Guide To My Physician
My dream was to help people when I went through medical school in Spain and got my medical license as an MD in 1979. I was surprised the amount of nutrition and prevention taught was almost none.
When I came to the USA in 1999, I got specialized in naturopathic medicine. In my profession in the USA as a Naturopathic Physician I am able to fulfill my dream, I love it, I can use everything I have learned about how the body works, and its interaction with the mind and the emotions.
The principles of Naturopathic Medicine fit me just fine. Let me explain to you how I am applying them in my office.
Healing power of nature. I believe in the” vital force” of the body, the inner force inherent in human beings to heal, to go back to balance. My job is to evaluate your vital force, to enhance it, to strengthen it, directing you back to health.
First do not harm. Classical, naturopathic therapeutics aim to rebalance the body with the least invasive treatments possible. In my practice, I begin with the simplest treatments (generally dietary changes and hydrotherapy) before adding more complex, and more expensive treatments. Body size, age, gender, type of work, even the seasons (Montana being cold) ask of different types and amounts of remedies.
Doctor as teacher. This is an old thought in the medical profession. Without showing the patient another way, how can he/she change? A Naturopathic Physician’s primary function is to provide information, thus empowering people to regulate their own health, A great deal of time in my practice is spent educating patients. Once the patient has applied the information and achieved improved levels of health, my job is to serve as a coach for reaching even higher levels of health. Since nutrition is pivotal for health, I teach cooking classes. Next one is through the Adult Community evening classes, you can sign up by calling.
Identify and treat the cause. Illness does not occur without cause. The body, in its elegant wisdom, always whispers before it shouts. Is important to learn to listen to your body and its early warning signs. Symptoms are usually the result of the body trying to balance itself. Treating the cause requires addressing the body as a whole.
Prevention. True preventive medicine requires making daily investments in your health-good nourishing foods, exercise, developing loving relationships and supportive communities, contributing to the health of the Earth. Preventive medicine to me means working for clean water, air and land. Human health is very connected to the health of the planet.
Treat the whole person. The cause of disease is usually multifactorial, hence the treatment must be multifaceted. Usually I ask the patient, ”What is going on in your life? Why do you think you are ill right now? Many patients already know the cause of their illness. Others need coaching to understand that their physical bodies are intimately linked with their mental, emotional and spiritual lives.
I welcome you to my office to begin your healing journey!