Natural Medical SolutionsPlain-language explanations of the conditions, therapies and tests we work with most, written by this practice rather than syndicated from a stock library. 107 topics across 14 areas, each linking through to the page that covers it in full.
This is general information and not medical advice. Nothing here diagnoses anything, and none of it replaces the care of your own doctor. If something matches what you are living with, that is a reason to have a conversation rather than to self-treat. Call (770) 674-6311 or request an appointment.
- Digestive Health
- Thyroid and Adrenal
- Hormones and Metabolic Health
- Hormone Therapy and Bioidentical Hormones
- Men's Health
- Cancer: Supportive Care
- Allergies, Immunity and Autoimmune
- Brain, Mood and Sleep
- Heart and Circulation
- Weight and Nutrition
- Pain and Musculoskeletal
- Detoxification and Environment
- Testing and Assessment
- Therapies and Approaches
Digestive Health
Go to Digestive Health ›
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Acid Reflux and GERD
Reflux is often treated as an acid excess when the pattern points elsewhere, including meal timing, weight, alcohol, and how well the valve at the top of the stomach closes. Long-term acid suppression has its own trade-offs worth understanding.
More: Digestive health -
Leaky Gut (Intestinal Permeability)
The intestinal lining is meant to be selective. When that barrier loosens, particles cross that normally would not, which is one proposed route from gut trouble to symptoms elsewhere. The concept is better established in research than in routine practice.
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Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
IBS is a diagnosis of pattern rather than pathology, which is why two people with the same label can need opposite things. Food triggers, stress load, motility and the gut microbiome all pull on it.
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SIBO (Small Intestine Bacterial Overgrowth)
Bacteria that belong further down the digestive tract set up in the small intestine, where they ferment food early and produce gas. Bloating that arrives soon after eating is the classic complaint.
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Candida Overgrowth
Candida is a normal resident that can overgrow when the conditions favour it, such as after antibiotics. It is also one of the most over-diagnosed things in natural medicine, so testing matters more here than usual.
More: Functional testing -
H. pylori
A bacterium that colonises the stomach lining and is a well-established cause of ulcers and chronic gastritis. Unlike much in this section, it is testable and its treatment is conventional and effective.
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Constipation
Frequency matters less than effort, completeness and change from your own normal. Fibre, hydration, movement, thyroid function and magnesium status all feed into it.
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Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis are autoimmune conditions that need gastroenterology care. Nutrition and nutrient status matter alongside that care, not instead of it.
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Digestive Enzymes
Enzymes break food into pieces small enough to absorb. When output falls, symptoms show up as bloating, fullness and undigested food, and nutrient status can slip even on a good diet.
More: Digestive health -
Probiotics: What They Do
Probiotics are live organisms studied for specific strains and specific uses. The evidence is strain-specific, which is why "take a probiotic" is less useful advice than it sounds.
More: Digestive health
Thyroid and Adrenal
Go to Thyroid Health ›
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Hypothyroidism
An underactive thyroid slows the body down: fatigue, cold intolerance, weight that will not move, dry skin, low mood. Symptoms often arrive well before the standard test flags anything.
More: Thyroid health, Thyroid testing -
Hyperthyroidism
An overactive thyroid does the reverse, producing a racing heart, heat intolerance, anxiety and unintended weight loss. It needs medical assessment rather than a supplement.
More: Thyroid health -
Hashimoto's Thyroiditis
The most common cause of hypothyroidism in the United States, and an autoimmune condition rather than a simple gland failure. That distinction changes what is worth looking at.
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Graves' Disease
The autoimmune form of an overactive thyroid. It requires conventional endocrine management, with nutrition and stress load as supporting considerations.
More: Thyroid health -
Why a Normal TSH Can Miss Things
TSH is a pituitary signal, not a direct measure of thyroid hormone. A fuller panel including free T3, free T4 and antibodies sometimes explains what a single number cannot.
