Naturopathic Medicine

The foundation of the naturopathic approach is to identify and treat the cause. We first look at diet and lifestyle. Then we often begin treatment with nutritional or botanical support. If needed, we can then move on to additional interventions.

The principles of Naturopathic Medicine are:

• The Healing Power of Nature (Vis Medicatrix Naturae)
• Identify and Treat the Causes (Tolle Causam)
• First Do No Harm (Primum Non Nocere)
• Doctor as Teacher (Docere)
• Treat the Whole Person
• Prevention

The foundation of the naturopathic approach is to identify and treat the cause. Naturopaths will start by evaluating diet and lifestyle. Nutritional or botanical supplements are often the first treatment step. If necessary, they will then use a higher level of intervention. Some of the treatment options naturopaths can use are diet and lifestyle counseling, homeopathy, nutritional supplementation, or intravenous nutrient treatments. As part of a holistic approach to medicine, naturopaths may also use some conventional tools. They can write prescriptions and order appropriate lab tests. Additionally, they will make referrals to specialists when needed. 

Ayurveda

Ayurveda is a 5,000-year-old health care, preventative and time-tested medicine developed in India. The term “Ayurveda” is broken into two Sanskrit words. Ayur (life) and Veda (science or knowledge). It quite literally translates to “The science of life”. Ayurveda aims to integrate and balance the body, mind, and spirit by promoting health, prolonging life, preventing disease, and eradicating the root of imbalance at the source. By understanding your Prakruti or the unique blend of elements in your body, as what is macrocosm (universe) is in the microcosm (you), we can work together to create a balanced wellness plan for you.

The initial Ayurvedic consultation is a comprehensive evaluation to address your unique Ayurvedic constitution, current imbalances, and the overall mind-body connection. Jessica asks a series of questions about your chief complaints, current symptoms, health history, diet, lifestyle, and goals during this time. Following this intake, Jessica will take time to create an individualized healing protocol based on your needs and body’s ability to work in tune with nature. The personalized protocol will provide a nutritional guide, herbal medicine recommendations, and daily lifestyle and mindfulness practices. Jessica will meet with you again the following week for a short review appointment to go over the protocol, explain your imbalances and goals, and answer any questions you may have. By the end of your initial consultation and review, you will be given the tools to apply the basic principles of Ayurveda to promote your own healing. If you are looking for individualized guidance and healing, Jessica is here to support you and help bring you back into balance.

Follow-up Ayurvedic appointments are a pivotal part of the healing process and occur every five weeks. During this time, a thorough review of your progress since implementing your initial protocol will be discussed. New developments, questions, concerns, and adjustments to your plans will be made when necessary. This may include a new diet, herbal and lifestyle recommendations based on your needs, and the next steps in your healing journey. The goal is to get you to a place of balance so you will no longer need 5-week follow-ups but only a “tune-up”, should a new health concern arise. Jessica will provide you with the tools you need to become independent in finding your balance and reestablishing that balance when needed.

Nutrition

Wellbeing is a complex combination of learning to listen to and trust your own body while living a life free of restrictions. Receiving one-on-one nutrition counseling sessions with a registered dietitian can help you navigate your food narrative, understand disordered eating patterns, improve body image and maximize your nutrient intake. We also welcome individuals who want to work on their relationship with food and body with intuitive eating, including those who may have chronic illnesses such as gastrointestinal disorders, diabetes or cancer. Rather than recommend generalized meal plans, a registered dietitian can provide you with an individually tailored nutrition plan personalized to your body that caters to your needs based on comprehensive testing. Working with a dietitian is most useful in identifying unhealthy eating patterns and gaps in your nutrition, which can be altered by creating sustainable habits and realistic goals without rules or restrictions. We also welcome individuals who want to work on their relationship with food by learning the ten principles of intuitive eating, understand the root cause of various gastrointestinal disorders and maximize/support organ function through the use of whole foods.

Acupuncture & Chinese Herbs

Acupuncture is rooted in ancient traditional Chinese medicine. It is a type of medical treatment used for thousands of years. Acupuncture uses the body’s energy, or “qi,” to help balance, re-align, and ultimately heal itself.  Doctors throughout eastern Asia have used acupuncture for over 3,000 years to prevent and treat ailments of all kinds.

