{"id":8876,"date":"2017-09-25T06:10:20","date_gmt":"2017-09-25T11:10:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wholehealthchicago.com\/?p=8876"},"modified":"2022-03-21T15:18:19","modified_gmt":"2022-03-21T20:18:19","slug":"meet-new-naturopathic-doctor-caley-scott-nd","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wholehealthchicago.com\/blog\/2017\/09\/25\/meet-new-naturopathic-doctor-caley-scott-nd","title":{"rendered":"Meet Our New Naturopathic Doctor: Caley Scott, ND"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

It wouldn\u2019t surprise me if you didn\u2019t know much about naturopathy. There aren\u2019t many naturopaths in the US and the 5,000 or so we do have are mostly located along the east and west coasts, seriously outnumbered by 800,000 MDs and 100,000 DOs (osteopaths). \u00a0Just to remind you: these are difficult days for health care in the US. In terms of overall quality, the US ranks 37th (just below Costa Rica but above Slovenia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The system is controlled by huge industries (insurance, Big Pharma, spurious \u201cnot-for-profit\u201d hospital systems) that place your Slovenian well-being at a lower priority than shareholder returns and obscene CEO salaries. The result? Despite the happy people gallivanting through Big Pharma commercials, correctly taken prescription drugs are the fourth leading cause of death in the US<\/a>.\u00a0 And despite billboards of actor-doctors who bask in the glow of grateful patients, most primary care physicians are overworked salaried employees whose production rates are carefully monitored by MBAs and time-study specialists.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One result of this is medical error, which is well known as the third leading cause of death in the US. Honestly, would you fly anywhere if plane crashes were the third leading cause of death?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Naturopathy speaks your self-care language
<\/strong>These cheerless statistics help explain why I\u2019m so thrilled to have a fully trained naturopathic doctor join the WholeHealth Chicago team. Here are the guiding principles of naturopathy. See if they resonate with you as distinctly as they do with me:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Primum non nocere (first, do no harm)<\/em><\/strong>. The naturopath should utilize methods and substances that are as nontoxic and noninvasive as possible. Methods that suppress symptoms without removing underlying causes are considered harmful and are to be avoided or minimized.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Vis medicatrix naturae (the healing power of nature).  <\/em><\/strong>Patients can be taught to heal themselves. Naturopathic medicine works to remove the obstacles to healing and recovery. A naturopath must acknowledge and respect a patient\u2019s ability to heal herself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tolle causam (identify and treat the causes). <\/em><\/strong>Treat the underlying causes and remove them, rather than suppressing symptoms. It was from naturopathy that the term \u201cfunctional medicine\u201d first appeared.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Docere (the doctor as a teacher)<\/em><\/strong>.  Naturopathic doctors educate their patients and encourage (rather than discourage) self care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Treat the whole person. <\/em><\/strong>A naturopath takes into account a person\u2019s physical, mental, emotional, genetic, environmental, and social aspects. In other words, a holistic approach.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Prevention. <\/em><\/strong>A naturopath focuses on preventing disease by assessing risk factors, heredity, and susceptibility to disease, and making appropriate interventions in partnership with her patient to prevent illness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dr. Scott<\/a> was trained as a primary care naturopathic doctor<\/a> at the National University of the Health Sciences in nearby Lombard. Because there is no separate licensing of naturopathy here in Illinois, she\u2019s required to work with a licensed physicians.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the 16 states that license naturopaths (notably all pleasant places to live) they can work independently, write some prescriptions, and perform minor surgery. In 2018, Pennsylvania becomes the 17th state to license naturopaths, with more states quickly following suit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Changing landscape of care
<\/strong>As headquarters for the AMA, I\u2019m not holding my breath for Illinois to have a sudden change of heart–we were among the last states to license acupuncture. But patients are becoming thoroughly fed up with the current health care system. Between the internet and an increasing interest in natural medicine (both as treatment and as a career), a change in the healthcare landscape is likely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From all this, you can see how Dr. Scott is an ideal fit at WholeHealth Chicago. The WHC staff knows how hard our patients work at self care. You eat healthfully, exercise, and try to keep stress under control, despite the very stressful place our world has become. Virtually nobody smokes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When I think about what you want to bolster this investment in your health I think about this:<\/p>\n\n\n\n