More: Thyroid testing, Thyroid health -
Adrenal Fatigue: What the Term Means
A widely used label for the exhaustion pattern that follows prolonged stress. It is not a recognised medical diagnosis, and we would rather say so plainly than pretend otherwise. The symptoms are real and worth investigating.
More: Adrenal support -
HPA Axis and the Stress Response
The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis is the loop that governs cortisol. Sustained pressure changes its rhythm, which is a more accurate frame than the idea of glands wearing out.
More: Adrenal support, Cortisol testing -
Chronic Fatigue
Persistent exhaustion that rest does not fix has many possible drivers: thyroid, iron, B12, sleep quality, blood sugar, infection and mood among them. It deserves a full workup rather than a label.
Hormones and Metabolic Health
Go to Hormone Balancing ›
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Hormonal Imbalance: Common Signs
Irregular cycles, stubborn weight, low mood, poor sleep, thinning hair and low drive can all point at hormones. They can also point at thyroid, iron or stress, which is why the pattern matters more than any one symptom.
More: Hormone balancing, Hormone testing -
Irregular or Difficult Periods
Cycle changes are information. Thyroid function, insulin, body composition, stress and nutrient status all influence them, and the useful question is which one is driving yours.
More: Hormone balancing -
Perimenopause and Menopause
A transition rather than an event, often running several years. Sleep, temperature regulation, mood and body composition shift together, and lifestyle levers work better earlier than later.
More: Hormone balancing -
Night Sweats
Common around hormonal transitions, but also produced by blood sugar swings, alcohol, thyroid overactivity, medication and infection. Worth ruling the others out.
More: Hormone balancing -
Metabolic Syndrome
A cluster rather than a disease: central weight, raised blood pressure, high triglycerides, low HDL and rising blood sugar. Each one worsens the others, and the cluster is largely responsive to diet and movement.
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Insulin Resistance and Blood Sugar
Cells respond less to insulin, so the body makes more of it. This runs quietly for years before glucose readings change, which is why it is often missed early.
More: Diabetes support, Nutrition -
Type 2 Diabetes: Supporting Your Care
Diabetes is managed by your physician. Nutrition, movement, weight and sleep meaningfully affect how that management goes, and that is where naturopathic support belongs.
More: Diabetes support -
Diabetic Neuropathy
Nerve damage from long-running high blood sugar, usually felt first in the feet. Blood sugar control is the foundation; nutrient status and circulation are worth attention alongside it.
More: Diabetes support, Pain management
Hormone Therapy and Bioidentical Hormones
Go to Hormone Balancing ›
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What "Bioidentical" Actually Means
It means the hormone is structurally identical to the one your body makes, as opposed to a modified molecule. That is a statement about chemistry, not about safety, and the two get conflated constantly in advertising.
More: Hormone balancing -
FDA-Approved Versus Compounded
Bioidentical hormones come both ways. Several are FDA-approved, including estradiol and micronized progesterone. Compounded preparations are made to order by a pharmacy and are not FDA-approved, which is a real distinction worth knowing before you start.
More: Hormone balancing -
What the Evidence Says About Compounded Hormones
In 2020 the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine reviewed compounded bioidentical hormone therapy for the FDA and found the supporting evidence largely came from anecdote, patient report and prescriber testimony rather than controlled trials. They recommended reserving compounded preparations for people who cannot use an approved product or who need a dose or form that is not commercially made. We think you should know that before deciding.
More: Hormone balancing -
Why "Natural" Does Not Mean "Safer"
Compounded hormones are frequently marketed as safer than approved ones because they are natural or plant-derived. There is no good evidence for that, and the known risks of hormone therapy apply either way. Anyone telling you otherwise is selling.
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Testing Before Treating
Hormones follow daily and monthly rhythms, so when a sample is taken matters as much as what it shows. We test before prescribing, and retest to see what actually changed, rather than adjusting on symptoms alone.
