Can we learn from Naturopathy?

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> Message: 2

> Fri, 20 Dec 2002 09:26:52 -0800

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> Can we learn from naturopathy

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> It has been suggested that we have little to learn from naturopathy and

> the traditions it embraces (such as eclecticism). In fairness, I know

> this has been done polemically as devil's advocate. but I do think we

> have some things we can learn from naturopathy, despite its apparent youth.

> If we can learn from western med, then we can learn from naturopathy.

>

> I thought I would give an example to illustrate a point. I saw a patient

> with rheumatoid arthritis and perimenopausal symptoms. she was diagnosed

> as kidney yin and yang xu, liver qi constraint, dampheat, blood stasis. I

> prescribed accordingly.

>

> she also saw the naturopath in my office. After doing a physical exam and

> lab/stool/food allergy tests, he gave supplements for digestion like

> enzymes, intestinal flora, glyconda plus some herbs for candida (oregano

> and goldenseal - similar to say combining huo xiang and huang lian). He

> also prescribed a combination of natural DHEA, testosterone, estrogen and

> progesterone in small doses balanced according to lab analysis. she also

> received black cohosh based on eclectic indications for both joint pain

> and perimenopause. Plus she took boswellia (a relative of ru xiang) and

> willow bark, both which move blood in TCM terms (willow also dispels wind

> damp). He advised the patient on yoga classes, relaxation tapes and

> recommended some visualization classes for pain management. He advised

> various stretching and strengthening exercise plus weekly spinal

> manipulation (osteopathic style).

>

> The patient did quite well, going into complete remission for at least 4

> years now (which I have come to consider typical for my RA patients when

> using such an integrative protocol, BTW). One of the most interesting

> things was in tracking her progress with lab tests, we observed that herbs

> lowered the need for hormone supplementation by leading to increased blood

> levels despite unusually low doses.

>

> Arguably, he addressed all the same treatment principles I did. But not

> all with a single herbal formula and perhaps not with as much specificity.

> for instance, liver constraint is not attacked with herbs, but with

> relaxation, yoga, exercise. clearly these get at the root of the causes

> of liver constraint, though they are not liver constraint specifics. But

> this tendency to work with general, rather than specific healing

> approaches is somewhat a hallmark of naturopathy. I was trained in

> naturopathic philosophy by Jared Zeff, former dean at NCNM, also an L.Ac.

> who taught at Emperor's in the 80's. The idea was that most diseases were

> self limited. Many others required merely supportive care in order for

> healing to occur. By removing the obstacles to cure, one got better most

> of the time. thus, general things like good diet, digestive support,

> exercise, relaxation took care of most problems. If this did not work,

> then general therapies like hydrotherapy, massage, manipulation were the

> next level. If this did not work, then specific therapies that worked

> with information networks were used, such as homeopathy and acupuncture.

> finally,one would use herbs and possibly drugs if imbalance had deranged

> the body at the biochemical level.

>

> We can fault naturopathy for not always having as sophisticated an

> approach as TCM, but perhaps this is because it is not necessary most of

> the time (and yet it can be specific as needed, such as the selection of

> remedies based on tongue, pulse and generalities). I think the

> naturopathic emphasis on the healing power of nature is something we need

> to embrace more and not always be so interventionist. I think our talks

> about placebo and Jim Ramholz recent comments on how sophisticated

> diagnosis is probably only necessary for less than 25% of patients

> underscores this point. My main interest in TCM is the focus on treatment

> strategies. I think that is the most illuminating thing about it. We can

> apply these treatment strategies using many different methods, not limited

> to chinese herbs. the chinese texts place a high premium on good diet.

> We should never forget how much of a difference this can make and never

> feel silly advising our patients to do what their mothers told them or

> what they hear on TV all the time (eat right and exercise; quit smoking,

> sleep well).

>

> In my experience, Relaxation and exercise relieve liver constraint. Bland

> wholesome diet, enzymes, flora and bitters clear dampheat. Massage and

> exercise move blood. And all these things just make the herbs work better.

> And they do actually get at the root of chronic illness (diet, exercise

> and emotions). I always try and put these things into a TCM context and

> do not just prescribe willy-nilly. but we can use this to our advantage.

> these are cheap and free ways of getting to the root of illness. If we

> encourage our patients to utilize them so that they will only need to see

> us when things get out of hand, it will pay off nicely in loyalty and

> referrals. It is always better to give people ways to take care of

> themselves, right (teach a man to fish ....)?....

 

I concur with your insights about naturopathy wholeheartedly.

 

I have started to move into naturopathic kinds of tests combined with my TCM

diagnosis to get confirmation and expand my treatment and it has helped me

provide a much more complete level of care. I look forward to doing more of

it. I have gotten into something called Nutrispec Metabolic balancing

http://www.royalrife.com/hbal.html. I am finding it a fascinating study. I

am trying to pull all of it through the lens of sometimes

with mixed results (but that is another story).

 

Further, Your example of the comprehensive treatment the woman got who has

R.A. and perimenopause is a good example of what I think people want. Which

is to say a comprehensive and natural treatment plan. It was most curious to

see how my patients' attitude changed when I started doing metabolic tests.

Because people are used to getting tests from their M.D.'s they take a

serious approach to " test results " . It surprised how much power people gave

to the tests and therefore to me.

 

More certainly has to be brought to the table than what I learned in TCM

school (Emperor's 1997). My focus is on being a good clinician not getting

a Ph.D.. I am not knocking my education only to say that it was incomplete

for clinical practice.

 

I am all for broadening my diagnosis with tests and measures. It helps me

make a more complete diagnosis and patients like the " objectivity " of doing

so. I am not dropping TCM to become a Naturopath (although I would like to

drop the title, Acupuncturist) it is the lens with which I look at

rebalancing the body even when I am not doing strict TCM.

 

Another step I am looking into are devices that can help me diagnose for the

purposes of improved acupuncture treatment. Does anyone have experience

with Electronic Meridian Imaging? Or other devices that they use to diagnose

and treat with?

http://www.iama.edu/. This is Jon Amaro's website he had some interesting

articles about his use of this device in Acupuncture Today a few months

back.

 

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