top of page
Plant Care Close-Up
What is Naturopathy?

Naturopathy, or naturopathic medicine, is a primary health care profession which emphasizes the prevention and natural treatment of disease, maintenance of optimal health, and promotion of the individual’s inherent self-healing process, which naturopathic physicians refer to as the "vis medicatrix naturae," the healing power of nature. 
It blends centuries-old natural, nontoxic therapies, with current advances in the study of health and human systems, covering all aspects of family health, from prenatal to geriatric care. 

 

Naturopathic medicine has been shown to be effective for treating most health problems, both acute and chronic. Some of the therapies most commonly utilized by NDs include clinical nutrition, homeopathy, botanical medicine, physical medicine (such as myotherapy and hydrotherapy), natural childbirth, oriental medicine, counseling and stress management, and minor surgery.

Principles of Naturopathic Medicine

Naturopathic doctors follow six key principles in their practices:

​

​The Healing Power of Nature. Naturopathic medicine recognizes an inherent self-healing process in each of us, which is both ordered and intelligent. NDs act to identify and remove obstacles to healing and recovery, and to facilitate and augment this self-healing ability.

​

Identify and Treat the Cause. NDs seek to identify and remove the underlying causes of illness, rather than to merely eliminate isolated symptoms or suppress symptoms.

​

​First Do No Harm. NDs follow these precepts to avoid harming the patient:

  • Utilize methods and medical substances which minimize the risk of harmful side effects, using the least force necessary to diagnoses and treat.

  • Avoid when possible the harmful suppression of symptoms.

  • Acknowledge, respect and work with the individual’s self-healing process.

  • Refer for appropriate treatment when naturopathic therapies are inappropriate.

 

Doctor as Teacher. NDs educate their patients and encourage self-responsibility for health. They also recognize and employ the therapeutic potential of a good doctor-patient relationship.

 

Treat the Whole Person. NDs treat each patient, taking into account individual physical, emotional, mental, spiritual, genetic, environmental, social and other factors.

​

Prevention. NDs emphasize the prevention of disease—assessing risk factors, heredity and susceptibility to disease, and making appropriate interventions in partnership with their patients to prevent illness. Naturopathic medicine is committed to the creation of a healthy world in which humanity may thrive. 

What Naturopathic Doctors Do

Naturopathic doctors (NDs):

  • Are trained in all the basics of anatomy and physiology as in medical school.

  • Are trained in using natural medicine products and procedures. 

  • Concentrate on whole person wellness; treatment is tailored to each individual and emphasizes prevention, self-care, and the body’s ability to heal itself when given proper conditions. The greatest success of naturopathy is in rebuilding health, which then naturally improves or eliminates chronic illness.

  • Attempt to find the underlying causes of the person’s condition rather than focusing solely on symptomatic treatment. 

Believe in integrative medicine and cooperate with all other branches of medicine, referring patients to other practitioners for diagnosis and/or treatment when appropriate.

Naturopathic Physicians and Traditional Naturopathic Doctors

  • In 23 states, naturopaths are licensed as primary-care physicians whose diagnosis and treatments bridge both conventional and natural medicine perspectives.  Missouri does not license naturopaths.

​

  • Both naturopathic physicians and traditional naturopaths integrate modern medical practices with natural treatments.

​

  • The goal of both naturopathic physicians and traditional naturopathic doctors is the same:   to address the underlying cause of disease, promote the body’s natural healing process, and educate patients to continue this process.     

​

  • As a traditional naturopath, I specialize in non-invasive, lifestyle consultation and recommendations regarding nutritional supplementation, herbs, homeopathy and detoxification protocols.  I also provide energy medicine therapies, such as BodyTalk,™ Applied Kinesiology, Neuro Emotional Technique and Emotional Freedom Technique. A traditional naturopath does not perform surgery or prescribe pharmaceutical medication.

Education & Training of Naturopathic Doctors

  • Education of naturopathic physicians includes premedical undergraduate coursework, completion of a four year, residential, graduate level program at an accredited naturopathic medical college, two years of supervised clinical internship (and in some cases a one- or two-year postgraduate residency program). NDs study the same basic and clinical sciences as do other medical students as well as the full spectrum of natural medicines and therapies.