More: Hormone testing, Hormone balancing -
Delivery Methods
Creams, gels, patches, troches, capsules and pellets all behave differently in absorption, steadiness of level and how easily a dose can be stopped or changed. Pellets in particular cannot be removed once inserted, which is worth weighing in advance.
More: Hormone balancing -
Progesterone
Usually paired with estrogen in anyone who still has a uterus, because unopposed estrogen carries endometrial risk. Micronized progesterone is available as an FDA-approved product.
More: Hormone balancing -
Estrogen Therapy
Effective for the vasomotor symptoms of menopause. Timing relative to menopause, personal and family history, and route of delivery all shape whether it suits you, which is a conversation rather than a formula.
More: Hormone balancing -
Thyroid Hormone Support
Different from sex hormone therapy and managed differently. Dose is guided by testing and by how you actually feel, and both matter.
More: Thyroid health, Thyroid testing -
DHEA and Pregnenolone
Precursor hormones the body converts into others, which is precisely why supplementing them has knock-on effects that are not always predictable. Worth testing rather than assuming.
More: Hormone testing, Adrenal support -
What Hormone Therapy Will Not Fix
If poor sleep, chronic stress, blood sugar swings or nutrient deficiency are driving your symptoms, hormones prescribed on top of that tend to disappoint. We look underneath first. That is the naturopathic part, and it is not a delay tactic.
Men's Health
Go to Hormone Balancing ›
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Low Testosterone: Symptoms and Testing
Fatigue, low drive, mood change, lost muscle and poor concentration can all point here, and can all point elsewhere. Testosterone follows a daily rhythm, so morning testing on more than one occasion is the standard approach.
More: Hormone testing, Hormone balancing -
Erectile Difficulty as an Early Warning
This is the part most articles skip. Erectile function depends on small blood vessels, and problems there often precede cardiovascular disease by several years. It is a reason for a cardiovascular workup, not just a prescription.
More: Heart health, Hormone balancing -
Testosterone Therapy: What to Weigh
It can help men with genuinely low levels and symptoms to match. It also suppresses fertility, needs monitoring of blood count and prostate markers, and is not a general-purpose tonic. Levels alone do not justify treatment.
More: Hormone balancing -
Sleep Apnoea and Hormones
Untreated sleep apnoea lowers testosterone, raises cardiovascular risk and produces the same fatigue and low mood people attribute to hormones. Treating the apnoea sometimes resolves the rest.
More: Sleep and mood, Heart health -
Prostate Health
Urinary changes are common with age and are not automatically serious, but they should be assessed rather than assumed. Screening decisions belong with your physician.
More: Disease prevention -
Metabolic Health in Men
Central weight, insulin resistance and low testosterone reinforce each other in a loop. Breaking it usually starts with the metabolic side rather than the hormonal one.
Cancer: Supportive Care
Go to Integrative Cancer Support ›
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What Integrative Cancer Support Is
Supportive care given alongside oncology treatment, aimed at quality of life: nutritional status, managing side effects, sleep, stress and function. It does not target the cancer, and it does not replace any part of your oncology plan.
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What It Is Not
It is not a cancer treatment, an alternative protocol, or a reason to postpone surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy or immunotherapy. Any provider offering a natural therapy as a substitute for oncology care is one to walk away from.
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Nutrition During Treatment
Treatment affects appetite, taste, swallowing and digestion, and weight loss during treatment is associated with worse tolerance of it. Keeping nutrition adequate is one of the more useful things supportive care does.
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Supplements and Interactions
This is the most important thing on this page. Some supplements and herbs interfere with chemotherapy, radiotherapy and hormone-blocking drugs, including common antioxidants. Nothing should be taken during treatment without your oncology team knowing.
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Fatigue and Sleep During Treatment
Cancer-related fatigue is not ordinary tiredness and does not resolve with rest alone. Graded activity, sleep structure and correcting anaemia or nutrient deficiency where present all contribute.
