Naturopathic Medicine

WHAT IS A NATUROPATHIC PHYSICIAN?

Naturopathic Physicians are physicians who have completed a four-year medical program. Naturopathic education and training include the study of standard medical science that is similar to “traditional medicine” with an emphasis in natural therapeutics. Naturopathic training specializes in the application of vitamin and mineral therapies, botanical medicines, homeopathy, physical medicine, nutritional and lifestyle counseling and stress management. Health care is offered for both acute and chronic conditions.

WHAT IS THE PHIOSOPHY PRACTICED BY NATUROPATHIC PHYSICIANS?

Naturopathic physicians seek to restore and maintain optimal health. Naturopathic philosophy promotes wellness. Its goal is to find and support the optimum balance between nutrition, lifestyle and use of therapies that best promote good health. The guiding principles of Naturopathy include: FIRST DO NO HARM, Naturopathic medicine uses therapies that are safe and effective. FIND THE CAUSE, Physicians seek and treat the underlying cause of a disease, not just the effect. Symptoms are viewed as expressions of the body’s natural attempt to heal. The origin of disease is removed or treated so the patient can recover. TREAT THE WHOLE PERSON, no part of any biological system exists in isolation or is completely separable from the rest. All parts of any whole are interconnected. A change in one part produces various types of changes in all the other parts. PHYSICIANS AS TEACHER, The physician’s major role is to educate, empower and motivate patients to take responsibility for their own health, Creating a healthy cooperative relationship with the patient has strong therapeutic value. PREVENTION IS THE BEST CURE, Naturopathic physicians are preventative medicine specialists. Physicians assess patient risk factors, heredity and susceptibility and intervene appropriately to reduce risk and prevent illness. Prevention of disease is best accomplished through education and a lifestyle that supports health.

ARE NATUROPATIC PHYSICIANS LICENSED?

The state of Connecticut is one of several states that requires Naturopathic physicians to be licensed in order to practice medicine. Naturopathic Physicians must complete a four year medical program at an accredited Naturopathic School before they can take the licensure examination. Naturopathic Physicians are required to renew their license every year to continue practicing medicine. The following states currently license Naturopaths: Alaska, Arizona, Connecticut, Hawaii, Maine, Montana, New Hampshire, Oregon, Utah, Vermont, and Washington.

WHO CAN BENEFIT FROM NATUROPATHIC MEDICINE?

Naturopathic medicine is suitable for all phases of life. Patients range in age from birth through geriatrics, including childhood, adolescence, and men’s and women’s health issues. People who suffer from allergies, arthritis, musculoskeletal pain, hypertension, gastrointestinal disorders, or immune system disorders may benefit from naturopathic medicine.

WHAT WILL HAPPEN AT MY FIRST VISIT?

During your first office visit the doctor will be gathering a complete health history including information regarding your current complaint. Each body system will be discussed, including respiratory, gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, nervous, reproductive, urinary and skeletal. A family health history and individual diet history are also taken. After a complete history is taken the doctor will discuss treatment possibilities. It is important that the patient play an active role in these decisions.

WHAT INFORMATION WOULD BE HELPFUL FOR THE DOCTOR TO KNOW AT MY FIRST VISIT?

If you are currently under the care of another doctor and or taking prescription medications please let the doctor know. Also bring a list of your current medications including any vitamins you may be taking. Be sure to include the dose that you are taking. It would be helpful to bring any current blood work with you (within the last 6 months) and any other test results such as X-ray, ultrasound, biopsies, pap, etc.

WHY HAVE FOOD AND INHALANT ALLERY TESTING?

Food and inhalant testing are important in order to identify substances that may cause allergic responses in the body and create imbalances in the immune system. Food and inhalant allergy testing are recommended for about 80% of our patients. Dr. Stemper uses non invasive techniques to determine allergies. Allergy testing appointments are booked for 1 hour. Prior to allergy testing all patients must have an appointment for a complete health history. All patients will receive a food chart after the food testing is completed.

DO I HAVE TO UP ALL FOODS THAT I AM ALLERGIC TO FOREVER?

No, it is important to follow your food chart recommendations carefully for a minimum of three months. During this time your body has a chance to heal. It will also give you a clearer picture of how much your food allergies effect your health. After three months, patients are retested and quite often are able to return to a majority of foods to their diet.

ARE DIETS CHANGES ENOUGH TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN MY HEALTH?

Yes, and no. For some patients diet changes are all that is needed to be done. To determine who may need additional support patients are asked to follow food recommendations for two to three weeks initially. If patients are not having relief of symptoms within this time period then other supports are added at this time.

HOW LONG SHOULD I CONTINUE TO TAKE RECOMMENDED SUPPLEMENTS WITHOUT SEEING THE DOCTOR?

This varies, generally patients are followed at one month intervals. When both the patient and the doctor feel that the patient’s health is under control then yearly or seasonal appointments are made. Patients can generally stay on multivitamins for long periods of time (6-12 months) without check ups. Other vitamin and mineral supplements should be assessed at more frequent intervals. The main goal in my office is to have patients taking as few supplements as possible to enjoy good health.

CAN I STILL SEE MY MD WHILE I’M UNDER NATUROPATHIC CARE?

Yes, patients include Naturopathic medicine in their lives in many different ways. Many people use only Naturopathic medicine to meet their health care needs. Most people however, use Naturopathic medicine in addition to their current medical routine. My goal is to meet the patient’s healthcare with the least invasive therapies. All that is asked is that you advise me of what other types of medical care you are currently using so that your health care needs can be addressed properly.

APPLIED KINESIOLOGY

What is it?

Applied Kinesiology is a technique that uses the channels of energy that are used in Oriental Medicine to practice acupuncture. By using this technique, a practitioner can find imbalances in the body by determining what strengthens or stressed the body.

A Brief History

Applied Kinesiology was developed in the early 1960s by Dr. George Goodheart, a Chiropractic Physician. Dr. Goodheart noticed that muscle strength reacted to the energy of a substance in direct proportion to its effect of the body. He developed a diagnostic system of Applied Kinesiology to evaluate the effectiveness of substances to strengthen the body using these observations.

How does it work and How is it used?

Applied kinesiology uses the energy flow of the body. All substances, illnesses and emotions have an effect on muscle strength. The strength of an isolated muscle is manually tested by the physician. This testing technique reveals the balance or imbalance in the body as it reacts to a substance or treatment. Dr. Stemper uses Applied Kinesiology to quickly and effectively determine treatment modalities and therapies that will be the most beneficial to her patients.