We have all heard nebulous terms that refer to alternative medicine. Holistic medicine, homeopathy, herbal medicine, alternative medicine, and Naturopathic medicine, are often used in a general way but they all mean very different things. It is important to understand these differences when trying to improve your health. Holistic Medicine refers to treating the whole person rather than focusing on one small organ or disease at a time. Homeopathy uses a small dose of a substance to reverse symptoms that a large dose of the same substance would cause in a healthy person. Herbal medicine uses herbs as medications. Alternative medicine can refer to any form of healing that is not standard drug or surgical intervention.
Naturopathic medicine is a system of medical care that uses blood, saliva and urine labs as well as physical exams to gather information about imbalances in the body that cause disease. Once these imbalances are identified and a cause is determined a naturopathic medical doctor will use their extensive background in science based alternative treatments to put a treatment plan together that will address the core imbalances of your disease process using micronutrients, herbs, Bio-identical hormones, diet modification, exercise, detoxification.
Call 916-351-WELL(9355) to book a free 15 minute consultation with a Naturopathic Doctor and learn how a focused approach to alternative medicine can improve your health.
Dr. Michele Raithel, ND