The Top 5 Reasons Natural Doctors Will Prescribe Medications
Naturopathic medical doctors (NMD) are known for their holistic approach to health, often prioritizing natural solutions to promote healing and well-being. However, there's a time and place for everything, including the use of some medications.
While we typically explore lifestyle changes, dietary adjustments, and supplements first and foremost, certain situations call for pharmaceutical intervention. And while these medication interventions may be necessary, even in the short term, informed natural doctors will select types and brands known to be formulated without additives or unnecessary fillers that can be harmful to health.
Here are the top five reasons why a natural health doctor might prescribe medication:
Bioidentical Hormones
When it comes to hormone imbalances, bioidentical hormones can be a game-changer. These hormones derived from plant estrogens are chemically identical to those our bodies produce naturally. Natural doctors may prescribe them to help with symptoms related to menopause, adrenal fatigue, or thyroid disorders. They're favored because they aim to match your body's natural hormones, potentially offering a more seamless integration than synthetic alternatives.
Glandular Thyroid
Thyroid issues can significantly impact one's quality of life, and sometimes diet and lifestyle aren't enough to correct them. That's where glandular thyroid medications come in. These contain desiccated thyroid extract made from animal thyroid glands, which not only provide T3 and T4 thyroid hormones, but T2 and T1 as well, unlike the synthetic analogs. For some patients, these medications offer relief when other commonly used generic thyroid medication treatments have failed, helping to regulate metabolism, energy levels, and overall hormonal balance, with a more natural replacement.
Acute Illnesses or Injuries
Even the most robust natural defenses can be breached by acute illnesses like bacterial infections or severe viral conditions. In these cases, we may turn to antibiotics or antiviral medications to quickly address the issue to provide safe relief and prevent other infections by doing so. The goal is to reduce the severity and duration of the illness, prevent complications, and help the patient recover more rapidly so that we can return to more natural modalities for long-term health.
Resistant Conditions
Sometimes, despite the best natural interventions, certain health conditions prove to be stubborn due to genetic or environmental causes. Chronic infections, autoimmune diseases, or severe allergies may not respond to non-pharmaceutical measures alone, especially in the short term. When faced with such resistant conditions, naturopathic medical doctors may incorporate specific medications into the treatment plan to manage symptoms and improve the patient's quality of life while working on the underlying cause to best approach the issue long term. Often, if root causes can be identified, medications can be safely tapered off later on.
Organ Protection
Long-term health conditions like diabetes or high blood pressure can put organs at risk over time. To protect vital organs such as the heart, kidneys, and liver, natural physicians may prescribe medications that help control these underlying conditions, even in the short term. The aim is to prevent further damage and maintain organ function, while still addressing the root cause through natural means whenever possible.
Balancing Nature and Medicine
While natural remedies are the cornerstone of naturopathic medicine, medications have their rightful place in patient care. Whether it's to balance hormones, treat acute illnesses, tackle resistant conditions, or protect vital organs, we judiciously use pharmaceuticals when we believe it's in the best interest of a patients' health.
At Virasoap Natural Medicine, we believe that you have a right to know all your options for care. By using an integrative approach between modern and traditional healing modalities, you have more options in your treatment choices. You deserve to be able to make an informed decision about how you want to approach your health.
Dr. Alexa Neynaber (NMD, ND, IFM-CP) is the managing physician at Virasoap Natural Medicine in Meridian, Idaho, President of the Idaho Chapter of the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians, and an Institute for Functional Medicine Certified Practitioner. She is a licensed physician in Idaho and Washington, with a Bachelor of Science in Nutrition, and a Doctorate in Naturopathic Medicine from Bastyr University.