May 4th-10th is Naturopathic Medicine Week!

What is Naturopathic Medicine?

Naturopathic medicine is a health profession that focuses on the health and well-being of the whole person, with an emphasis on health promotion and disease prevention. 

Naturopathic doctors are uniquely trained in both conventional therapies and natural therapies, allowing us to effectively support acute and chronic ailments, making us the perfect choice to work alongside your primary care physician and the rest of your medical team.

 

Naturopathic Medicine Week

Naturopathic Medicine Week was launched in 2013 to help bring awareness to the field of naturopathic medicine and highlight the contributions that naturopathic doctors can provide to patients and the community. Naturopathic medicine isn’t federally regulated, but it is fully licensed in 26 states. This licensure allows naturopathic doctors to provide expanded primary care services to their patients. The AANMC provides information on state-by-state licensure and can provide you with more information on your specific state! 

 

Caring for the Whole You

This year’s Naturopathic Medicine Week theme is ‘Caring for the Whole You’. One of the six core principles of Naturopathic Medicine is ‘tolle totum’, which translates to ‘treat the whole person’. As naturopathic doctors, we pride ourselves on seeing the big picture and being able to ‘care for the whole you’ instead of just briefly focusing on one specific part of you (like your high blood pressure and your heart, for example). Instead of just focusing on the fact that your blood pressure is high, we take the time to investigate further to see if we can find any triggers or factors that are affecting you and resulting in your high blood pressure readings.

Triggers like dietary factors, stressors, lack of resources, or other physical conditions are often overlooked but contribute to symptoms. This is why it is essential to ‘care for the whole you’; you are one interconnected being. Everything you interact with in the world can impact the physiological responses your body is experiencing. 

 

Why Work with a Naturopathic Doctor?

  • Time: We spend anywhere from 1 to 2 hours with patients, allowing us to ask questions that may not have been asked in a traditional visit. We dive deep into personal, medical, and social history to learn about each individual patient’s intricacies so that we can provide the best support possible. 
  • Individualization: Because we are trained to ‘care for the whole you’ and take the time to learn about each individual, this allows us to come up with a creative and unique plan specific to you as an individual person. We do not focus on protocols, but rather work towards fine-tuning your supportive recommendations based on your individual needs and goals.
  • Empowerment: Because we want to see you thrive and be the healthiest version of you possible, we will provide you with tools, referrals, and the guidance necessary to feel empowered to make sustainable lifestyle changes. We often see patients frustrated with their health and lack of results, so they are discouraged by the time they are in our office. Our goal is for you to walk out of our office feeling a sense of empowerment and to possess the tools that you need to work towards success.

 

If you are just learning about naturopathic medicine for the first time or have been waiting to make your first appointment, we encourage you to call our office today to learn more about what support we offer and how we can help empower you on your journey towards better health! 

 

References

  1. https://aanmc.org/naturopathic-medicine/
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Man getting frustrated looking his medical symptoms up online
The Dangers of Googling or Using ChatGPT For Your Medical Symptoms
Googling Symptoms

How many times have you Googled your symptoms and been provided with frightening information about potential health ailments? The internet is a powerful tool that has made our lives easier in a lot of ways. However, it can easily complicate matters by providing broad information that doesn’t pertain to each individual. 

For the sake of this article, I asked Google ‘Why do I have a headache?”. I was provided with multiple answers, including dehydration, allergies, hormone imbalances, and underlying medical conditions like a stroke or meningitis. 

 

Don’t Put All Your Eggs in One Basket 

The internet can be a helpful tool in assisting you in learning more about different health conditions. But it should only be considered one of the tools you rely on, not the only one you rely on. Solely relying on information from one article or from ChatGPT (or any other AI software) can be dangerous, as there is a significant amount of misinformation floating around online. The rise in artificial intelligence is making it much more difficult to differentiate good information from bad information. 

If you find information online that you are interested in incorporating into your daily life to support your overall health, consider having a conversation with your healthcare provider (or naturopathic doctor) to learn more about the information that you found, and to see if the recommendations from Google or ChatGPT truly are good ideas for you to incorporate. It is important to remember that these artificial interfaces do not have all the answers and can make errors, just like humans. Although these artificial interfaces may be intelligent, they did not spend years in school studying the human body, and they lack the ability to make personal recommendations based on your individual being. Don’t put all your eggs in one basket by blindly trusting the internet. Seek additional guidance for well-rounded support. 

 

Naturopathic Medicine and Artificial Intelligence 

As a naturopathic doctor, it is my job to take all of the information available (labs, medical history, personal preferences, individual symptoms, etc) into consideration when providing support to each individual. A computer-generated model cannot make these same individualized recommendations, because it does not know you as an individual- it only knows you by the data input into its system. ChatGPT cannot pick up on your emotions, and it cannot gauge appropriately how much stress you are under or how sleep-deprived you are.

