Naturopathic Medicine

Teresa Evans ND, CPM midwife and Margie Ikeda, ND operate a comprehensive medical doctor’s office in Seattle. Although their practices are not necessarily mainstream, they have all the training and background of a traditional MD, with the additional training and specialization of a naturopathic doctor. What this enables them to do is treat patients as a traditional family practitioner would, but also examine patient problems from another perspective. The naturopathic perspective is one in which the doctor tries to look at the solving the causing of the problem instead of simply treating the symptoms. This is usually done through diet, exercise, lifestyle change, and often herbal medicine. Surgery and other more invasive medical practices are reserved for last resort.

In the event that a patient needs surgery or is in a life threatening state, they will be referred to a hospital or traditional MD. In situation of which another specialist, such as Ayurveda, Acupuncture or massage therapy might be the best practice for the patients particular problem, they are trained to recognize these individual needs and make the proper referrals. They also will actively work with a patients regular MD, to make sure there are no conflicts regarding the patients medication use or instructions given previously.

The doctors are licensed in 17 different states in the U.S., its territories and Canada and are authorized to operate diagnostic labs, studies and prescribe the pharmaceutical medication with the exception of controlled substances.

In addition to traditional doctor practices, Teresa and Margie specialize in vitamin IV’s which enable the body to more efficiently absorb vitamins and thoroughly detox. In addition, they have a technique for flushing highly toxic heavy metals from your body. Their other specialization was in a special kind of massage which involves the placement of hot and cold towels on your back or chest in succession of the other, which essentially gives the blood vessels a workout, strengthening your immune system. Each of these techniques is something that requires several sessions of treatment, after which the results are usually enough to get a person’s immune system back on track. After a person is on the road to recovery, the doctors would then look at long term solutions that will help the problem from ever occurring again. Many of the patients they see for this are HIV infected or suffering from Fibro Mialgia.

Difficulties that the naturopathic doctors struggle with are a health care system that does not fully accept or work with them. Because of complexities, these particular naturopathic doctors do not work with insurance companies, which can make it difficult for patients. They did however advise that many insurance companies will pay partial, but the patients must send in their receipts for reimbursement. This is the preferred method of dealing with insurance companies, as it does not subject the naturopathic doctors to the demands of insurance companies, which often set patient quotas and such. The doctors felt that such quotas compromise the medical system, rushing doctors and preventing patients from getting the time and attention they need for both a proper diagnosis and effective treatment.

Overall it was very interesting to see what the naturopathic doctors do. I would definitely keep them in mind for a future primary care physician. I am also very intrigued at the idea of having my heavy metals removed from my body and wonder whether or not women should consider having this done before getting pregnant. I think that if accepted properly and given the attention it deserves, naturopathic medicine could really improve the lives of people and families everywhere.