by With so many health care professionals at our disposal, why is it that most of us stop our research at our family physician’s office? When we looking for natural alternatives for healing our acid reflux, our MDs did not once suggest we consider meeting with a doctor that practices natural medicine.
Can a naturopath help with acid reflux?
It was through digging deep and talking to others that we discovered that a naturopath is able to help heal acid reflux. Yes! there are more options to care than just an MD and naturopaths are a much less talked about option then over-the-counter medication or prescription pills. Naturopathic doctors can help you manage your acid reflux problem quite effectively by using gentle methods. With proper care and your dedication to stick to the doctor’s recommendations, this can lead you to heal altogether. How do we know? We did our research in more ways than one and can swear on the results.
Now beware, we are not saying that a naturopath is the be-all and end-all of your problems. Rather, we are stating that these health care professionals are great allies to your success. The reality is that there are some acid reflux cases that will require drug therapy and possibly surgery. In those cases, the naturopath will provide appropriate guidance and referrals. For the cases that can be managed through naturopathy, the naturopathic doctor supports you with the use soft methods and natural medicine.
What is naturopathy?
It is defined by the Oxford dictionary that naturopathy is “a system for treating diseases or conditions using natural foods and herbs and various other techniques, rather than artificial drugs”.
This path of medicine believes that individuals are naturally healthy and that it’s through the removal of blockages and through stimulation that the body will use its innate knowledge to repair itself. Naturopathy is considered an alternative medicine that is effective in treating a wide range of illnesses. Doctors in this field treat acute and chronic disorders in people.
To highlight this practice even more, naturopathy is based on six principles. (Every time we read these, it’s music to our ears!)
1Naturopathy’s six principles
• Do no harm (primum non nocere);
• Prevent rather than cure;
• Nature has innate healing powers (vis medicatrix naturae);
• Holistic approach (the “whole person” is treated);
• Treat the cause of disease, not its symptoms (tolle causum);
• Teach prevention (docere) and the patient learns prevention.
What is a naturopath?
A naturopath, or naturopathic doctor (ND), is a professionally trained individual who diagnoses, treats, and manages a patient’s illness. They are qualified doctors and primary care providers who deal with the body’s dysfunction in a holistic fashion. What we love is that a ND’s approach to treatment considers the patient’s mind, body, and spirit.
In order to become a licensed professional in this field, an individual must complete a bachelor’s degree (in science). The person then follows this up with an additional four years of study in a school of naturopathy. The difference between a medical doctor (MD) and a naturopathic doctor is in their focus. The ND will focus on disease prevention and improving wellness through holistic and gentle approaches to therapy.
How a naturopathic doctor can help you deal with acid reflux
Consulting with a licensed ND will start by understanding who you are as a person. This may come in the form of a survey before your consultation followed by a one-on-one chat with the doctor. Armed with this knowledge, the ND can start analyzing what could be causing your symptoms. The symptoms could be due to diet, leading a stressful lifestyle, smoking, medication etc. One goals of the ND will be to help strengthen the Lower Esophageal Sphincter (LES) and the other to heal the mucosal membrane. This may require the doctor to prescribe some herbs or natural supplements to aid the healing process of your body. The naturopath may as well advise you on lifestyle changes to make to get your health on the restorative path.
In our case for dealing with acid reflux, the naturopath treated the acidity by identifying trigger foods, recommending dietary changes and providing a meal plan. In addition to those changes, the doctor hen recommended supplements to help protect the stomach lining and strengthen digestive functions. This resulted in improvements of digestive system in less than a week.
1Naturopahty. (n.d.) Segen’s Medical Dictionary. (2011). Retrieved January 4 2023 from https://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/Naturopahty
