NATUROPATHIC FAQ

Q: What is Naturopathic Medicine?
Naturopathic Medicine is a unique and comprehensive approach to improving health and treating illness. Focusing on prevention, and using natural substances and treatments, naturopathic doctors support and stimulate the body’s ability to heal itself.
The primary goal of naturopathic treatment is to address the cause of illness, rather than simply treat or suppress symptoms. The patient is seen as a whole person and the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual dimensions are taken into account when diagnosing and developing a treatment plan for the patient.

Q: What is a Naturopathic Doctor?
Naturopathic Doctors are highly educated primary care providers who integrate standard medical diagnostics with a broad range of natural therapies.

Q: What are some treatments that may be used?
• Clinical Nutrition
• Botanical Medicine
• Homeopathy
• Physical Medicine
• Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine
• Lifestyle Counseling
• Pharmaceuticals (used judiciously)

TREATMENT FAQ

Q: What types of health problems can be treated?
Virtually all chronic and most acute conditions may benefit from treatment by naturopathic doctors. People of all ages can be helped.

Common complaints seen by Dr. Berkner include; addiction, fatigue, chronic colds and flu, digestive problems, high blood pressure, depression and anxiety, PMS, menopause, high blood cholesterol, diabetes and excess weight.

Q: What can I expect / how does it work?
The goal of the naturopathic doctor is to understand the patient and all the factors which impact on his/her health. Like your medical doctor, a naturopathic doctor will take an in-depth patient history, and seek information from a physical exam and laboratory tests.

In contrast to your medical doctor, a naturopathic doctor may spend far more time with you as a patient, use different tools, and will operate under differing philosophical principles based on the belief in the healing power of nature and including treating the whole person, finding the root cause, doctor as teacher and prevention as the best medicine.

Naturopathic medicine is a primary health care profession emphasizing:
•prevention and treatment of disease
•maintenance of optimal health
•promotion of the individual’s inherent self-healing process

TRAINING FAQ

Q: How are naturopathic physicians trained?
All modern licensed naturopathic physicians have Doctorate of Naturopathic Medicine degrees from federally recognized medical schools. Their education includes:
•the same premedical undergraduate coursework required by other schools of medicine
•a competitive application and admission process
•graduation from a four-year, federally recognized, naturopathic medical school
•two full years of supervised clinical internship
Naturopathic medical students study the same basic and clinical sciences as do other medical students, and in addition, a full spectrum of natural medicines and therapies.

Q: How do naturopathic physicians diagnose and treat people?
As primary care providers, naturopathic physicians use:
•standard medical diagnostic techniques such as extensive health history, physical examination, blood tests, radiology, and other standard laboratory procedures.
•holistic interpretation in order to find the underlying cause of the disease process.
•natural medicines and therapies as the first line of treatment, and rational use of drugs and surgery

GENERAL FAQ

Q: How do I refer friends and family?
We’re happy to receive new patients and are always grateful for your confidence. Just contact us at 480-296-6173 to book an appointment in the Queen Creek office.