Dr. Kristy Appelhans, NMD

Many of you may be searching for more health care options. This is a very personal choice that many of us make at some point in our lifetimes for any number of reasons. Maybe your condition requires a specialist or maybe you are not responding to treatments that have been provided. Maybe you just want to expand your knowledge about health and play a more active role in your health care regimen. For any of these reasons, you may seek treatment and guidance from a Naturopathic Medical Doctor, (NMD) or Naturopathic Doctor, (ND).

NMDs receive their education in 4-year accredited doctoral programs with a foundation in anatomical, biological, physiological, and biochemical sciences. After they have proven proficient in these subjects by passing nationally regulated board examinations, they receive additional training in clinical sciences including laboratory and clinical diagnosis, pathology, minor surgery, and pharmacology. Sound like med school so far?! But wait, there’s more! In addition to gaining a comprehensive understanding of science, which is crucial to adhering to the highest standards of safety and efficacy, NMDs learn to provide an even broader spectrum of options to their patients. NMDs are trained in a variety of modalities that include nutritional therapy, botanical medicine, homeopathy, chinese medicine and acupuncture, and physical medicine. Another testing of proficiency in clinical sciences and subsequent licensing to practice medicine includes passing a second board examination of all the aforementioned subjects in both traditional and “alternative” therapies.

Hopefully I have answered some questions the readers may have about a Naturopathic Doctor’s training. My approach in practice uses the entirety of the training I have received to offer the most appropriate options to my patients for their unique condition. Every patient is treated as an individual rather than a textbook case with a generic therapeutic answer. Ultimately, the guidleline for treatment is the least harmful and most beneficial option or combination of options.

A concerned parent approached me today. He reported that no matter how many doctors they went to see, no one could find the source of his son’s allergies. At the ripe old age of 3 years, his son was already well on his ways to a myriad of suppressive therapies including antihistamines. This parent was very frustrated for his son and said that these methods were not even helping and his son continued to struggle with upper respitory congestion as well as gastrointestinal symptoms (vomiting, cramping, flatulence, etc.) on a frequent basis. He explained that the intolerance to milk was identified early with first consumption because his son could not consume milk without vomiting immediately. I advised this parent that there are many causes for allergies and intolerances and that he needed to obtain a few comprehensive tests to get a better idea of what the cause(s) of his son’s condition could be.
Initial areas of analysis and investigation should include gut function and possible bacterial or parasitic infections, food allergies, environmental sensitivities, and metabolic disorders. I also suggested that sound nutrition be focused on in parallel with other efforts as it plays a critical role in improvement. This protocol is also applicable in adult patients although each patient, no matter the age, is an individual case which calls for a strategy specific to their unique history and lifestyle.

Upcoming topics will include nutrition in allergic conditions and gut healing.

*Dr. Appelhans is now accepting new patients. To learn more about Dr. Appelhans go to the website at www.privatehealthcarenow.com or call 310-281-6926 to make your appointment today*

What is a diet? Deprivation, starvation, low carb, low fat, raw foods, vegan, vegetarian, protein, soy-tein? The list goes on and on. The truth is, a diet is a nutritional lifestyle that is best suited for your personal health goals and needs. Determining which dietary components are most conducive to optimal health involves several areas of analysis. It is of no coincidence that some of these factors, when out-of-balance, also contribute to many of the common chronic diseases in our communities. For example, a practitioner may consider allergies and sensitivities, various disease patterns and blood chemistry abnormalities, nutrient deficiencies, exercise and activity levels, age, or other specific nutritional needs to decide which diet is most therapeutic for her patient. Therefore, it can be further deduced that diet plays a larger role in achieving health and wellness than just weight management. Below are some of the most common conditions that can be improved (and some even eliminated) with dietary intervention:

1. Eczema, Psoriasis, and other dermatological symptoms
2. Chronic Sinusitis and other allergic conditions affecting the upper respiratory system
3. Gastrointestinal Symptoms: GERD/reflux, IBS, constipation, bloating, gas, indigestion
4. Diabetes and Insulin Resistance
5. Obesity
6. Chronic Fatigue
7. High Cholesterol
8. Hyperactivity and attention deficit disorders