Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine
Health involves the alignment of the qi, or “vital energy,” which can become disrupted when blocked or produced in excess. Certain diseases present with disruption of the qi. The goal of acupuncture is to use channels to open blockages or reduce excess. The needles are sterilized and inserted through the skin into the underlying tissues at specific points on the body. The re-establishment of wellness can be achieved through balancing the qi. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, herbal teas and other compounds support acupuncture treatments.
Botanical Medicine
Botanical medicine is the use of plants to treat or prevent disease, and has been used for thousands of years and is used in the creation of many pharmaceutical drugs. We use plants safely to restore the body's harmony and support and build innate and acquired immunity, adaptability, and energy.
More specifically, the use of botanical medicine can:
Help relax over-tense tissues or organs
Stimulate tissues or organs
Cause constriction of over-relaxed tissues, such as muscles, blood vessels, and mucous membranes
Sedate overactive areas of the body
Lessen functional activity
Aids in the elimination of wastes and poisons from the liver, bowel, kidneys, lungs, and skin
Help overcome infection by stimulating the body’s defenses using antiseptic, antibiotic, and anti-fungal actions.
Enhances the circulation of blood and lymph
Stimulates appetite and digestion
Soothe mucous membranes lead to a reduction in irritation and inflammation
Regulates the secretion and action of hormones
Promote hormone production (when necessary)
Homeopathy
Homeopathy is a modality based on the principle of "Similia similibus curantur" or "like cures like." Homeopathy works by aiding Nature in purifying and repairing the body. It affects the body at the cellular level to achieve a long-lasting healing effect. Each is chosen based on their ability to produce symptoms similar to those of the disease. Homeopathy is given in such minute doses that the first effect may be noticed merely as a slight homeopathic aggravation, and the second effect aims to provide a lasting outcome to relieve and bring about a permanent change.
Lifestyle Counseling
Lifestyle counseling allows us the opportunity to help our bodies function adequately. Activities such as exercise let certain parts of our bodies reset and effectively promote the elimination of waste and morbid materials through the skin, kidneys, bowels, and respiratory tract. Our environment also has a significant impact on our bodies. Through managing environmental factors, we can help decrease physical, mental, and emotional stress and encourage excretion to reduce body burden. Therefore, different tools and education are used to support each individual patient in their wellness goal.
Clinical Nutrition
Food as medicine is another crucial component in our healing process, especially since it is an aspect of healing we have more, if not the most, control over. Clinical nutrition involves using scientific nutrition with the principles of naturopathic medicine. Foods have healing properties that aid in healing and preventing a variety of conditions. It is also key to understand how our choice of foods plays a role in chronic and inflammatory conditions. Vitamins and minerals have significant roles in the biochemical pathways needed for our cells to function appropriately and are used to stimulate a healing response and correct nutritional deficiencies. Dietary supplements are used for specific therapeutic interventions and prevention.
Mind-Body Medicine
Our minds have a significant effect on the workings of our bodies. Our mental and emotional state has the power to affect our physical bodies. According to Henry Lindlahr, our mental and emotional state affects the chemical composition of the tissues and secretions of the body.
Hydrotherapy
Naturopathic hydrotherapy helps improve the quality of blood and circulation. Promoting blood flow through organs of elimination such as the skin, liver, kidneys, and bowels eliminates undesirable waste products, therefore improving the quality of the blood. Hydrotherapy aims to build blood with desirable elements such as oxygen, nutrients, red blood cells, and white blood cells.
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