The Naturopathic Revolution
From exercise to organic food to greener products, more and more North Americans are seeking a healthier lifestyle, and that includes natural healthcare options. The good news is that more information and higher quality options are available today than ever before.
From chiropractors to acupuncturists to Naturopathic Doctors (NDs), in 1990 Americans made 425 million visits to providers of unconventional therapies. By 1997, that number had skyrocketed 47 percent to 625 million visits, exceeding the number visits to all primary care physicians (386 million).
If the prevalence of natural health stores and clinics, the increasing availability of products and literature, and the expanded media coverage is any indication, more people than ever before seem to be seeking - and demanding - natural and integrative alternatives to the conventional healthcare model.
Now that many major health insurance companies have also responded to this growing demand by covering at least one type of alternative health care, more than 80 million Americans now turn to the estimated $30-50 billion industry that is complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). A 2007 study of Minnesota community-dwelling older adults, for example, found the usage of CAM among this group to be nearly 63 percent, and even higher in those with specific health problems. As awareness of the benefits of natural medicine grows, industry experts expect consumer demand to continue to increase.
Why do people choose complementary alternative medicine?
People decide to try CAM for many different reasons, including dissatisfaction with conventional medicine, satisfaction with their increasingly health-aware lifestyles, and because they want to supplement conventional approaches.
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New York real estate broker Andrew Kaufmann was diagnosed with chronic kidney disease in 1989. Three specialists offered aspirin, hormone and steroid therapy. Their plan: monitor his kidney deterioration until he was ready for a transplant.
But Kaufmann rejected that treatment and went in search of alternatives. He found a holistic physician team who put him on a course of homeopathic and botanical medicine treatment along with intensive nutritional counseling and lifestyle changes. Kaufmann also incorporated chiropractic medicine, traditional Chinese medicine, reflexology, massage therapy and spiritual faith into his regimen.
After eight years of this new lifestyle, he regained normal, healthy kidney function.
Kaufmann was so grateful for the gift of renewed health that he decided to go to medical school to become a Naturopathic Doctor.
Now, Dr. Kaufmann's patients who successfully avoid diabetes won't have to take costly prescription medicine that can have potentially negative side effects. Nor will they have to suffer diabetes related complications like kidney, eye and feet problems.
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Dissatisfaction with the conventional approach
Many North Americans have become disenchanted with conventional health care systems due to the over-reliance on invasive procedures and prescription drugs. In the US each year, prescription drug related problems cause over 100,000 deaths, and practitioners perform over seven million unnecessary surgeries and medical procedures.
When these conventional treatments don't end up alleviating pain or disease long-term, many patients lose trust. Not willing to give up hope of regaining health, patients begin looking for alternative healing options. Naturopathic Doctors successfully treat problems like back pain, menopause, menstruation and hormonal issues, allergies, depression, insomnia, thyroid problems, weight and appetite control, type 2 diabetes, cholesterol, migraines and other types of headaches, blood pressure issues, fibromyalgia and many other conditions.
These types of debilitating chronic pain and illnesses have a fairly poor record of being treated successfully by conventional medicine alone, yet Naturopathic Medicine often offers permanent relief for these and more. (See sidebar: Patient turned doctor.) This is because the Naturopathic approach focuses on assisting the body in bringing about its own healing, naturally. While Western medicine often focuses on suppressing symptoms, Naturopathic Medicine seeks to identify the cause of an illness, and then to cure the root of the problem.
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"I was attracted to Naturopathic Medicine because it gives me more control over my own health. I truly am a partner with my Naturopathic Physician. She teaches me how to maintain a lifestyle that keeps me healthy and will help prevent some of the things like osteoporosis that could be coming down the pike in the future. "
- Robin Kirylo
Naturopathic patient, Colorado
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This prevention-focused approach - a hallmark of Naturopathic Medicine - can mean significant healthcare cost savings while contributing to a higher quality of life.
Health-aware lifestyle
Another way many people come to find natural medicine is through healthy lifestyle changes. As a growing number of people adopt health-aware behaviors like eating healthier, exercising and taking time out for themselves, they become more aware of, and open to, more natural healing options.
Supplementing conventional medicine
The ability to use complementary and alternative medicine along with conventional medicine is a major attraction for many people. For instance, a cancer patient may decide to have a tumor removed surgically while supporting recovery with a natural diet, acupuncture and supplements. All physicians stress to their patients the importance of informing them about any alternative treatments in order to avoid any contraindications.
