Friday, March 12, 2010

Why I Have Embraced Naturopathic Medicine

This last week I suffered from some sort of intestinal infection. When I first felt it on Sunday morning and experienced a couple bouts of vomiting I figured it was the stomach flu, but as it went on throughout the week it was obvious I was suffering from something more. Why am I writing about this? To share how I love the world of naturopathic medicine. I haven't been to a MD for a few years now, having made the switch to a ND (Naturopathic Physician). I couldn't be happier, and this past week has once again showed me how  Naturopathy has improved my well being and made my healthcare a pleasant process.

On the second day of my illness I was feeling better, but quickly realized at the end of that day, I was far from healed. After a miserable evening I called my doctor, Dr. Meredith Distante, and left a message explaining my situation. She called me back in a couple hours and instructed me to take probiotics, drink homemade electrolytes (4 C. water, 1/2 t. sea salt, 1/2 t. baking soda, pinch of sugar), rest and only eat grains, bananas or apples. I followed her instructions feeling much better by the afternoon, and had a fairly normal day on Wednesday, but once again in the evening had a bit of a relapse. Checking in with her again by phone the next morning, she again stressed the need for the probiotics and put my mind at ease that I would be better soon. I continued the protocol and by this morning I really began to feel healthy and have an appetite. It is so nice to be free of the stomach pains! It really is miserable being in dis-ease. After a day of eating well, increasing energy I reflected on my experience. Or really on what my experience could have been.

I can only speculate what would have happened had I called a MD. A friend shared her story of a bad intestinal bug that went on for three weeks and was treated with antibiotics. If I hadn't started the probiotics would I still be suffering? I really don't know, but if it had continued and I had chosen to go to a MD's office what is the likelihood he'd prescribe probiotics? Pretty darn slim. But if I had been suffering for a while I'd say it is pretty likely he would have written up a prescription for antibiotics, giving me freedom from my ailment but killing off all my good bacteria in the process. I believe the probiotics I took re-populated my good bacteria enough to kill off the bug I had, without any harm to my body. No worries about building up resistance to antibiotics or risking a yeast infection.

Gone are the days when medical doctors make house calls and have private practices. We go to clinics, talk to advice nurses and typically only talk to the doctor during an appointment. Getting care from a naturopathic doctor can be a much more pleasant process. Dr. Distante runs a busy practice, but when necessary she is able to return my calls or emails within a very reasonable time frame. I have benefitted from embracing naturopathic medicine and hope you will or have as well. I'd love to hear your own stories of how naturopathic physicians, finding the cause and not treating the symptoms of your ailments, has changed you.