What is Homeopathy

Developed in Germany over 200 years ago by Dr. Samuel Hahnemann, homeopathy uses small amounts of natural substances to stimulate the patient’s own immune system and innate healing process, thus gently bringing the body back into balance.  Homeopathy can be used to treat a wide spectrum of health concerns from mental and emotional issues (for example depression, anxiety, ADHD) to acute concerns like colds, flu, nausea of pregnancy, and chronic diseases like arthritis, IBS, sinusitis, and many, many others.  Homeopathy is safe and effective for children, the elderly, and during pregnancy.

It is now used extensively all over Europe (including Germany, France and England), and is a primary system of health care in India.

 What is CranioSacral Therapy

CranioSacral Therapy (CST) is a gentle type of bodywork aimed at releasing constrictions in the musculoskeletal and nervous system, to relieve pain and anxiety.  CST is safe to use on patients of any age.  The moves are light, non-invasive, relaxing and are done through clothing.  It is very effective for pain (e.g. trauma from a motor vehicle accident, fibromyalgia), chronic headaches, sinusitis, TMJ syndrome, and many other disorders.  It is also extremely relaxing.

What is the difference between Naturopathy and Homeopathy?

Homeopathy, describe above, is a distinct area of natural medicine using very diluted natural substances to stimulate the immune system and bring about physical, mental and emotional balance.

Naturopathy encompasses many different fields, of which homeopathy is just one.  Other “modalities” included under the umbrella of naturopathy include: hydrotherapy, herbal or botanical medicine, nutritional counseling, exercise science, biofeedback, hypnotherapy, I.V. therapy and many others.  None of these modalities in and of themselves define naturopathic medicine.  Rather, naturopathy is a distinct field of primary care medicine that employs all of these, and more, in the assessment and treatment of disease.

What is Hydrotherapy?

Hydrotherapy is the use of hot and cold water (and sometimes steam or ice) therapeutically.  Naturopathic Doctors are trained to use alternating heat and cold to stimulate the immune system.  Hydrotherapy is especially helpful for illnesses such as the common cold, flu, pneumonia, sports injuries, sinusitis, tonsillitis and many, many others.  The simple techniques used in hydrotherapy are easily taught to patients for use at home, and can be incredibly effective at restoring health to even the sickest patient.  Hydrotherapy may also be used in conjunction with other naturopathic therapies, to increase effectiveness.

 How do Bio-Identical Hormones Differ from Synthetic Hormones?

Synthetic hormones, conventionally used to treat symptoms of menopause, are derived from a variety of sources, including the urine of pregnant horses.  Synthetic hormones chemical structures, although similar enough to fit into the receptors of the human body, do not actually match the chemical structure of our natural hormones.

Even a slight difference in the molecular configuration of a compound can produce a very different response from its natural counterpart.  It is believed that this “mis-match” of synthetic hormones in the human body is part of the reason synthetic hormones were discovered in 2002 to increase the risks of breast cancer and heart disease.  In addition, synthetic hormones are 10 to 100 times stronger than hormones found naturally in the body, so when you take them, you are not getting a natural dose of hormones.  Finally, synthetic hormones are prescribed on a “one-size-fits-all” philosophy, and frequently women who take them actually feel worse because the dose does not match their deficiency.

Bio-identical hormones are derived from plants, and are an exact structural match to those made naturally by the body.  Because the chemical structure of these hormones matches that of the hormones made by the body, bio-identical hormones fit perfectly into the body’s hormone receptors, with predictable results.  Bio-identical hormones are compounded on an individual basis, so the dose a patient gets has been prescribed just for her, based on her unique set of symptoms and the level of hormones found to be in her body through prior testing.

Responsible bio-identical hormone prescribing is only done following a test to determine which hormones are deficient.

Bio-identical hormones may also be prescribed for men, if symptoms suggest a hormone imbalance and their levels are found through testing to be low.

If symptoms suggest a hormone imbalance, but none is found upon testing, other causes of the symptoms should be explored.  Thyroid and adrenal imbalances, along with food intolerances and vitamin deficiencies may cause symptoms that appear to be hormonal in origin but are not.