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After Treatment Ends
Finishing treatment is its own transition, and support often falls away exactly when people need it. Rebuilding strength, nutritional status and sleep is real work, and follow-up with your oncology team continues.
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Screening and Early Detection
Recommended screening is one of the more evidence-backed things in medicine. We support it and we do not offer anything as a replacement for it. Thermography in particular is not a substitute for mammography.
More: Disease prevention, Thermography
Allergies, Immunity and Autoimmune
Go to Allergies and Autoimmune Disorders ›
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Seasonal Allergies
Pollen-driven symptoms that arrive on a schedule. Knowing which pollen and when lets you get ahead of the season rather than react to it.
More: Allergies, Allergy testing -
Indoor and Pet Allergies
Dust mites, mould and animal dander produce year-round symptoms that are easy to normalise. Environment often does more than anything taken by mouth.
More: Allergies, Environmental testing -
Food Allergies and Food Sensitivities
A true food allergy is an immediate immune reaction and can be dangerous. Sensitivity describes slower, subtler reactions. The two are not the same thing and are not tested the same way.
More: Allergies, Food testing -
Sinusitis
Inflamed sinuses following infection, allergy or structural narrowing. Recurrent sinusitis is worth investigating rather than repeatedly treating.
More: Allergies -
Autoimmune Conditions: The Common Thread
The immune system misidentifies the body as a threat. The specific condition varies enormously, but triggers, nutrient status and inflammation are shared considerations across them.
More: Autoimmune conditions -
Lupus
A systemic autoimmune condition needing rheumatology care. Supporting nutrition, sleep and stress load sits alongside that care rather than replacing it.
More: Autoimmune conditions -
Immune Support Through the Year
Sleep, protein and micronutrient status, movement, and stress do more for immune function than any single supplement. Unglamorous, and consistently the thing that works.
More: Disease prevention -
Colds and Flu
Mostly self-limiting, and mostly a question of supporting recovery and knowing when something has stopped being ordinary. Antibiotics do nothing for a virus.
More: Disease prevention
Brain, Mood and Sleep
Go to Brain and Mood Support ›
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Depression: Looking at the Whole Picture
Depression is a medical condition that deserves proper treatment. Thyroid function, vitamin D, B12, iron, sleep and blood sugar can all contribute, and are worth checking alongside that treatment rather than instead of it.
More: Brain and mood support -
Anxiety
Persistent anxiety has physiological contributors, among them blood sugar swings, caffeine, thyroid overactivity, poor sleep and nutrient status. Addressing those does not replace therapy or medication where they are needed.
More: Brain and mood support -
Panic Attacks
Intense, short-lived episodes with strong physical symptoms that can mimic a cardiac event. New chest symptoms should always be assessed medically first.
More: Brain and mood support -
Insomnia and Sleep Quality
Trouble falling asleep and trouble staying asleep usually have different causes. Light exposure, evening blood sugar, alcohol, cortisol rhythm and sleep apnoea are the usual suspects.
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Seasonal Affective Disorder
Low mood that tracks the calendar, tied to reduced daylight. Light exposure timing and vitamin D status are the first things worth examining.
More: Brain and mood support -
Brain Fog and Memory Changes
Difficulty concentrating and word-finding trouble are common and rarely have one cause. Sleep, thyroid, B12, blood sugar, medication and stress all contribute.
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Chronic Stress and What It Does
Sustained stress is not just a feeling. It changes cortisol rhythm, sleep, appetite, blood pressure and immune function, and those changes are measurable.
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Mental Health First Aid
An 8-hour course teaching how to recognise and respond to a mental health or substance use crisis. Dr. Ravello is a certified instructor and teaches it here.
More: Course dates and signup
Heart and Circulation
Go to Heart Health ›
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High Blood Pressure
Usually symptomless until it is not, which is why it gets called the silent one. Sodium, weight, alcohol, sleep apnoea, stress and movement all move the number.
