--> Their intelligence rises and they begin to question the mainstream propaganda on prescription drugs and medicine, and they even switch to naturopathic doctors instead of MDs. For their own safety, we obviously need to have a drug that eliminates this highly contagious disease and makes sure that people only have the mental capacity to follow doctors' orders.
Because thinking is, of course, a brain disorder. | | Meanwhile, health care professionals such as naturopathic doctors who are treating these diseases as symptoms of food allergies are having success.
The causes and effects of food allergies are hard to separate. If your secretions of digestive juices aren't adequate, more undigested food particles pass into the small intestine and then potentially into the bloodstream through the damaged gut lining. Some damage may be done to the intestines by foods you have become allergic to. | | I'm not going to describe the dozens of anticancer modalities that are prescribed by complementary alternative medicine doctors or naturopathic doctors. That is best done on an individual basis. In this section I'll talk about some common, accessible anticancer nutrients.
First, however, we need to understand what happens when chemicals enter the body, so we can learn how to support the body's own ability to thwart them. We touched on this in Chapter 3, but it's worth a review because it helps you understand how you can support your body's ability to defend itself. |  Herbs work at home. naturopathic doctors and other qualified herbal practitioners can help you improve your health. Qualified herbal practitioners include medical doctors and pharmacists who have studied herbal medicine, naturopathic doctors, doctors of oriental medicine (O.M.D.'s) or people certified in Chinese herbology, and herbalists who are members of professional herbal organizations around the world, such as the American Herbalists Guild and Britain's National Institute of Medical Herbalists. But herbs also let you help yourself, in the privacy of your own home. |  Many naturopathic doctors report that migraines become less frequent if people take supplemental calcium. The effect of calcium is amplified by vitamin D, which the skin manufactures with the help of sunlight—get fifteen to twenty minutes of morning or evening sun exposure on the face and hands every day. Research shows that women who have PMS suffer fewer migraines if they take supplemental magnesium.
LJ Speak with your doctor about taking vitamin B2 (riboflavin) to prevent migraines. |  As we naturopathic doctors see it, this challenge will force conventional medical practitioners to look at ways of enhancing resistance to infection. Our belief is that, as they do so, they will discover the healing power of nature. There is a growing body of knowledge that supports the use of whole foods and nutritional supplements in maintaining health and treating disease.
Treatment with Naturopathic Medicines
In addition to promoting good health, herbal products and nutritional supplements are often used as direct substitutes for conventional drugs. | | Nab a naturopath. naturopathic doctors with degrees from accredited natural medical schools such as Bastyr University in Kenmore, Washington, are often highly qualified physicians who practice a broad range of natural modalities, including herbal medicine. Their principal professional organization, the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians, offers a referral service that may put you in touch with an herbal practitioner near you. Write to 601 Valley Street, Suite 105, Seattle, WA 98109 or search for their Web site and physician database on the Internet.
Hunt for the holistic. |  Homeopathic physicians prescribe many medicines derived from plants, following a different theory of therapeutics.3 naturopathic doctors, many of whom are highly knowledgeable in biochemistry, use plant preparations for therapy (Murray and Pizzorno 1991). All these reasons add up to a significant interest in medicinal plants.
Recognizing that history, culture, and ecology all influence plant use, I propose that the pharmacopoeias of the American and Mexican West developed in the following way. First, the ecology of the region determined which plants could be found. |  A Textbook oj Natural Medicine, a natural healing reference commonly used by naturopathic doctors and medical doctors who use natural methods, suggest that women who have cervical dysplasia take 2 milligrams of folic acid a day for three months, then reduce the dose to 0.5 milligram a day. Along with your herbal therapy, vitamins A, C and the B-complex can be extremely helpful.
While Nancy's story attests to the power of herbs, do not get discouraged if you try them and you do not experience Nancy's success. Herbs sometimes work quickly, sometimes not. |  We talked to leading herbal authorities, naturopathic doctors, professors at universities, and highly regarded industry representatives who make the natural remedies in the United States and in Europe.
