What is Naturopathic Medicine?

Your body is an incredibly intelligent and powerful healer.

Think about it: Your 30 trillion living cells are in constant communication—working, organizing, and cooperating every second of every day to keep you healthy. When you get a cut, you don't have to consciously tell your cells to fight off infection and repair the skin. It all happens on its own. Your body's innate wisdom at work.

Naturopathic medicine is all about supporting this built-in healing power.

It’s a different approach to health that blends traditional Western herbal medicine, nutrition, and modern science. Instead of focusing on a reactive, "band-aid" approach to illness, we focus on optimizing your wellness and preventing disease before it starts. This philosophy is rooted in foundational principles like"Identify and Treat the Cause," which guide all naturopathic care.

Understanding the Difference: A Naturopathic Doctor's Approach to Acne

Let’s say you’re dealing with acne. Conventional medicine might use medications like Accutane to inhibit oil production or Spironolactone to block hormone receptors. While these can clear up the skin, they don't address the underlying systemic inflammation that contributes to these issues in the first place. Leaving the underlying imbalance unchecked while suppressing your body’s alarm signal. This is a key difference in how a naturopathic doctor for acne would view your case.

How a Naturopathic Doctor treats the root cause of acne. 

Instead of reaching for harsh medications, we give your body the tools it needs to naturally heal and regain balance. A growing body of research supports the "gut-skin axis," showing a direct link between the health of your digestive system and skin conditions like acne.

Sometimes, healing is as simple as optimizing your nutrition with enough colorful plants and fiber to support a healthy gut microbiome. Other times, it involves using traditional herbal medicine, which has been used for thousands of years to naturally support your gut, immune system, hormones, and stress response. For example, herbs like dandelion root and oregon grape have been traditionally used to support gut health and reduce skin inflammation.

Ultimately, a holistic acne treatment is about working with your body, not against it, so you can achieve a state of lasting health.