Naturopathic Virgin? Try These Five Things

​I can assure you not everyone in my field comes from a long line of hippies. I sure didn't. In school while my classmates were bobbing their heads during a lecture on the healing power of dandelion root, I felt like the only one with a dark secret -- I had never, ever tasted roasted dandelion root tea!

Many patients come in to NDs (Naturopathic Doctors) not because they randomly chose us, but because a friend or family member (maybe a pushy significant other?!) recommend they go. These patients usually look like deer in the headlights, as I ask many more questions than their MD might or spend much more time talking to them and listening to them than any doctor ever has.

This list is just a gentle nudge for those "Naturopathic Virgins" out there. Before diving in on your initial visit to a Naturopath, why not dip your toes in and get a feel for it first?

5 Things to Try if You're a Naturopathic Virgin (New to Naturopathic Medicine)

1. Deep Breathing - Sounds pretty simple, right? Well, try to imagine you're gliding gently up then down a mountain. The in-breaths are slowly but surely going up the mountain, there is a second-or-so pause at the top, and the out-breaths are even more slowly going down the mountain. Try to make your out breath twice the length of the in-breath. Breathe in through your nose, out through your mouth. Deep breathing slows the heart rate, increases oxygen supply to the brain and gives you a meditative time-out from your stressful day.
2. Drink Enough Water - I see patients all the time who claim they drink "enough" water... the trouble is, everyone's definition of "enough" varies. It could be a few sips, it could be a gallon. Save for in a few conditions where the body's water balance system is off, the body needs a minimum input of water. Some say eight glasses per day and some say more. I often say that if you're drinking water (not soda, juice, coffee or tea) your urine will be clear. Water helps your body rid its wastes, helps keep you full longer, prevents bladder infections, helps your bowels move, and on and on.
3. Apple Cider Vinegar - "ACV" as it is lovingly referred to sometimes, has been touted for decades as a "cure-all". I wouldn't say that I fully agree that it can cure all that ails you, but I do know a few things it can help. Try taking just a spoon-full in a bit of water a few minutes before your first bite of food. That sour flavor gets your mouth, stomach and whole digestive track ready for that wonderful digestive dance that must be initiated in order to break down food properly. ACV used in this way can also be referred to as a "bitter". Bitters also come in other forms, as herbal tinctures, drinks etc and are found in many cultures.
4. Eat More Cultured Foods - Do you know your cultures? I'm talking about the friendly bacterial communities found in foods like yogurt, kimchee, sauerkraut and kiefer. For hundreds of years traditional peoples around the world have prepared and eaten fermented foods for their exciting tastes and healthful benefits. Eating friendly bacteria on a daily basis can do wonders for your intestines, can help your bowels move regularly, can even decrease the amount of gas you have after eating. If nothing else, it will add some taste variety to your diet.
5. Look at Your Poo - Yes, I realize this is icky, no one really wants to look at their waste-- that's why it is called waste!  I can almost guarantee, however, that your ND will ask what your BMs look like (one piece? do they float? color? hard or soft?). Naturopaths love asking about bowel movements. When you think about it, it makes sense -- you ought to pay attention to what goes into your body, so why not pay attention to what comes out? Your BMs can give a good impression of your overall health and the more aware you are of your body's functions, the easier it will be to figure out when something is "off".

​Be well,
Dr. Disharoon


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