It was exhilarating, inspiring, informative, enlightening, and often discouraging and disheartening. As a mainstream medical journalist, I was both wildly enthusiastic about and sometimes appalled by the claims for some remedies. | | The nation's best current repository of reliable information on natural remedies consists of naturopathic doctors, who carry an "N.D." behind their names. They are a formidable force in the Northwest, where the nation's two accredited naturopathic medical schools are located— Bastyr University in Seattle and the National College of Naturopathic Medicine in Portland, Oregon. | | Qualified herbal practitioners include medical doctors and pharmacists who have studied herbal medicine, naturopathic doctors, doctors of oriental medicine (O.M.D.'s) or people certified in Chinese herbology, and herbalists who are members of professional herbal organizations around the world, such as the American Herbalists Guild and Britain's National Institute of Medical Herbalists. But herbs also let you help yourself, in the privacy of your own home. "If you go to the health food store and get an herb, you're very likely to achieve some success," Dr. Warnock says. |  Many physicians, particularly naturopathic doctors, use caprylic acid products as the antifungal agent in a yeast-control program. Caprylic acid is a long-chain fatty acid naturally occurring in coconut. It is toxic to yeast and safe for humans when taken in prescribed dosage limits. It has the potential to trigger die-off, but generally less so than nystatin. I often use it to prepare for nystatin therapy. Sometimes I prescribe it along with nystatin, and sometimes it's the only antifungal I prescribe.
Most health food stores stock a variety of caprylic acid products. |  When taken internally, it helps fight vaginal infections no matter what their cause may be. Many naturopathic doctors also suggest using a whole, peeled garlic clove as a suppository. Typical dosage: one or more fresh cloves added to food per day, or up to three 500- to 600-milligram capsules daily. Look for products that deliver at least 5,000 micrograms of allicin daily.
Echinacea (Echinacea angustifolia, E. purpurea, E. pallida)
This herb is an immune supercharger that enhances the action of white blood cells and other specialized infection-fighters throughout your body. |  However, the similarity ends there, as naturopathic philosophy contends that the doctor should assist these natural mechanisms and not suppress symptoms, especially by the use of antihistamines that reduce nasal secretions which are part of the body's mechanical means of expelling virus particles. naturopathic doctors state it is important to allow the body to discharge the virus, and that suppressing symptoms makes the individual more prone to other illnesses.
Many natural remedies are effective for managing a cold, including high doses of vitamin C. |  Naturopathic Naturopathic medicine encompasses herbal medicine, massage, acupuncture, and a broad spectrum of other alternative treatments. naturopathic doctors (N.D.s) are required to pass a national licensing exam after completing four years in a naturopathic medical college.
Orthomolecular Medicine An alternative therapy that aims to provide optimal levels of substances normally found in the body through nutrients. |  Today, the company maintains a full-time Wellness Line, staffed by trained naturopathic doctors who answer clients' health care questions.
Premiums for the Wellness plan are about 20 percent lower than for the company's traditional plans, says WolfKlain, "because we believe very strongly that if people do take care of themselves, if they take preventive measures, it's going to save us all a lot of money in the long run."
While the Wellness plan has more than 2,000 subscribers, it's offered in only five western states. |  Benzaldehyde, in a gluconated form, has been used by traditional healers in Japan and naturopathic doctors in North America to slow the growth of cancerous tumors.35 You can buy it at the supermarket in the form of almond extract (containing about 700 milligrams of benzaldehyde per ounce). The dose used in Japan is the equivalent of three-quarters of an ounce of almond extract. It is diluted in a glass of juice which is divided into fourths, one fourth taken every six hours. | | Like many naturopathic doctors, Thomas Kruzel, N.D., former president of the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians, who practices in Portland, Oregon, draws a link between psoriasis and a deficiency in the body's ability to rid itself of toxic substances.
Cause: The cause of psoriasis is still a mystery, but doctors think heredity may be involved. Flare-ups can be triggered by certain bacterial infections, such as strep throat, as well as skin injuries, vaccinations, stress, and some medications.
Incidence: Psoriasis affects 6.4 million Americans. | | On the herbal front, there are several plants that have antihista-minic or anti-itching properties that can be very effective. naturopathic doctors also often prescribe supplemental bioflavonoids and vitamin C to reduce the inflammation.
If itchy hives have you wanting to jump out of your skin, try some of these natural herbal remedies. You'll probably have some of them handy in your pantry.