During an acupuncture treatment, very small (nearly hair-thin) needles get inserted into the skin at specific points.  These needles help activate the body’s qi, promoting the movement of energy, which supports a natural healing process. Massage and “cupping” are used in some cases to loosen tight, sore muscles and promote the free flow of qi throughout the body.

Lab Testing

As part of our comprehensive approach to your healthcare, typically laboratory testing will be incorporated into your plan at Natural Medicine of Denver.  As naturopathic doctors, we review your labs from a functional medicine approach – meaning we are looking for trends in your test results rather than just what is expected as “normal.” Additionally, we offer laboratory testing that goes above and beyond typical lab testing.  These tests are selected on an individual basis to help further understand your specific health needs.  

Specialty testing that we offer at Natural Medicine of Denver includes:

• Adrenal Stress tests – 24 hour cortisol map
• Cardiovascular Health and Risk tests
• Environmental Allergy testing for pets, pollens, dust, and mold
• Food Allergy and Sensitivity tests
• Genomind Pharmacogenic testing
• GI (stool) analysis – for infection, inflammation, and dysbiosis
• GRAIL Cancer Screening
• Heavy Metal tests
• Hormone panels – including the DUTCH (urine hormone panel) test
• Micronutrient tests – vitamins, minerals, amino acids and essential fats
• Mold and Mycotoxin tests
• Nasal bacterial and fungal infection cultures
• Neurotransmitter tests
• Nutrigenomics – evaluating your genetics and how it impacts your daily health
• Organic Acid Test (OAT)
• Sleep Study – home test kit
• Vaginal Flora test – to evaluate levels of both beneficial and non-beneficial microbes
• Vibrant America Food Sensitivity Testing

Craniosacral Therapy

Craniosacral therapy is a gentle hands-on therapy.  It jump-starts the parasympathetic nervous system (the “rest & digest” system). This therapy helps calm your body down amid the stress and chaos of this world. We can do this by gently putting our hands in specific locations on your head. We then make micro-movements that release restrictions in the membranes. This therapy is very gentle.  And it encourages the movement of the fluid surrounding, supporting, and protecting the hub of your nervous system: the brain and spinal cord. The activation of the parasympathetic nervous system tells your mind it is ok to move into a healing and relaxed state – even during stressful, anxious, or chaotic moments.

Visceral Manipulation

Visceral Manipulation helps address both functional and structural imbalances in the body.  Using gentle manipulation, your therapist will work to locate the source of your problem and begin treatment. It helps release and relax the areas that support the organs. As tension around organs gets released, connected systems (such as fascia and ligaments) start to relax too.  Deep relaxation across systems can help relieve symptoms of pain, dysfunction, and poor posture.

Immunotherapy

Immunotherapy is an allergy treatment option to safely, effectively, and affordably treat the root cause of your allergies with personally formulated allergy drops designed to be taken orally. Immunotherapy treats the cause of your allergies, not just the temporary symptoms. This means once you have built long-term tolerance to your specific allergens ongoing allergy treatments and medications are no longer needed. Immunotherapy allergy drops have been used in the U.S. for more than 100 years. 

Immunotherapy is ideal for people who can’t tolerate or commit to allergy shots, for those who want to treat all of their allergies at once, for those who find it hard to avoid allergens, and for those who are tired of taking medications just to temporarily reduce symptoms. If you suffer from chronic sinusitis, experience eczema, have food or mold allergies, or have multiple allergies including dust mites, pollen, and animals then sublingual immunotherapy may be a good treatment option for you.

IV Therapy

IV therapy is a way to introduce high doses of micronutrients; vitamins, minerals, anti-oxidants, and amino acids, to your body intravenously. IV therapy is advantageous because nutrients are delivered directly to your bloodstream, which means the effects are often more powerful and faster-acting than oral supplementation. People with digestive problems often tolerate IV supplementation much better than oral supplementation because it is bypassing the digestive system. IV therapy also allows for the administration of higher doses of certain nutrients that may not be possible to achieve with oral supplementation this can be important in cases of severe depletion or illnesses where higher doses of nutrients are warranted.

IV nutrients can remain in your body for several hours to several days, but the effects of supplementing your body with vitamins, anti-oxidants, minerals and other nutrients can last weeks or even months.

At Natural Medicine of Denver, your IV formula is personalized to your specific health needs based on pertinent lab testing and your specific wellness goals.  Our IV treatments are administered by our nursing team under the direction of a medical doctor with over 25 years of experience.