More: Heart health -
Cholesterol: Reading the Full Panel
Total cholesterol on its own tells you very little. Particle number, triglyceride to HDL ratio and inflammatory markers say considerably more about risk.
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Inflammation and Cardiovascular Risk
Plaque develops in arteries through a process that is as much inflammatory as it is about fat. That is why markers beyond cholesterol are worth measuring.
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Circulation and Cold Extremities
Persistently cold hands and feet can reflect circulation, thyroid function, iron status or nervous system tone. Sudden or one-sided changes need prompt medical assessment.
More: Heart health
Weight and Nutrition
Go to Nutrition and Weight Loss ›
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Why Weight Stalls
Plateaus are normal and rarely mean failure. Metabolic adaptation, muscle loss, sleep debt, under-eating protein and untreated thyroid problems are the usual explanations.
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Obesity as a Metabolic Condition
Body weight is regulated by hormones, not willpower alone. Treating it as a character question is both unkind and ineffective.
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Unintended Weight Loss
Losing weight without trying is a symptom that needs investigating, not celebrating. Thyroid, digestion, blood sugar and other conditions all belong on the list.
More: Nutrition, Functional testing -
Preserving Muscle
Muscle is metabolically active tissue and it protects function as you age. Adequate protein and resistance training are the two things that reliably maintain it.
More: Nutrition -
Fats: Which Ones and Why
Fat is not one thing. The balance of omega-3 to omega-6, and the amount of processed industrial fat, matter more than total fat intake.
More: Nutrition -
Portion Awareness Without Counting
Most people do better with structure than with arithmetic. Protein first, plants by volume, and consistent meal timing beats tracking for the majority.
More: Nutrition -
Nutritional Deficiencies
Vitamin D, B12, iron, magnesium and zinc are the ones we see most. Deficiency symptoms are vague and easily attributed to something else.
More: Nutrient testing -
Vitamin D
Involved in immune function, mood and bone health. Status varies enormously with latitude, skin tone, season and time spent outdoors, and it is straightforward to measure.
More: Nutrient testing -
Fatty Liver
Fat accumulating in the liver, now common and strongly tied to insulin resistance. It is one of the more reversible things on this page when addressed early.
More: Nutrition, Detoxification
Pain and Musculoskeletal
Go to Natural Pain Management ›
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Back Pain
Most back pain improves without imaging or intervention, and staying active beats resting. Pain with numbness, weakness or bladder changes needs urgent assessment.
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Neck and Shoulder Pain
Often postural and load-related rather than structural. Desk setup, sleep position and stress-driven muscle guarding are common contributors.
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Arthritis and Joint Stiffness
Wear-related and inflammatory arthritis behave differently and are managed differently. Movement helps both, which surprises people.
More: Pain management -
Fibromyalgia
Widespread pain with fatigue and disturbed sleep, involving how pain signals are processed rather than damage in the tissue itself. Sleep quality is one of the more useful levers.
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Migraines and Headaches
Triggers are individual and often cumulative rather than single. Sleep, hydration, blood sugar, hormonal timing and specific foods are worth tracking before anything else.
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Pelvic Pain
Persistent pelvic pain has gynaecological, digestive, urinary and musculoskeletal causes that overlap. It is under-investigated and worth taking seriously.
More: Pain management
Detoxification and Environment
Go to Detoxification ›
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What Detoxification Actually Means
Your liver, kidneys, gut, lungs and skin clear compounds continuously. Supporting that machinery is real; the idea that a juice fast flushes toxins is not.
More: Detoxification -
Heavy Metals
Lead, mercury, cadmium and arsenic accumulate from environment, diet and occupation. Testing should be done properly, and we do not use provoked urine testing, which the American College of Medical Toxicology advises against.
