by Krystal Paco
Guam - Naturopathic physicians base their practice on six timeless principles founded on medical tradition and scientific evidence - letting nature heal, identifying and treating causes, do no harm to the body, educate patients, treat the whole person, and prevent illness. Naturopathic medicine is a form of alternative medicine and is based on the belief that the human body has an innate healing ability.
Naturopathic physician Dr. Valerie Lane Simonsen told KUAM News, "As a naturopathic physician, I'm actually a doctor of medicine but it's a little bit different than an MD. The Latin word for doctor is dossier, which means "teacher" and that is what a naturopathic physician really is - a teacher." According to Dr. Simonsen, who has been practicing for about 20 years, she was initially an EMT and was studying to be an ER physician, but then she fell ill.
"I got sick," she recalled. "There was nothing that the doctors could do and they sent me home to die...they didn't even know what it was." Fortunately, a naturopath moved into town and within a short period of time her skin condition cleared up but the other part was very serious. "I ended up dying twice and in that process had major surgery and during that whole process, I learned about naturopathy, acupuncture, chiropractic and I did everything and I also used traditional medicine," she said.
Dr. Simonsen said being wheeled into the operating room, a voice told her to bring all the medicines together. "I tend to be really heavy on the psycho-spiritual aspect of healing and I also incorporate Chinese medicine as well, and homeopathy and some of the modalities that are available in natural medicine," she said.
When a naturopathic physician addresses an individual, they address the mind, body, and spirit. The term "naturopathy' is derived from Greek and Latin and literally translates to "nature disease." "First of all, I find out what their dream is - what do they want in their life? Then we look at some of the things that maybe they think and the belief systems that they have impede them in who they truly want to be," she said.
Dr. Simonsen then looks at nutrition. Currently she is offering a workshop to a group of about 12 women. Together, they have lost 65 lbs. just by changing what they consume and expressing themselves through physical activity. "Getting off of wheat, dairy, sugar, genetically engineered foods taking them out of their diet and then getting them expressing themselves in different ways such as exercise, water aerobics, bringing them down to the beach," she said.
She also incorporates art, which she believes is an amazing healing modality. "Every doctor does things differently. I tend to go on the psycho-spiritual aspect and use creativity as a way of healing rather than giving you a supplement or a drug to heal," she said.
Dr. Simonson said she works intimately with MDs, EMTs, and specialists to ensure patients have a life that is more natural.
For more information about naturopathy, you can head to Naturopathic.org.
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