Using Naturopathic Medicine and Mesotherapy
Together for Better Results
What is naturopathic medicine?
Naturopathic medicine is a unique system of medicine that focuses on treating the whole body and not just physical symptoms. Founded upon a holistic philosophy, naturopathic medicine has some core beliefs. Most importantly is first do no harm, second, to act in cooperation with the healing power of nature, third to heal the whole person through individualized treatments and fourth to teach principles of healthy living and preventative medicine.
Naturopathic medicine can incorporate botanical medicine, homeopathic medicine, clinical nutrition, hydrotherapy, physical medicine, minor surgery, pharmacology, oriental medicine and acupuncture in any given medical condition.
What distinguishes naturopathic physicians from other physicians?
Naturopathic physicians attend four-year medical schools and are required to pass national board examinations prior to obtaining their license to practice medicine. While this is true of all physicians, naturopaths distinguish themselves by their core beliefs. Instead of focusing only on symptoms, naturopathic physicians look at the bigger picture by addressing the whole person. This allows for true individualized care. Appointments typically range from thirty minutes to one hour in order to fully understand the patient’s needs.
In addition, naturopathic physicians are uniquely trained in the field of drug interactions and herbal medications. Naturopathic physicians help the patient determine exactly which supplement or herbal medication is appropriate and safe for use. With numerous nutritional supplements of all types, grades, and quality out on the market, it is extremely important for people to be monitored by physicians who understand the pharmacology of herbal medications and their possible interactions with prescription medications.
What are some examples of conditions treated by naturopathic physicians?
As primary care providers, naturopathic doctors treat a wide variety of medical conditions using prescription medications only when necessary. Some examples include arthritis, weight loss, cancer, allergies, asthma, menopause, digestive problems, migraines, diabetes, immune problems, heart disease, and autoimmune diseases such as chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia.
What is mesotherapy?
Mesotherapy is a non-surgical treatment option using microinjections to treat a wide variety of medical and aesthetic conditions. The treatment originated in France under Dr. Michel Pistor more than 50 years ago and has been recognized by the French Academy of Medicine since 1987. Over the last couple of years, mesotherapy has been gaining in popularity here in the United States with physicians duplicating protocols set forth by various organizations. Mesotherapy may be used for treating fat and cellulite, as well as, skin rejuvenation, hair re-growth, chronic pain and sport injuries.
How does mesotherapy work?
Mesotherapy involves the placement of nutrients, plant extracts, homeopathic medications, enzymes and/or prescription medications into the mesoderm or middle layer of skin known as the dermis. This region is responsible for secreting collagen, elastin, and ground substance providing support and elasticity to the skin. The dermis also contains blood vessels, lymphatic vessels, hair follicles and sweat glands. Injecting small amounts of medication into the dermis allows for rapid communication between the surrounding cells in a time-released manner providing an efficient tool for the treatment of many medical and aesthetic conditions. The types of medications injected depend upon the condition treated with safety and efficacy being of greatest concern. Mesotherapy is technique dependant, in that, there are many ingredients being utilized in various fashions. Thus, it is important to know the success rate and experience of the provider as this varies greatly from physician to physician.
How many treatments are typically required?
The number of treatments required varies greatly for each individual. Depending on the condition and area being treated, differences may start to be evident after just one treatment. If after the third treatment no change is noticed then the patient may not be a good candidate. The total number of treatments required correlate to body type and proper compliance with the prescribed diet and exercise program.
How do naturopathic physicians differentiate from other physicians performing mesotherapy?
Mesotherapy creates great public awareness for naturopathic physicians. Since naturopathic medicine specializes in treating the whole body, naturopaths are able to achieve more consistent results when using mesotherapy. In order to maximize treatment results, a detailed medical history is necessary to address any issues that can impede in obtaining full benefits from the mesotherapy procedure.
The single most important factor in mesotherapy is diet. Thus, a customized personal diet is derived after examining multiple factors in the patient’s blood. Studies have indicated that foods that are tolerable for one person might not be for the next. This is why fad diets don’t work in the long term. For example, a diet high in complex carbohydrates might be good for one body type where a diet high in protein might be for the next. Along with the personal diet, naturopaths recommend appropriate exercises. People under chronic stress can benefit more from yoga and mediation; where as, people with sugar or weight problems can benefit more from aerobic exercise.
Symptoms, whether they be weight gain or chronic pain, are simply a body’s cry for help. It is up to the physician to determine the root cause of the problem and not just prescribe medications. This principle allows naturopathic physicians to truly distinguish themselves from others in the medical community.