​​

  • I did my premed studies as an undergraduate at the University of Illinois (Chicago) and my 4-year medical education was at Logan University in St. Louis, where I specialized in applied kinesiology and hands-on methods for treatment of musculoskeletal and visceral issues.  I was also trained in laboratory testing and functional analysis, nutritional and dietary assessments, metabolic analysis, dark field microscopy, functional endocrinology, neurological health and brain chemistry, herbal medicine, homeopathy, and lifestyle counseling.

​

  • I have traveled extensively to get much of my post-graduate coursework and training (in endocrinology, applied kinesiology, energy medicine).

What is the difference between a naturopathic doctor and a medical doctor?

While there are many similarities in how NDs and MDs are trained, there are also important differences. MDs are taught to focus on obtaining a diagnosis and how to use surgery or pharmaceuticals to address the symptoms. Often the pharmaceuticals are aimed at blocking or suppressing a symptom. Surgery and pharmaceuticals can be very effective for treating emergencies and life-threatening health problems, but they often do not work to correct the root causes of health problems, and they have a poor track record in the treatment of chronic diseases.

Is Naturopathy the same as Homeopathy?

No. Homeopathy is a system of medicine based on the law of similars, or the principal that “like cures like.” Homeopathic remedies are made from plants, minerals and other substances which are given in extremely diluted form. Naturopathic medicine is an eclectic blend of all types of natural medicine, including homeopathy, botanical medicine, clinical nutrition, psychology, etc. Some naturopathic doctors practice homeopathy, but not all homeopaths are naturopaths.  For more in-depth description of homeopathy, see Homeopathy.

Are Naturopathic Doctors Licensed?

Naturopathic physicians are licensed in 23 states but not in Missouri.  My license is in Chiropractic, and I am also nationally certified in Naturopathy, Homeopathy and different forms of Energy Medicine, while also having taking hundreds of hours of coursework in Functional Medicine.

What kinds of conditions can you help with?

Yes2Life is a general practice, and a wide range of conditions have seen successful results. Some examples are blood sugar imbalances, cardiovascular risk, anxiety and depression, allergies and asthma, pain and injury, headaches, digestive problems, menstrual conditions, and fatigue/immune problems.   Some people come for nutritional support and energy therapy while they are dealing with diseases such as cancer, hepatitis C, or chronic fatigue syndrome.  We work to strengthen a person's immunity and help mitigate side-effects of pharmaceutical drugs and/or chemotherapy.


One of my specialties is supporting individuals at the mental-emotional level by helping to uncover the emotional components of illness and to energetically address the blockages to cure that might be caused by deep-seated emotional issues or traumatic events from a person's life.  By addressing underlying root causes of illness, healing can take place much more quickly.
 

Laboratory Testing: Laboratory testing may be necessary in order to identify suspected or hidden causes of health problems. Y2L Natural Health works with a number of clinical laboratories to provide a wide range of tests to meet your specific needs.
 

See our Services for more information.

How much does a visit cost?

Like most medical fees, Y2L fees vary depending on the complexity of your case.  We have packages that include all of our services, and smaller packages for those whose needs are less comprehensive.  If you like, you may set up a complimentary 15-minute consultation so we can discuss your case and see what package would best suit your needs.

 

Is it true that the client/patient is charged a relatively high fee for case-taking and analysis by a homeopath and naturopath? 

 

The fee is often higher than what an allopath might charge, or it is similar, but it is not covered by insurance, and therefore the patient sometimes feels that the fee is very high.  However, it must be remembered that the results in homeopathy and naturopathy are usually deeper and longer lasting (especially in chronic cases) than those in allopathy.   People usually understand this fact and are willing to pay for results.  In the long run, homeopathic and naturopathic patients spend far less for their medical care than do allopathic patients, because as their health improves, the visits are spaced farther and farther apart, the medication (especially homeopathic) is far less costly, and the need for hospitalization and chronic care is drastically reduced.

Does insurance cover naturopathic medicine?

At this time, most insurance companies do not provide coverage for naturopathic medicine, and many states have not recognized naturopathic physicians as covered providers. In Missouri, insurance plans generally do not cover naturopathic medical services.


While many insurance plans do cover chiropractic care, reimbursement rates are often quite low and may not reflect the full value or scope of the services provided.


Some patients can obtain reimbursement from their insurance plans for office visits or certain nutritional supplements, depending on their specific benefits. We encourage you to contact your insurance provider to determine whether your plan offers any out-of-network reimbursement or other applicable coverage.


We are also happy to accept payments through Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) and, when applicable, Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs).

bottom of page