitamins, sleep, prescriptions, medical tests, monitoring, and perhaps well- ness treatments such as chiropractic care and acupuncture.
How Is Naturopathic Medicine Different?
In the holistic view of medicine, high blood pressure isn’t just high blood pressure, and heartburn isn’t just heartburn. These are messages that your body is sending to get your attention so that you can correct whatever imbalance is causing it, not just the symptoms that you are experiencing right now. In naturopathic medicine, we address the underlying cause. We are always search- ing for the patients’ perfect balance. A shared mission among naturopathic
physicians is prevention. Ideally, before creating a treatment plan for an acute condi- tion, a prevention plan is first put into place.
But in reality, most patients come in to see a naturopathic doctor after a health condition is already present. This last resort approach to health care is one that can be avoided by taking charge of your health and doing
your homework. NDs encourage and support patient independence by providing not only knowledge, but also an arsenal for patients to self-treat reoccurring condi-
tions. Everyone’s toolbox will be differ- ent, but it could contain natural remedies, supplements, vitamins, or nutritional sugges- tions. For example, if your child has numer- ous ear infections every winter, or you suffer from chronic bronchitis, there are many proven and successful alternative solutions. An ND can teach you how to prevent and also treat your own conditions. This reduces a doctor-patient codependency and pro- motes empowerment through self-awareness and care.
Why Should You Choose Naturopathic Medicine Over All Others?
You shouldn’t, unless it works for you.
Many patients are looking into alterna- tives for their healthcare, and they should. Experienced and confident NDs know and understand that the ability to work as a team with MDs and other professionals is invalu- able when it comes to achieving overall health and wellness. It’s so refreshing when a new patient
says, “I’d like to speak to you about my health issue, and the type of care that you’d recommend. I am on a fact finding mission to determine how I will treat my condition, and naturopathic medicine is just one of the options that I am looking into. The final deci- sion on my healthcare will be mine.” This approach is refreshingly smart, and
any veteran ND would not be offended, but rather pleased with this take-charge ap- proach and sense of ownership over one’s health. Speaking personally, I know that I am not the end all and be all of medicine. I know that no one else is either. I have healed many people successfully, and I will contin- ue to do so. But my main goal when a new patient comes in is to teach them everything that they should consider when it comes to handling their health today and tomorrow.
24 Natural Nutmeg April 2012
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52