Oats
Soak in a lukewarm oatmeal bath to soothe the itch until you feel relaxed. You don't want to take a hot bath, says Thomas Kruzel, N.D. | | Although there's no direct evidence linking dandelion to reduced cholesterol levels, there's no doubt that it's a great herb for your liver, according to naturopathic doctors. It's easy to find, but make sure the tincture is made from the root, says Dr. Jeanne. Use the bottle's dropper to fill a teaspoon, put the tincture in a small amount of water, and drink it down. It's best to take dandelion for about 2 months and then stop for about 2 weeks, says Dr. Jeanne. You can then take it for another 2 months and continue cycling until your cholesterol is lowered. | | Most herbalists and naturopathic doctors approach body composition from a more holistic perspective, examining diet, exercise level, overall build, and other factors before planning a weight-loss program.
So if you want to incorporate herbs into a weight-loss plan, do your research carefully, avoiding products with outlandish claims and sticking with reputable producers. And if you have a lot of weight to lose, don't let anyone tell you it's going to be fast or easy.
Drug treatment
Nonprescription Sympathomimetics
Phenylpropanolamine (Dexatrim, Acutrim). Function: decrease appetite. | | Evolutionary biologists and naturopathic doctors contend that fever is an adaptive mechanism to help the body fight infection, and therefore should not be suppressed. Human viruses are generally intolerant of heat and even a slight elevation in temperature inhibits replication of viruses, making fever an ally in fighting disease, rather than an enemy.
The intensity of fever in viral infections can vary from barely any elevation (the common cold) to very high temperatures (dengue). | | The professionals they certify as experts on fasting —meaning that they are qualified to help you do it—include medical doctors, chiropractors, osteopathic doctors and naturopathic doctors. your muscles. The amino acids are converted to glucose, temporarily making up for the lack of food. So if you're going to do an extended fast, you should be prepared to lose a little muscle.
After two to three days of fasting, your body realizes that if it wants to have something left to flex when the fast is done, it had better start producing an alternative source of energy. | | As of early 1997 twelve states licensed naturopathic doctors. In Washington state a new law forces insurance companies to pay for naturopathic treatments. The first complementary medical clinic opened in Seattle in 1997, merging natural and conventional treatments. Clinic patients can choose one or the other, or both types of treatment. It is managed by Bastyr University.
RED FLAGS, RED HERRINGS, AND LEGITIMATE CONCERNS
Much misinformation has been disseminated and many false alarms have been sounded in this country about the use of natural remedies. |  Herbalists and naturopathic doctors tend to distrust the allopathic model for just that reason. Why not address what's causing those headaches, they ask, on the chance that they can be prevented in the future? Symptoms are important clues to an underlying imbalance. A skilled herbalist can use herbs to treat hormone imbalances, stress, or allergies that cause a headache, not just provide anti-inflammatories that subdue the immediate pain. Yes, herbs can be used for particular problems, but they also provide nourishment for the whole body. |  For more information, consult with your health care professional. naturopathic doctors (ND) are usually well trained in these theories.
FIX WHAT'S BROKE
If you have a zinc deficiency, then a truckload of vitamin C will not be nearly as valuable as giving the body what it needs to end the zinc deficiency. If an accumulation of lead and mercury has crimped the immune system, then removing the toxic metals is more important than psychotherapy. If a low output of hydrochloric acid in the stomach creates poor digestion and malabsorption, then hydrochloric acid supplements are the answer. |  Washington currently licenses naturopathic doctors, acupuncturists, chiropractors, certified dietitians and nutritionists, massage therapists, and midwives. A coalition of insurance providers immediately initiated a legal challenge to the legislation, but the law was upheld in 2001 by the Washington State Supreme Court.
Washington is an exception, however. And before we can get medical coverage for alternative therapies, we have to make alternative therapies themselves available. | | In naturopathic medicine, signs and symptoms of disease are seen as the manifestations of the body's attempt to naturally heal itself
Treat the cause rather than the effect: naturopathic doctors (N.D.s) seek the underlying cause of a disease rather than simply suppressing the symptoms.They avoid suppression of the natural healing wisdom of the body, such as fever and inflammation. Symptoms are viewed as expressions of the body's natural attempt to heal itself, while the causes can spring from the physical, mental/emotional, and spiritual levels. | | Modern naturopathic doctors provide complete diagnostic and therapeutic services. As family doctors, many practice natural childbirth (usually in the home setting), pediatrics, gynecology, and geriatrics. Naturopathic physicians make recommendations on lifestyle, diet, and exercise, and utilize a variety of natural and noninvasive healing techniques. The current scope of treatments in which N.D. | |
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