A Sustainable Model of Medicine

Many people are greening their lifestyles and doing their best to support environmentally responsible businesses to improve the health of the planet. Healthcare, however, is one area that often gets missed. Knowing that human health is dependent upon the health of our environment, it is important to also think about the business of healthcare in this way. Naturopathic medicine is part of the solution. It is sustainable, green, and eco-friendly. The 6 principles that guide naturopathic medicine reflect a green approach to healing both humans and our environment.

• The Healing Power of Nature – Naturopathic medicine recognizes the body’s natural healing ability and trusts that the body has the innate wisdom and intelligence to heal itself if given the proper tools.
• Identify and Treat the Cause – Naturopathic doctors attempt to identify and treat the underlying cause of illness, rather than focusing on individual symptoms.
• First Do No Harm – Naturopathic doctors begin with minimal interventions and proceed to higher level interventions only as determined necessary. Our medicine comes from nature and does not pollute the environment.
• Doctor as Teacher – Naturopathic doctors educate patients, involve them in the healing process, and emphasize the importance of the doctor-patient relationship.
• Treat the Whole Person – Naturopathic medicine takes into account all aspects of an individual’s health including physical, mental, emotional, genetic, environmental, social, and spiritual factors.
• Prevention – Naturopathic medicine emphasizes optimal wellness and the prevention of disease. When you think about supporting environmentally responsible businesses, you can feel good about your choice in seeing a naturopathic doctor.

Dr. Nancy Gutknecht
Madison, WI

Physicians Who Listen: A Patient Testimonial

Aaron Henkel, ND is by far the best doctor I have ever been to. If you have the determination and do what he recommends you will succeed! Most doctors give you ten minutes; he will give you all day if necessary. He listens to you, determines what the problem is, and knows exactly how to help you. My arthritis was so bad that my job was being affected and I cried myself to sleep at night. My boyfriend would ask me, “Are you ever going to get better?” and I would say “No.” After only one week under Dr. Aaron’s care, my pain started disappearing. First, he said to cut out white flour and sugar from my diet. He also changed my vitamins and I was on my way to a better life! It was amazing. I also started losing weight. I lost seven pounds during the first week, and in 3 months I had lost 23 pounds and 12 inches from my waist. I went from a size 12-14 to a size 8. Before I saw Dr. Aaron, I could not even go for a walk with my boyfriend for a half-hour. Now I can walk around Cub’s stadium, Badger stadium, and walk for over an hour without any pain. I refer Dr. Aaron to everyone I talk to.

Penny
Patient of Dr. Aaron Henkel
Madison, WI

The Naturopathic Way of Healing: Ending Dis-Ease

We can learn the wisdom of healing by observing the life cycle of a plant. Just as each plant has its life journey, so do we humans. Though each plant carries within itself a complete potential (DNA) for growth and self-care, its existence also depends on many other factors: soil quality, climate, sunlight, and inter-species relationships. Plants must constantly fend themselves from life stressors, such as pests, climate change, soil erosion, and pollution. Whether a plant merely survives, or is able to fully thrive, depends on its adaptive mechanisms.

Any living thing is considered vitally healthy if it can respond appropriately to stressors it encounters. As humans, we can make similar connections with our own individual state of health (or dis-ease). The starting point in our journey towards optimal health comes from asking ourselves: are we maladapted to our disease (hence the perpetual strive to merely survive our health predicament), or are we adapted to wellness (hence our ability to thrive in fulfilling our greater purpose in life)?

Being successful in achieving and maintaining health depends on how accurately we assess our present situation and the number of connections we make in terms of why we experience what we experience. One can consume all the St. John’s Wort in the world to treat depression, but unless one’s obstacles to cure are revealed and resolved, true healing fails to occur. Palliation may be suitable in the short-run but if used inappropriately, it may lead to disease suppression, which now serves as yet another source of stress on the body, further deteriorating health.

Those of us adapted to wellness see the world around us through clear lenses and find most aspects of our lives fulfilling: our sleep is refreshing, our foods are nourishing, our mind is calm, and our daily activities are full of joy and purpose. In contrast, many of us who are adapted to illness view our surroundings through poorly tinted lenses that serve to distort our perception of reality. Through naturopathic medicine, you can fell like yourself again and see your life with clarity and meaning. This is achieved by assisting, rather than resisting, depriving or suppressing the self-healing process, as evident in all living things in Nature.

Dr. Ruddy
Madison, WI

Spring, Element of Wood

Living your life connected to the cycles of the seasons, in tune with nature, is a guide to living in a more holistic and harmonious way. Each season is linked to an element, representing the energetic activity occurring all around us, as well as deep within us. Spring is the time of the element of wood and can be represented by a tree, which is well-rooted. In the spring, the tree begins to flow sap, growth is resumed after dormancy, and the promise of the fullness of the unfolding summer season explodes from the buds. Spring can be a challenging time for people as we, too, are flowing our sap, getting things moving metabolically after a winter of dormancy, which sometimes leaves us sluggish. As the element of wood is connected to the liver, using liver herbs can help cleanse the body and increase metabolism.

Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) is one of the most tonifying liver herbs and spring brings a plethora of dandelions to our fields and lawns. When collecting dandelions, or any plants, make sure that the area you harvest from is free from chemicals and fertilizers. Dandelion root can be dug and simmered in a tea. Use five Tbsp. chopped fresh root for two cups of tea. The leaves can be eaten raw in salads or cooked in soups or stir fries, and are used to increase urine flow and elimination through the kidneys.

Dandelion has a bitter taste, which is part of its medicinal action, but can be an acquired taste. The flowers can also be picked, chopped, simmered in olive oil, and applied topically to sore and tired muscles. This is a perfect remedy for those aching gardening muscles! What better way to align with the energy of spring than to welcome dandelions into your life as food and medicine.

Dr. Robin DiPasquale
Madison, WI