Has anyone tried a naturopathic Doctor?

**Toronto** · 02-01-2006, 08:02 AM

Hi,
I posted this question in the treatment section as well. I was wondering if anyone has tried a naturopathic doctor and what your experiences were with that? Did it help? I am thinking of trying it....

**Katrina** · 02-02-2006, 08:12 AM

http://www.ic-network.com/forum/show...opathic+Doctor

http://www.ic-network.com/forum/show...opathic+Doctor

If you don't find these links helpful you could try private messaging the people that have posted. Such as: massagedoula, tommygal, earthwriter.

http://www.remedyfind.com/newsletter...lCystitis.html I recommend looking at this since it is some info on starting with alternative treatments with IC and many naturalpath doctors will not know much about IC and may try to symptoms and recommend things that may hurt you.

**Boni** · 02-09-2006, 10:24 AM

I made an appointment with one today. I have heard good things, but, I am leary since he may not know about treating IC specifically.

They also are not covered by insurance.

**purpleviolet** · 02-09-2006, 03:47 PM

Lots of people go to naturopaths and I think they are all different. Some more conventional and some way out there. Keep us posted about what he or she says. There is so much on these boards about herbs and alternative treatments, too.

**PlainJane** · 02-11-2006, 04:06 PM

Hi,

You could find one through the Canadian College of Naturopathic medicine (CCNM). I've been seeing a good naturopath there (his name is Johnathan Prousky) and he's really nice! I have been going to him for IV vitamin therapy (Myers cocktail). I haven't had any luck with him for my bladder problems though but then again I haven't been diagnosed with IC, just found out I have chlamydia.

The CCNM is a good place to start!

**massagedoula** · 02-11-2006, 06:31 PM

I see a naturopathic doctor as my PCP. It is covered under my insurance the same as any other doctor. It all depends on the state and insurance. I love mine, she spends 30 minutes with you at each visit and researches for you in between each one, to be able to come back with new information. I have just made an appt. with her for my husband, so she can be his PCP too. They are great resources and will try many avenues of treatment, but working in a complimentary manner to your other medications. For example I take Elmiron, but I also get acupuncture, suppliments, blood testing, and nutritional advice from my naturopath to aid in the healing that Elmiron is doing for my bladder.

**Boni** · 02-12-2006, 06:56 AM

doula:

Sounds like it's worth moving to your state to have a Naturopath as a PCP!

**Allylou** · 02-14-2006, 12:54 PM

I went to see a Naturopath last week...I figured it's worth a try. It's hard to say if i am better. I have less pain (although the pain was a fairly new symptom to begin with). He has me trying Probiotics (Primal Defense) and Tea Tree Oil and Dentox. I know, people are skeptical about the whole mercury intolerance, but I am am trying that path anyhow 9Dentox is cheap anyhow, its the probiotics that is costly).
From his Biofeedback that he preformed on me, I saw with my own eyes the parts of the body that were stressed (not normal) - bladder, kidneys, immune system. Through different types of tests with the biofeedback machine, chronic Pulpitis (condition with teeth) may be attributing to the stress to the rest of my body. I know, its a long shot, and I don't expect a miracle, but it's worth a try. I want to try other avenues before turning to more invasive treatments from my uro (next is instillations). i go back for follow up next week. i will keep you posted. I will say now that if naturopathy is something that doesn't work for me, I am not going to knock it because it DOES WORK for some people...maybe you. I know it's costly; in Canada I am not used to forking out money for seeing a doctor, but I am lucky that I am comfortable enough financially to try this avenue, as well as have parent's that will help me out if need be.
Thank you all, by the way, for contributing to this website. I am a fairly new to IC and this site have given me so many ideas and options to try and to research. But its frustrating still, something that may work for one may not work for another.
My main symptom is frequency...I know i am in fairly good shape compared to others...I can sleep fairly well and the pain that I do have is not depilitating, just annoying. Mostly I am scared of getting worse as time goes on.
A.

A.

**Wendi Rae** · 02-17-2006, 07:07 PM

Allyou -

I can relate with you. Rather than having some MD fill me with painful potassium, I opted to listen to my support group and start with people who treat naturally. Turns out the NM group leader is a god send! She gave me the name of an IC'er who is also a Nurse Practioner in the OBGYN spectrum. I went to see her today and she gave me a full work up and names to naturopaths here that I can start with. I am a hearty believer in treating the person as a whole, and with compassion. I now have somewhat restored faith in the medical system. I am going to try to treat naturally before trying Elmiron and instillations. I like you strated out only with frequency, and now it's urethral burning and sometimes debilitating pelvic pain that only urised can calm... Rather than wait seven years to get help I can only hope that by starting early I can miss out on what some of the other women have to cope with much more often than I..

Good luck to you in your discoveries and let us know what works!

-Wendi

**Katrina** · 02-18-2006, 06:14 AM

Now I am a big lover of althernative treatments but just as in conventional treatment I strongly believe that knowledge is key to success....becasue finding any doctor that knows enough about IC is difficult. I also think that before turning to a natural path doc (unless you find one trained in Medicine as well) a conventional means to diagnosis is important....there are a lot of things that mymic IC and and in most cases more than just IC is going on and knowing all you can can help treatment in any case no matter who it is treating you.

That being said one imp. aspect of going the natural route is healing that bladder and that means treatments that help your body heal and that help with the bladder lining.
http://www.remedyfind.com/newsletter...lCystitis.html alternative start for IC