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I want to know if anyone uses at Naturopath? I went to one yesterday about some digestive issues I have and he seemed really great, very infomrative,knew what he was talking about. But I am always leary of Quackery!!! lol.

Have they worked for you?

I love my naturopath. She's right on the money with most things and a helluva lot more likely to spend some quality time with my than my GP.

I have not been to one myself, however, I do think a good one can really help you clean up your overall health, especially if you have limited knowledge in what makes you healthy, keeps you healthy and good diet.

I do however think they should not replace your Dr. If you prefer the more hollistic approach to medicine, and care, you should definitely look for a D.O. instead of an MD. Contrary to what a lot of people believe Doctors osteopathy take the same board exams as MD's. They also have the same amount of schooling. The cool thing is they focus more on hollistic approach to wellness. I have seen some cool stuff done by them from manipulations of joints, to manual draining of lymph system. It works, and it's a better option than handfuls of pills.

The problem with Naturopaths is they will often recommend vitamins, and supplements, and since they are not considered medicine, they are not regulated, and don't have to meet the same standards of production that regular medicines do. This can be dangerous esp with some of the stuff they recommend, remember just because it's natural doesn't mean it's safe. The most potent poisons to humans are natural occuring chemicals and compounds.

Thanks tushnurse

You are correct, he is not replacing my doctor at all. I have come to the point in my life where I am tired of hearing ...it is IBS...even my doctor said that is just what they say when they don't know what it is.

So far nothing too drastic in changes, the suppliments are actually pretty close to what my dcotor has given me in the past, so I am not too nervous. I just have to suffer through a very restrictive diet for one month and then I can start adding things back in. Fun

IBS is a tough one. It's true it is diagnosed by ruling everything else out. However I do think there are people who have it that do a better job of managing it than others.....

That being said my first recommendation to anyone who is having issues is to eliminate any and all dairy for a few weeks, and see what happens. If it's not dairy, then move to tomato based products, if it's not either one of those that triggers it then you really need to keep a food journal until you can make the link.

The other factor that plays into it, is the mind gut connection. There is a strong one, so the more stress and upset you have the worse the IBS will be. Sometimes when all is well you can eat whatever you want, but when things are not so good, and you eat those same things they send you to moon with the pain, and cramping.

Probiotics have been found to be really helpful for a group of folks with IBS as well. (Which is what I am guessing the Naturopath gave you.).

Good luck.

I'm allergic to dairy so that one was already out..lol.

Yes he did give me a probiotic. LIke I said nothing crazy. He did point out some dietary changes and changing my workout which I am going to give a try. Hell I'll try pretty much anything at this time.

I do have my limits though. My friends laugh as I lump a lot of new age stuff into QUACKERY! lol

Look into the impact of eating GMO foods. Try switching to organic if you can and see if things improve.

There is so much we don't know about what's happened to food in the last 15 years.

I see The AMA has been really successful at promoting the idea that naturopaths are quacks. NDs have 4 years of grad school and are far from quacks even tho they don't use pharmaceuticals as the first solution to everything. NDs use professional line supplements which will use 3rd party labs to test every batch of product for contamination and potency. Those cheap supplements from China you buy at Walmart probably not.

One of the leading causes of death in the US is from properly prescribed pharmaceuticals while fatalities from supplements is extremely low.

I really bristle at the insulting name calling towards NDs as most of the ones I know have studied as hard as their MD counterparts, paid as much for their extensive schooling, are really hard working and earnest, and have really good results. They often work with chronic, tough cases that MDs could not help.

The AMA campaigned to outlaw all other forms of healthcare about 100 years ago and closed down many schools and practices that were good. It was more about professional competition then concern for health. Many people suffer when they don't need too. We could have a more integrative approach to healthcare and it would serve people a lot better.

Of course check your NDs credentials, but NDs are not quacks and supplements are not woo woo either. There is a lot of science behind their use.

I think a good ND is a very smart choice for a chronic condition like IBS.

Forgive my mini rant!

I wish you all the best.

[This message edited by InnerLight at 9:18 AM, October 2nd (Wednesday)]

I think it would be helpful to know how they are licensed. Every State has it's own requirements...and I have no idea what those may be in Canada.

Here are my experiences...one direct and one indirect.

I had a ND who was able to prescribe traditional medication. This was in a state that regulates the profession quite strictly and they are able to be listed as PCP's under insurance plans.

She used alternative applications where indicated....but in some situations, like a new patient coming in with High Blood Pressure, who wanted to go off the medication, she would continue to prescribe the medicine, while they dealt with underlying issues. She was amazing, responsible and her do no harm approach to care was taken to heart.

Conversely, I lived in another state where they were not regulated or recognized as a legitimate form of medicine,(this was some years ago and it may have changed) There, I did come across a real quack.

She was "prescribing" herbs all willy nilly. I believe she went to school through a program that lacked any accreditation. I have no idea. But I she was nothing like the ND I described above.

She treated my Aunt who had RA, and she convinced her to go off her meds and "prescribed" her an herb mixture. It was awful and she now is back on meds and has done some irreversible damage. Another woman was treated for a Dog bite by her..which became horribly infected and required hospitalization.

They can be great. Just make sure to check credentials. States with tough license requirements only accept grads from specific programs and I think there are less than 10 that are recognized by some of the tough states.

I have to agree about the D.O

Ours was my kids Pediatrician years ago...He was fantastic!

[This message edited by refuz2bavictim at 9:42 AM, October 2nd (Wednesday)]

I think as there is more and more of a shortage of traditional PCP's they will be more widely accepted, and hopefully regulated.

There are many Nurse Practioners out there that are not just western medicine in their school of thought as well. The trick if finding them, and finding the balance of both.

Yah it frightens me to hear stories where they take someone off their biologics to "heal" and autoimmune issue, that's not going to help. However you can optomize someone by making sure they are as healthy and strong as possible.

Refuz - do you mind sharing what state recognized them as practioners, and even took insurance?

Yes Tushnurse (love your name btw) It gives me a bit of a Seinfeld vibe!

OK Back to topic,

I lived in Washington State and because of their acceptance and regulation, it created an opening to qualify it as acceptable for insurance programs. I have no idea how new regulations will affect that status as I no longer live there, but generally speaking I found that alternative medical practitioners were a wonderful balance of traditional and alternative.

Very much like the idea of a D.O.

Contrary to what a lot of people believe Doctors osteopathy take the same board exams as MD's.

While osteopathic physicians are trained in medical science, osteopathy remains non-scientific and is not evidence based medicine. Doctors of Osteopathy are effective because their training is almost identical to M.D. curricula, not because OMT has any real merit.

eta:

The AMA campaigned to outlaw all other forms of healthcare about 100 years ago and closed down many schools and practices that were good. It was more about professional competition then concern for health. Many people suffer when they don't need too. We could have a more integrative approach to healthcare and it would serve people a lot better.

The AMA campaigned because these practices are not medicine.

There is zero basis for most of this quackery beyond anecdotal. And it *is* quackery. While I am sure not all was happiness and nobility in their efforts, and I am sure many naturopaths are well intentioned and honest people, it does not change the fact that these things are not medical science and should not be given the same merit.

That medical science is not infallible should not be a good reason to run off to some form of treatment that has less benefit than does going to talk to a priest or shaman IMO.

[This message edited by StillGoing at 9:11 PM, October 2nd (Wednesday)]