Treatment plans are customized for each patient and may include a variety of methods
and techniques designed to leverage the healing power of the body.
What Is Naturopathic Medicine?
Naturopathic medicine is a distinct health care profession that combines the wisdom of nature with the rigors of modern science. Naturopathic doctors (NDs) are trained as primary care providers who diagnose, treat and manage patients with acute and chronic conditions, while addressing disease and dysfunction at the level of body, mind and spirit.
NDs concentrate on whole patient wellness through health promotion and disease prevention, while addressing the underlying cause of the patient’s condition. They provide individualized, evidence-informed therapies that balance the least harmful and most effective approaches in order to help facilitate the body’s inherent ability to restore and maintain optimal health. Naturopathic doctors are experts in natural medicine, and naturopathic medical education is the most efficient and direct way to train as a primary care doctor who specializes in natural medicine.
Physical Therapy in Fairfield County, CT
Radial Pressure Wave Therapy (RPW)
Radial waves hit the body at the skin’s surface, traveling radially into the body to a depth of about two inches. The pressure waves stimulate metabolic activity and the body’s intrinsic healing mechanism. It is one of the most powerful modalities for pain reduction and musculoskeletal tissue healing.
Dry Needling
When acupuncture needles are used to treat dysfunctional muscle tissue, it is known as dry needling. Having trained in Traditional Chinese Medicine as part of my naturopathic education, I received further training in dry needling from Dr. Ma, the creator of the technique. Needling the entire myotome, or all the muscles innervated by a specific spinal level, is very effective in stimulating healing.
Manual Therapy
While advanced modalities are wonderful tools in a clinician’s toolbox, the importance of the human hand in various massage techniques and mobilizations cannot be overlooked or underestimated. Manual therapy has been used since ancient times and continues to be an important component in promoting healing.
Electric Muscle Stimulation
By using a specially designed machine that delivers alternating and direct current, electric muscle stimulation is very effective. The machine I currently use offers a more comfortable experience than any other I have tried. When pads are strategically placed, electric muscle stimulation allows the patient to move, train and stretch. I’ve seen patients with straight knees able to touch the floor for the first time!
Laser Therapy
Laser therapy is a quick and easy treatment allowing patients to relax during the procedure. In contrast to “cold lasers,” which provide no feeling or sensation, high power diode laser therapy provides a warm, soothing feeling. The main goal of laser therapy is to stimulate the cell to perform its natural functions, but at an enhanced rate.
Corrective Exercises
The human body is designed to move. To maximize our genetic potential, we need to exercise. Through monitored, individually tailored training programs, I help my patients maximize flexibility, strength and endurance, while decreasing the risk for injury and disease
WAVi - Brain Analysis
WAVi is a new technology for understanding the activity and health of our brains that has the potential to help us better understand ourselves and each other. WAVi stands for Waveform And Visualization Interface, and it's a program that helps translate brain data into visualizations that we can understand.
What Is Functional Medicine?
Functional medicine is a patient- centered medical healing at its best. It’s a science-based, natural way to become healthy again. Functional medicine looks below the surface of disease to find its underlying cause. It adheres to the idea that illness does not occur in isolation. It is sometimes referred to as “root cause medicine.” Almost always, beneath the symptoms of disease is an underlying imbalance or dysfunction in one or more bodily system. Only by identifying and treating the root cause can a patient achieve long-term relief and vitality.
Using the analogy of an iceberg, named diseases such as diabetes, cancer or fibromyalgia may be visible above the surface, but according to functional medicine, the cause lies in the altered physiology below the surface. The named diseases are just the tip of the iceberg. The real causes of a patient’s health problems rest below the surface.
If we treat only the tip of the iceberg, the patient rarely achieves long-term relief and vibrancy. Identifying and treating the underlying cause or causes, however, offers a better chance to resolve health challenges. Using scientific principles, advanced diagnostic testing and treatments other than drugs or surgery, functional medicine restores balance in the body’s primary physiological processes. The goal? Lifelong optimal health.
Using this approach can lead people to overcoming major life challenges. When practicing root cause medicine, there is great variety in testing and treatment modalities. The process can seem overwhelming at first – both to the patient and the doctor. That’s why I utilize the Comprehensive Patient History Questionnaire (CPHQ). It offers insight into what is happening on a biochemical level and helps to guide the next steps, which may include laboratory testing. The CPHQ will serve as our road map to your health. I cannot overstate its importance.