These days, it can seem like there are so many different types of medical practitioners you can see. There are conventional medical doctors who practice Western medicine. There are energy healers, herbalists, and providers who promise to heal your aura. And then, there are naturopaths. These doctors are positioned somewhere between conventional and alternative medicine. Although they use a lot of the same treatments as Western medical doctors, they prefer to take a natural approach whenever possible, and they also take a more "whole body" approach to health.

So, in what situations should you see a naturopath? Here are some key situations in which this may be the best type of provider for you to see.

You have not gotten good results with prescription medications

Perhaps you've been seeing a Western medical doctor for a certain issue, and they've prescribed a few medications, but you're not getting the results you desire. The meds may be causing lots of side effects or simply not working. This is a good situation in which to see a naturopath. They can often recommend some herbs, changes in diet, or other natural methods of managing or treating illnesses that don't respond to prescription medications. 

You're often sick and want to focus on whole-body care

Do you feel like you're just generally unhealthy, but doctors just keep treating your symptoms? Maybe one week you have an infection. The next, it's a sore jaw. Chances are, there is something about your lifestyle that is causing you to become sick so often.

Conventional medical doctors don't always do the best job of analyzing your lifestyle, connecting all the dots, and determining what the underlying factors might be. But this is part and parcel of what naturopaths do. They'll carefully examine your lifestyle, point out things that could be contributing to frequent illness, and help you make changes that improve your health.

You want to take a preventative, life-long approach

Maybe you're feeling healthy right now and you want to keep it that way. What you need is a lifestyle designed to promote wellness and help prevent disease as you grow older. A naturopath can work with you to design that preventative lifestyle. They can do everything from recommend dietary changes to give you a new sleep hygiene routine. They may also recommend some herbs to prevent specific ailments that are common in your family.

Naturopaths are just one kind of medical practitioner, but they can do great work in a lot of different scenarios. To learn more, make an appointment at a clinic, such as Prosperian Integrative Clinic.