3 Ways Naturopathy Complements Your Health Team
Author: Dr. Mollie Brennan, Naturopathic Doctor
If you’re asking yourself ‘what the heck is naturopathic medicine?’, this article can shed some light on how I support my patients in a typical day.
In a first appointment I explain that naturopathic medicine can support primary care complaints, but we leave the medications and diagnostics to your family medical practitioner. I often do physical exams, review bloodwork, tweak nutrition, screen for sleep issues, and support you with herbs, vitamins, and acupuncture. There is so much evidence for these modalities!
So how can this make your conventional treatments more effective?
Optimal ranges on bloodwork
We need to have data and measurements to know what is working. The major things I look for on bloodwork are:
Thyroid marker TSH below 2.5 for optimal bone density and cardiovascular health. Especially post menopause! (1)
Iron status: there is an entire conversation about what is optimal vs. deficient in the medical literature. Do you find you’re never anemic, but nobody has told you what levels are necessary for pursuing your career, getting the kids to the hockey practice, exercising 3 times weekly, and managing your mood? Ideally ferritin above 50, although some texts say closer to 100. Have a health professional interpret these numbers for you. (2)
Vitamin D: I rarely find these levels are tested because it is a cost to the health system. However, everything from rheumatoid arthritis, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, PMS, PMDD, and anxiety have been connected to low vitamin D status. It’s such an overlooked nutrient from a test and treat perspective.
2) Make medications more effective
And at a lower dose? It depends on what your goals are. There is evidence for supplements like zinc to make ADHD medications more effective, or inositol and NAC to be comparable to metformin medications for PCOS. Did I mention selenium can lower thyroid antibodies? Super cool! The goal is to work with your other therapies to help you feel better. There are very real side effects and interactions with these supplements so speak with your naturopathic doctor before taking them. (3, 4)
3) Explaining the medical process
There has to be a guideline and series of steps for your health. If you’re wondering why you aren’t getting that Xray right away, or a certain blood test, it could be because there are other things that need to be ruled out first. I hear a lot of frustrations expressed by my patients, and rightly so. I love explaining the body and the medical process for people so there is a realistic set of expectations.
Did any of the above resonate with you? Book a free meet-and-greet phone consult to see if naturopathic medicine can help with your concerns:
https://stationstreethealth.janeapp.com/#/staff_member/12
References:
Thayakaran R, et al. Thyroid replacement therapy, thyroid stimulating hormone concentrations, and long term health outcomes in patients with hypothyroidism: longitudinal study. BMJ. 2019 Sep 3;366:l4892.
DeLoughery, T. G. (2017). Iron Deficiency Anemia. Medical Clinics of North America, 101(2), 319–332.
Noorazar SG, Malek A, Aghaei SM, Yasamineh N, Kalejahi P. The efficacy of zinc augmentation in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder under treatment with methylphenidate: A randomized controlled trial. Asian J Psychiatr. 2020 Feb;48:101868.
Shokrpour M, et al. Comparison of myo-inositol and metformin on glycemic control, lipid profiles, and gene expression related to insulin and lipid metabolism in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: a randomized controlled clinical trial. Gynecol Endocrinol. 2019 May;35(5):406-411.
