What is Naturopathic Medicine?

 Naturopathic Doctors (NDs) are primary care providers and attend a four year, post-graduate Naturopathic Medical School. They use scientific lab testing and imaging to diagnose medical conditions, while addressing symptoms at its root cause. Taking the time to build relationships with patients is an essential part of healing. Treatments are determined according to the needs of the individual. 

The scope of practice for NDs include clinical nutrition, botanical medicine, classical homeopathy, physical and clinical diagnosis, laboratory and diagnostic imaging, counseling, physical medicine, and minor surgery. NDs are an essential part of the health care system and work as a team with other health care practitioners, referring when appropriate. 

 The most important aspect of treatment involves identifying the root cause, and addressing the whole person (rather that just the disease or its symptoms).  

Unfortunately, often if a patient has multiple symptoms, their family doctor may refer them to various specialists (e.g. neurologist, gastroenterologist, rheumatologist, or psychiatrist, etc), depending on which particular system of the body the symptoms occur.

While specialists serve a vital role in health care, it is important to treat the whole person rather than isolating body systems.

Naturopathic doctors recognize the level of complexity and the need for referral should there be an emergency situation, or necessity for further evaluation by a specialist.

However in many cases, especially chronic conditions, a holistic approach such as the care that naturopathic doctors provide is essential for healing.  

Whether you have specific health concerns, or want to become healthier, Naturopathic Medicine can restore physical, mental, and emotional function, and enhance vitality. Conditions that have benefited include:

• Allergies
• Food Sensitivities 
• Anxiety & Depression
• Arthritis
• Diabetes
• Heart Disease
• High Cholesterol
• High Blood Pressure
• Stress Management
• Weight Management 
• Fatigue
• Fibromyalgia
• Headaches 
• Hormone Imbalance
• Thyroid & Adrenal 
• Recurrent colds
• Auto-immune 
• Insomnia
• Menopause 
• Menstrual Complaints
• Fertility
• PCOS
• Osteoporosis
• Skin: Acne, Eczema
• UTI & Yeast Infections
• Detoxification Support
• Digestive Concerns

Clinical Nutrition
"Let food be your medicine, and medicine your food" ~ Hippocrates

NDs recognize the critical role that nutrition plays in a healthy living, and its therapeutic role in treating illness. 

This includes both macronutrient requirements (carbohydrates, proteins, and fats), as well as micronutrients, (vitamins and minerals), which play a significant role in proper metabolic functioning. Furthermore, nutritional counseling, food allergy elimination, as well as detoxification, and nutritional supplementation are offered. 

Botanical Medicine:
Herbs can be used medicinally to treat a wide variety of conditions, and are a safe and non-toxic alternative to pharmaceutical drugs. They have be used for many centuries in both Western and Eastern traditions.

Homeopathy

Homeopathy is a unique healing medical system that uses highly diluted and energized substances from nature to stimulate the body's vital force. It was developed by the German physician, Samuel Hahnemann, at the end of the 18th century. Remedies are chosen to match the state of the whole person. Homeopathy is a form of energy medicine, much like acupuncture, to stimulate a deep curative effect.

Not only is homeopathy powerful, but it is gentle and safe for people of all ages, including infants and pregnant women. Homeopathy works effectively in a wide variety of acute and chronic conditions such as Allergies, Children's Behavioral Problems, Chronic Fatigue, Colds & Flu, Depression, Fears or Anxieties, Fibromyalgia, Digestive Problems, (ex. Irritable Bowel Syndrome, IBS), Insomnia, Headaches and Migraines, Menstrual Problems. 

Along with the standard blood chemistry panels there are specialized tests available. 

These can provide additional health information.

• Cardiac Risk Panel
• Diabetes Risk Panel
• Adrenal Stress Indices
• Neurochemistry Status
• Complete Digestive Stool Analysis
• Nutrition (Vitamin/Mineral & Antioxidant Status)
• Female and Male Hormone Levels
• Food and Environment Allergy & Sensitivity
• Environmental Toxicity & Mold Sensitivity Testing

"Stress = resistance to what is" 

 Stress is defined as the total demands placed on oneself, which cannot be comfortably met. However, it is NOT the stressor itself that is detrimental, but how we react to it. If we cannot adapt or cope properly, tension will arise and eventually manifest as physical, mental, emotional, and/or behavioral dis-ease. This includes digestive disorders, tension headaches, insomnia, mood swings, hormonal imbalance.

The goal of naturopathic medicine is to support the individual to manage stress, and to provide effective lifestyle choices toward achieving balance. Adrenal support, nutritional counseling, mind/body techniques are very important here. So basic, yet so critical!

Our daily habits quite often determine the state of our health and well-being. Many habits are difficult to break, and emotional eating can be a major obstacle. Weight gain is often a symptom of something deeper. Dr. Kian provides one-on-one counseling to encourage healthy lifestyle choices, and to address underlying factors to weight problems. Techniques such as First Line Therapy, Emotional Freedom Technique and Homeopathy can be quite effective at breaking deep habits and underlying emotional issues. 

First Line Therapy is not only great for preventing chronic illnesses but is used effectively for the treatment of chronic conditions, such as:

1. Heart disease, High Cholesterol & Blood Pressure
2. Diabetes, Metabolic Syndrome, Pre-Diabetes
3. Hormone Imbalance, PCOS, PMS
4. Obesity & Abnormal Body Composition
   

Dr. Lena Kian has successfully helped hundreds of patients with weight loss, using a holistic approach that involves NO drugs or appetite suppressants. She takes to consideration many programs such as First Line Therapy, Food Allergy & adrenal testing, thyroid status, & other hormones, neurotransmitters, along with mental & emotional factors. 

Dr. Kian offers a balanced & common sense program that can be as structured, or as flexible as the patient desires, toward permanent weight loss. Dr. Kian also offers group classes to complement the one-on-one weight loss program.