Using natural medicine when feasible also enables patients to reserve conventional medications for when they are truly necessary, thus reducing the tendency to develop resistance, to antibiotics for example.
Says Naturopathic patient Robin Kirylo: "I rarely get sick but I got a really horrible cold recently. I finally went to the doctor, knowing that I would be prescribed antibiotics. But I was able to take natural supplements to offset the damage antibiotics do to the good bacteria and to avoid a yeast infection. It gave me great peace of mind."
Supplementing conventional medicine
The medical field is responding to the growing demand for natural medicine. About 60 percent of conventional medical schools now provide instruction in complementary medicine. For example, at the University of Minnesota, students of medicine, nursing, pharmacy, dentistry, veterinary medicine and public health study integrative medicine as part of their curricula through the university's Center for Spirituality and Healing. The Center offers a minor and a graduate certificate, and is one of five institutions designated by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) as a Developmental Center for Research on Complementary and Alternative Medicine. The Center also offers public programs, workshops, and lectures dedicated to helping consumers "Take Charge of Their Health."
Harvard University's Division for Research and Education in Complementary and Integrative Medical Therapies conducts research studies, continuing medical education programs, medical school courses; offers a robust fellowship training program; and is developing a model for an integrative care clinical facility. Multi-disciplinary practices - those that integrate conventional and holistic therapies - provide the best of both worlds to patients, and consequently are on the rise as well.
As the demand for holistic health options skyrockets, enrollment in the six accredited North American Naturopathic Medical schools is also rapidly expanding. About 4,000 Naturopathic Doctors (NDs) currently practice medicine in Canada and the US.
Health insurance companies, also responding to the trend, are beginning to offer more plans with alternative health options. One is Blue Cross Blue Shield's Naturally Blue program. Through this plan, BCBS partners with American WholeHealth Networks to provide discounts on natural health care products and offer a national network of over 25,000 practitioners in more than 35 specialties including Naturopathic Medicine, acupuncture, exercise, diet consultation, massage and relaxation to name a few.
If you want to learn more about your natural healthcare options, start by reading What Can Naturopathic Medicine Do for You?
Or visit a local ND in your area.
» Find an ND in the US
» Find an ND in Canada
Footnote Source Information
1. "The New Ancient Trend in Medicine," Harvard Magazine (March-April 2002).
http://www.harvard-magazine.com/on-line/030221.html
2. "Mapping the Emergence of Integrative Medicine," Clohesy Consulting, (April 2003).
http://www.pcintegrativemedicine.org/content/pdf/mappingExecSummary.pdf
3. "Coverage for Alternative Treatment Rises and Trend has Yet To Peak," CNN (November 19, 1999).
http://www.cnn.com/HEALTH/alternative/9911/23/alt.med.insurance.wmd/
4. "Occupational Outlook Handbook," US Department of Labor (2008-09 Edition).
http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos071.htm#outlook
5. "
Death By Medicine,"
Life Extension Magazine (March 2004).
http://www.lef.org/magazine/mag2004/mar2004_awsi_death_02.htm
6. Complementary and Alternative Medicine in the United States,Board on Health Promotion and Disease Prevention (2005)
http://www.nap.edu/openbook.php?record_id=11182&page=56
7. "Debilitating Workplace Low Back Pain Alleviated by Naturopathic Medicine," CCNMC (October 2007).
http://www.ccnm.edu/?q=debilitating_workplace_low_back_pain_alleviated_naturopathic_medicine
8. "Survey of Naturopathic Physicians," AANMC, (Summer 2004)
http://www.aanmc.org/careers/becoming-a-doctor/top-10-conditions-treated.php
9. "5 alternative medicine treatments that work" CNN, (October 2007).
http://www.cnn.com/2007/HEALTH/10/04/ep.alt.med/index.html
10. "Complementary and Alternative Medicine in the United States," Board on Health Promotion and Disease Prevention (2005).
http://www.nap.edu/openbook.php?record_id=11182&page=52#p2000c7669960052001
11. University of Minnesota Center for Spirituality and Healing
http://www.csh.umn.edu/csh/about/home.html
12. Harvard Medical School Osher Research Center
http://www.osher.hms.harvard.edu/r_general.asp
13. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan's Naturally Blue program
http://www.bcbsm.com/member/saving_money/naturally_blue.shtml