Important Considerations

Google cannot replace a medical education or a degree in any healthcare field. ChatGPT cannot replace years of hands-on training, clinical experience, and anecdotal evidence that is seen on a daily basis. While there is no doubt that AI will infiltrate the healthcare community and there will inevitably be ways that artificial intelligence improves the medical community, we must use caution with our health and wellness when it comes to artificial intelligence. 

 

Getting overwhelmed by all of the “medical advice” swirling around social media? You’re not alone. Read more here!

References:
  1. Tan S, Xin X, Wu D. ChatGPT in medicine: prospects and challenges: a review article. Int J Surg. 2024;110(6):3701-3706. Published 2024 Jun 1. doi:10.1097/JS9.0000000000001312
  2. Homolak J. Opportunities and risks of ChatGPT in medicine, science, and academic publishing: a modern Promethean dilemma. Croat Med J. 2023;64(1):1-3. doi:10.3325/cmj.2023.64.1
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The Naturopathic Approach to Teen Health

Teen and young adult health is an area where Naturopathic Medicine really shines. During the ages of 12-19, young adults are eager to learn, yet often get little education about how their body works, and what steps they can take to encourage preventive health to stay healthy and vibrant. Young people often present as the healthiest among us, but that doesn’t always mean they have the healthiest habits.

The naturopathic doctors here at Richmond Natural Medicine love to see teens and young adults, and especially educate these young patients about the fascinating and important ways their body can stay healthy and strong. Dr. Viktoriya Beliy shares some of her first hand experience working with teen health:

The Naturopathic Approach to Teen Health

What are some of the most common health issues you see presenting in teen’s and young adults at RNM?

I am most often supporting teens with acne, hormone imbalance, and mood support (ADD/ADHD, anxiety, depression).  Teens are placed under more pressure than ever to perform in their academic and social lives which also takes a toll on their adrenals and nervous system. I feel we’re seeing more burnout in teens and young adults than even in older age groups. 

What are some of the ways the naturopathic approach is different from the conventional approach when working with teens? What can they expect from working with you over time?

Naturopathic medicine is much more holistic in treating teens. We don’t just talk about acne and skin, we’ll talk about all of the organ systems, diet, and lifestyle to address the root cause. Our questions are more detailed and focused on addressing the whole person and how that is relevant to their current condition. 

One thing to note is that naturopathic medicine doesn’t always offer very quick solutions, some therapies take time to see a difference. But they can expect to feel overall better. 

Can you talk a little about empowering young adults and teens with health education to support long-term healthy habits & maintaining balanced wellness in their life?

A big piece of working with this age group is to ensure a safe space where they can talk openly about what’s going on and how it’s affecting them. I want to ensure comfort and compassion so they can be advocates for their health starting now. Education plays a huge role in our discussions so that they understand the long term goals of care and how we want their future health to be. The foundations of good health are sleep, nutrition, and self-care, so we want to set up those habits now and find ways to fit that into their everyday lives. If we discuss the importance of these habits there’s more incentive to follow through.

Remember, you don’t always need to have a diagnosis, or be presenting with an obvious health issue to get support from a naturopathic doctor. Naturopathic medicine focuses heavily on educating you, supporting your health goals long term by practicing preventative health, and offering you individualized holistic wellbeing tools and recommendations to enhance areas in your life where you may be struggling. This can include stress management, diet, sleep, or emotional and mood support, and more!

If you would like more information or guidance for teen and young adult health here at Richmond Natural Medicine, consider making an appointment with Dr. Beliy to get started.

 

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naturopathic doctor
Is Your Naturopathic Doctor Correctly Accredited and Trained? This Guide Helps You Find Out.

 

When searching for a Naturopathic Doctor or Natural Health Practitioner, you may come across individuals who call themselves “Naturopaths” or claim to be a Naturopathic Doctor but may not necessarily have the appropriate and expected level of training or education. It’s important to know what credentials and formal education your Naturopathic Doctor should have when searching for the right practitioner in Virginia.

Not All Doctors Are Created Equal: Know Your NDs Credentials

At this time, naturopathic medicine is not regulated in some but not all 50 states. Virginia is currently one of the states that does not yet regulate Naturopathic Doctors. Unfortunately, this lack of regulation means that some individuals who do not meet the educational standards of the profession are able to call themselves “naturopaths” or “NDs.” These individuals may have degrees or diplomas from distance-learning schools, weekend seminars, home-study schools that operate without state or federal authority to grant degrees, or schools/certifying agencies without naturopathic programs or faculty that confer naturopathic credentials based on other kinds of health education. None of these programs qualify a candidate to sit for national board exams or to receive formal naturopathic licensure in any state.

In some states, individuals misusing ND credentials are able to “claim” the title simply by paying a fee for a business license that requires no evidence of education. Patients should know what to look for when they seek the services of a trained and licensed Naturopathic Doctor. Only state licensure can guarantee the training and safety to which patients are entitled. Look closely at where your naturopathic doctor received their training. If this information is not listed on their website, ask them where they received their credentials and if it is from an accredited institution for clinical practice.

