BODY. Treating The Whole Person.

I’m currently pursuing a certification in naturopathic medicine that has been asking me to revisit various philosophies and ideas of the profession. It involves concepts I have been presented to before as a student in the two-years of “theory and practice” classes that all naturopathic students are required to take. For most, it was a welcomed break and “gimme class” from the onslaught of the anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, pathology, immunology, embryology… (you get the idea). I loved these classes and to this day I still reference my learning that provoked the right brain amidst a left brain predominant curriculum and world. We, as humans, and we, as doctors, need both sides of the brain. I believe these theory classes are what make naturopathic medicine and naturopaths stand out: the philosophy on which we think about disease, healing and theories within.

I remember when I first moved to Coeur d’Alene and was trying to make friends, and I was too honest with the answer of what I do. At the running group, when someone heard I was a naturopathic doctor, next thing I know a shirt is uplifted and a rash is being shown to me before I could even ask a name. I still get it frequently: “How do you a treat eczema?” “My son has a cough that won’t go away - what can he take for that?” “What is your treatment for high cholesterol?”

These always feel like trick questions to me. I don’t treat eczema, coughs or cholesterol. I treat people. Focus on treating the whole person and the conditions will likely improve.

Many bemoan the “pill for an ill” model in conventional care. But it happens frequently in my office, too. And it makes sense - we are humans searching for the most efficient solution. We are at a peak of convenience culture and the “comfort crisis,” after all.

Here’s the thing: that eczema is connected to a GI tract, and various environmental exposures, and varying stressors, and a way of eating. And it likely didn’t happen overnight. Disease is a process. While I have seen miracles and miracle cures, they are the exception and not the norm. Healing and reversing disease often takes work and time - two things most people think they have too much of (work), and too little of (time).

I always thought I would choose a specialty and really find a niche in medicine. It sounds so official to be an “expert” in something. I have found the digestive system and nervous systems particularly fascinating, and I have certainly done my fair share of additional courses and training in these realms. However, my patients often don’t come with one complaint in one system, but three or more. Those complaints are not only in different systems, but all of our systems don’t work independently of one another. We are a (hopefully) a harmonic hum of homeostasis, or our body’s wise attempt to bring us back there.

I have some patients who have over six doctors - one for almost every system. I trust and refer to specialists. I will call them to coordinate care. But it is no new argument that we have passed the precipice of productivity with overspecialization in medicine. I recall I once referred a patient to ENT for recurrent sinus problems we wanted further examination on. He waited months for that appointment. Only to be told, “I only deal with tonsils, you will need to my colleague.” Silos can be efficient and provide needed expertise - please don’t misunderstand me. But it can also come at a cost of expense, time, fragmented care and over-diagnosis. Sometimes medicine can lose sight of the big picture by focusing on one small corner of it.

Tolle Totem is one of six naturopathic tenants: treat the whole person. I have taken that quite literally in my writings of breaking things down into body / mind / soul. I can’t just say apply this steroid or Aquaphor for your eczema. I want to know why it happened in the first place and if we can address the root cause. Look at your whole person: digestion, nutrition, stressors, skin products, prior history of eczema, etc.

If you want a quick and sexy fix, I may not be the right doctor for you. I won’t treat your eczema. I will treat you. The whole you.