More: Heavy metals, Metals testing -
Mould and Mycotoxins
Damp buildings can produce genuine respiratory and neurological symptoms. This is also an area with a great deal of overreach, so evidence matters.
More: Environmental testing -
Everyday Chemical Exposure
Plastics, pesticide residue, solvents and personal care products make up a background load. Reducing exposure is more practical than trying to clear it afterwards.
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Colon Hydrotherapy
Warm filtered water is used to flush the colon. It attracts strong opinions in both directions, and it is one tool among several rather than a cure for anything.
More: Colon hydrotherapy
Testing and Assessment
Go to Functional Medicine Testing ›
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What Functional Testing Is
Panels that look at how systems are performing rather than only whether disease is present. Useful for pattern-finding, and not a substitute for conventional diagnostic testing.
More: Functional testing -
Blood Panels Worth Understanding
A standard panel covers a lot of ground if read properly. Reference ranges describe a population, not your personal optimum, and trends over time say more than a single reading.
More: Functional testing -
Allergy and Sensitivity Testing
Different methods answer different questions, and none of them replaces a careful history and a structured elimination trial.
More: Allergy testing, Allergies -
Stool and Digestive Testing
Assesses digestion, absorption, the microbiome and markers of inflammation, and can identify specific organisms such as H. pylori and parasites.
More: Stool testing, Digestive health -
Hormone and Cortisol Testing
Timing matters as much as the result, because these hormones follow daily and monthly rhythms. A single random draw can easily mislead.
More: Hormone testing, Hormone balancing -
Thermography
Digital infrared imaging that maps surface temperature patterns. The FDA advises it is not a substitute for mammography and should not be used in place of it for breast-cancer screening. It may be used as an adjunct. It does not diagnose disease.
More: Thermography
Therapies and Approaches
Go to Naturopathic Medicine ›
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Naturopathic Medicine
A whole-person approach built on six principles agreed in 1989, starting with the least invasive option that could reasonably work and aiming at causes rather than symptoms.
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Integrative Medicine
Conventional and complementary care used together and coordinated, rather than one chosen over the other.
More: Integrative medicine -
Homeopathic Medicine
A traditional system using highly diluted, individually selected remedies. It is used here to complement appropriate medical care, not to replace it.
More: Homeopathic medicine -
Botanical Medicine
Plant-based preparations with real pharmacological activity, which is exactly why they can interact with prescription medication. Natural does not mean inert.
More: Botanical medicine -
Therapeutic Massage
Device-delivered massage to ease tension and support circulation and relaxation. A comfort therapy, and not a treatment for any disease.
More: Therapeutic massage -
Craniosacral Therapy
Very light manual contact applied to the head, spine and pelvis. Gentle, well tolerated, and best understood as a relaxation and comfort therapy.
More: Craniosacral therapy -
Acupressure
Manual pressure applied at defined points, drawn from the same map as acupuncture but without needles.
More: Acupressure -
Infrared Sauna
Infrared wavelengths warm you directly rather than heating the air, so the cabin runs cooler than a traditional sauna and is easier to sit in. A comfort therapy. The evidence for chronic pain is small and promising rather than settled, and the depth-of-penetration claims you will see vary enormously.
More: Infrared sauna, Pain management -
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy
Breathing oxygen under increased pressure so more dissolves into the blood. Cleared for a specific list of conditions, and widely promoted for many it is not cleared for. Chamber pressure matters.
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Integrative Cancer Support
Supportive care during and after oncology treatment: nutrition, symptom comfort and quality of life. It is not cancer treatment and does not replace your oncology team.
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Preventive Care
The work that happens before there is anything to treat. Nutrition, movement, sleep, stress and catching changes while they are still small.
More: Disease prevention
Some topics are deliberately absent. We do not publish guidance on cosmetic procedures, vaccination schedules or acute infectious disease, because they are not what this practice does, and we would rather point you to the right place than look broader than we are.
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