RNM Naturopathic Doctors Meet the Highest Standards

A formal Naturopathic Doctor education begins with a traditional four-year pre-med undergraduate degree. Following the completion of undergraduate requirements, Richmond Natural Medicine doctors train at any one of six accredited naturopathic colleges accredited by the United States Department of Education. This graduate education includes a minimum of four years, with the first two years focusing on basic sciences, pathology, & diagnosis. The last two years are concentrated around a variety of natural therapies, including botanical medicine, nutrition, physical manipulation, homeopathy, minor surgery, and pharmacology. Specialty focus is also given towards individual organ systems, with classes in gastroenterology, proctology, cardiology, gynecology, and neurology.

After graduation, all Naturopathic Doctors must pass national board exams and state licensing exams. For NDs who practice in states that do not offer a license (such as Virginia), practitioners hold a license in a different licensed state, so as to be held to regulation and continuing education requirements. For more detailed information on this please visit the Association of Accredited Naturopathic Medical Colleges.

Richmond Natural Medicine is proud to offer services from professional, licensed, and experienced practitioners that have completed accredited and legitimate training programs recognized by the Department of Education.

Read More: Naturopathic Medicine at Richmond Natural Medicine

If you are searching for the right Naturopathic Doctor with appropriate credentials and training, check out these online directories:

Learn more about our Naturopathic Doctors at Richmond Natural Medicine.

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What is Naturopathic Medicine? How Your Naturopathic Doctor Complements your PCP Provider

What is Naturopathic Medicine?

Naturopathic medicine is a system of primary health care that emphasizes prevention and combines a natural, whole-body healing approach with current health research and scientific methodology. Naturopathic doctors utilize a variety of modalities, including nutrition therapy, botanical and herbal formulas, homeopathy, supplementation, and sometimes pharmaceuticals. Their goal is always to understand the causative factors that lead to disease presentation, and work on a deeper level to balance the body and address the underlying causes of imbalance. Their primary focus is on disease prevention rather than symptom management.

Although naturopathic doctors are not licensed in all fifty states, a trained naturopathic physician has attended and graduated from an accredited, four-year graduate-level school, and some have attended additional residencies and post clinical rotations. In those states where naturopathic doctors are licensed, they are considered primary care providers and can deliver the same level of health care as an MD, including performing physical exams, diagnosing medical conditions, and prescribing medications. In those states where a licensed naturopathic doctor is not recognized as a primary care provider, they can still provide a high level of individualized care and are trained to work collaboratively with your primary care MD’s to provide an extra layer of holistic health support.

Read More: Naturopathic Medicine for General Health

How Your Naturopathic Doctor Complements your Primary Care Provider

Licensed naturopathic doctors (even in unlicensed states, such as Virginia) can provide an essential level of support to your primary care MD by focusing on areas of your health that are easily overlooked in the conventional health system. Your ND looks very closely at your health history, family history, diet, lifestyle, areas of stress, current health conditions and medications, and recent lab work, and makes holistic health recommendations that can fit in safely with your current medical protocol. They are trained to communicate professionally with your doctors and understand contra-indications, interactions, side effects, and complex physiology, all while staying informed of the most current health and scientific research to support their alternative approach.

Sometimes, symptom management with medications alone is not enough. Through a naturopathic viewpoint, all areas of your life and health are addressed. When you implement naturopathic recommendations that address your sleep, diet, stress, genetic predisposition, exercise, and/or happiness, your level of care is exponentially higher, and your body’s response to healing and balance is significantly improved.

Read More: A Naturopathic Approach to High Blood Pressure

Taking a Holistic Health Approach

No matter how complicated or misunderstood your health state is in, working with your naturopathic doctor can bring a level of clarity and understanding to your health journey that lab work and medications may leave lacking. The goal of the naturopath is to empower, educate, and explain to their patients how and why something is manifesting within their health, and put all of the pieces together in a way that you can understand while empowering you to ask questions moving forward. Sometimes, putting all of the pieces of a health history together is a complicated and lengthy process, but viewing it from a whole-body perspective is essential to gain a full understanding. That’s why appointments with your naturopathic doctor are one or two hours long. Gathering information is important, and hearing your story is a valuable piece of detective work.

Comprehensive Understanding

One of the skills your naturopathic doctor can provide is putting all of the pieces together from multiple areas of care. It is not uncommon for their patients to be seeing several specialists, a primary care provider, another alternative practitioner, and taking half a dozen supplements they have self-prescribed but may not fully understand. Your naturopathic doctor can view all of these pieces objectively, make educated and individualized recommendations for you to put it all together while understanding the bigger picture of health and healing. Communicating with your other health providers is very important while making sure you are not placed in the middle of choosing one doctor’s recommendations over another. Collaborative care with a comprehensive understanding of your overall health is one of the greatest values of naturopathic medicine.

Are you wondering if a naturopathic approach is right for you? Consider making an appointment with one of our naturopathic doctors, and see for yourself the benefits and improvements of working collaboratively with an ND can provide for you. Questions? Call our office at 804-977-2634.

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Phone 804-977-2634

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