Matt Mitchell, ND

Naturopathic Medicine

Naturopathic Medicine encompasses the philosophy of treating the body as a whole. Disease is the result of lowered vitality and can be cured when the body is returned to health. It was founded upon the idea that nature can cure all diseases.

Naturopathic Doctors (NDs or NMDs) are primary care physicians trained in natural therapeutics. Some of these include Homeopathy, Acupuncture, Clinical Nutrition, Hydrotherapy, Manipulation, Botanicals, Mind/Body Therapy, Natural Childbirth and Stress Management. ND's also use conventional medications and minor surgery when necessary.

A Naturopathic Doctor (ND or NMD) attends a four-year, accredited graduate Naturopathic Medical School. They are also required to pass State and/or Federal board exams. They are educated in all the same basic sciences as a conventional Medical Doctor (MD and DO). The ND, however, emphasizes disease prevention and improved health on all levels of life.

Symptoms are viewed as the bodies own immune system at work, and are indications of deeper and potentially more severe problems. "Instead of suppressing the symptoms with drugs, homeopathic medicines increase the symptoms to assist the bodies immune system in eliminating the problem"*.

Acupuncture is an ancient oriental medicine. It works upon the principle of restoring the balance of vital energy or yin and yang to the body and/or specific regions.

Nutrition is the therapeutic use of foods and supplements

in the treatment of many disorders. It is also applied in areas of disease prevention and the improvement and maintenance of good health.

Physical Therapy encompasses a large array of therapeutic modalities. Hydrotherapy, exercise therapy, massage, ultrasound, physiotherapy with heat and cold, and physical manipulation of the bones to name a few*.

Botanicals is a therapy using plants as the primary medicine. "In fact, most pharmaceutical drugs are derived from plants." However, the naturopathic application of botanicals is to attempt use plants in their more natural and less processed form.*

Manipulation is a type of physical medicine. The focus, however, is on the vertebrae and spine. "When the vertebrae are in alignment, pain is reduced and organs function properly because they are getting full nerve stimulation*.

"One's attitude, mental state, and emotional state play important roles in one's health and disease." Naturopathic Doctors have a strong educational and clinical background in psychology specializing in counseling and many mind/body therapies*.

Environmental toxins are becoming more abundant than ever. They are in the pesticides and herbicides used on our fruits and vegetables, in the plastics that package our foods and even in the air of our very homes. Environmental Medicine analyzes the potential exposure to various toxins and offers protocols for detoxification.