Dr. Erickson's Treatment Approaches for Common Health Issues:
Stress
When I see a patient for stress, or Maladaptive Stress Syndrome (MSS), the treatment I provide will differ depending on what level or type of MSS the patient is experiencing. I will assess whether you are having a normal response to stress (Type 0) or are experiencing chronic stress and producing excess stress hormones (Type 2). If you are completely depleted from longterm, chronic stress (stemming from work, relationships, poverty, post-traumatic stress, etc.), I will treat you for Type 3 MSS. My naturopathic treatment plan for your stress will be individualized and might include herbs, relaxation techniques, dietary considerations (i.e. cutting out caffeine, weight management), exercise, meditation and body work. Women who are stressed may experience an imbalance in their female hormones. For these patients, I will include therapies to address PMS, irregular cycles and related issues.
Depression or Anxiety
If a patient comes to me with depression, anxiety or other mood disorder, I first conduct tests to determine if the issue stems from a physiological imbalance. For example, a urine test will tell me if your neurotransmitter levels are off. If so, I will administer a therapy to correct what is low and what is high, bringing your systems back into balance. I will also assess your constitution and energy levels through discussion and observation. If I determine you have food sensitivities that are depleting your energy and vigor, particularly to sugar, caffeine and alcohol, I will integrate constitutional homeopathy and energetic modalities to address those issues. During your consultation I will also examine your environmental stressors to determine if you are suffering from a situational mood disorder. If needed, I’ll provide counsel regarding healthy outlets for feelings or adjustments you may need to be make at work, in relationships or other areas, such as exercise, that will help bring you back into balance.
Dermatology
Many patients visit naturopaths with skin rashes and other dermatological complaints. Problems with the skin often stem from underlying problems with other systems in the body. The epidermis is the largest organ in the body, and it’s also one of the 5 pathways of elimination and detoxification. When the body can’t eliminate properly through the digestive system, liver, lungs and kidneys, the skin often manifests rashes, acne, eczema or other problems. Topical fungal infections are a sure sign of intestinal dysbiosis, likely too much yeast in the body. Herbal and natural compounded topical treatments, as well as gut healing and detoxification, are basic treatments that will eliminate these skin complaints.
Insomnia
When I consult with patients suffering from sleep disorders or insomnia, I first determine if they may be deficient in certain minerals or have either blood sugar or cortisol level irregularities (due to too much caffeine or stress). These problems can lead to poor diet habits that make insomnia worse. For example, a pattern of consuming poor choices in the morning to boost energy (sugars and caffeine as “uppers”) and in the evening to relax (junk foods high in fats, alcohol) can affect hormone levels and exacerbate sleep disorders. I will test a patient for all of these potential issues to determine the cause, or causes, of insomnia. The treatment I prescribe might include craniosacral therapy for energy balancing, natural supplements to bring the body systems back into balance, exercise and dietary changes to get the patient off the “upper” and “downer” roller coaster, and a referral for acupuncture, massage or other therapies. An integrated treatment approach that coordinates multiple therapies will accelerate the patient’s healing, returning them to normal sleep patterns in a relatively short period of time.
Digestive Disorders
Many issues can lead to digestive disorders including a lack of digestive fire (hydrochloric acid), insufficient pancreatic enzymes, food sensitivities, lack of normal flora in the GI tract, food sensitivities and leaky gut syndrome. If a patient lacks good GI flora, this can cause yeast infections (candida) and bacterial imbalances which cause many digestive complaints. My treatment approach may include herbal remedies and dietary changes to eliminate yeast, integrated with several healing modalities to energize or soothe the digestive system. Leaky gut syndrome can result from eating foods that cause sensitivities and increase gut permeability, leading to irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), allergies, skin reactions and autoimmune disorders. Dietary changes, proper nutrients and supplementation as well as detoxification protocols can reverse many uncomfortable and chronic digestive issues.
Women’s Health
Many women’s health problems are related to hormone levels. PMS, cramps, endometriosis, fibroids and cyclical headaches are signs of hormonal imbalance. Most women have too much estrogen and not enough progesterone. My treatment approach for many of these issues will include herbal remedies, dietary changes, liver detoxification and therapy for stress reduction. I also provide nutritional and vaginal treatments for all types of cervical dysplasia (commonly caused by the HPV virus) for patients seeking alternatives to more invasive treatments (a colposcopy or LEEP).
Detoxification
Many physical symptoms and illnesses you have may be due to imbalances caused by a buildup of toxins in your body. The detoxification plan I prescribe opens the body’s five pathways of elimination to help you excrete toxins and allow optimal healing.
The liver is the principal natural route out of the body for most xenobiotic toxicants, including Synthetic Organic Compounds (SOCs), Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), Inorganic Compounds (IOCs), solvents, fossil fuel products, insecticides, herbicides, plastic residues, flame retardant, wood preservatives and toxic metals. Most volatile compounds are efficiently excreted via our lungs (through coughing and sneezing). Many toxins and toxicants are excreted in greater or lesser amounts by the kidney. Virtually all toxins can be excreted through the skin, with the exception of a few metals.
The main organs of excretion have concentrations of Phase I and II enzymes and cofactors, which are also found in nearly all cells. Part of our prescribed cleansing regimen includes boosting the Phase I and II enzymes that are necessary for toxicant elimination.
The purpose of a detox program is to minimize new toxicants in and maximize toxicants out, using a model that is aggressive enough for effective toxin elimination, but moderate enough to make it possible to sustain the long-term cleansing (2-6 months) that is often necessary to reverse severe illness.
WHAT WE TREAT:
Dr. Erickson and her care team provide a range of treatments for the entire family. Dr. Erickson’s areas of specialization naturopathic medicine include women’s health and teen health issues and wellness. She provides treatments for very common issues that affect everyone including stress, nutrition, weight loss and management, digestive disorders, insomnia, depression and anxiety, mood disorders and skin conditions, among other health concerns. Here you will find a list of health conditions that we treat:
- Abnormal PAPs
- Allergies
- Anxiety
- Candida/Candidiasis
- Celiac’s Disease
- Cervical Dysplasia
- Cold / Flu
- Constipation
- Crohn’s Disease
- Depression
- Diabetes
- Diarrhea
- Dietary concerns
- Diverticulosis
- Endometriosis
- Fatigue
- Food Allergies
- Headaches
- Heavy Metal Toxicity
- Hernias
- Hyperthyroidism
- Hypothyroidism
- Infertility
- Insomnia
- Menopausal / Post-Menopausal
- Menstrual Cramps
- Menstrual Irregularities
- Metabolic Syndrome
- Reflux (GERD)
- Peptic ulcers
- PMS
- Preconception Care
- Sleep Disorders
- Sports Physicals
- Vaginitis
- Weight Issues, weight reduction
MODALITIES WE USE:
- Allergy Testing (food and environmental)
- Allergy Desensitization
- Acupuncture
- Chiropractic Care
- Craniosacral Therapy
- Diet Counseling
- Gynecology Exams
- Heavy Metal Testing
- Herbal Formulas
- Homeopathy
- Hormone Testing (blood and urine)
- Hydrotherapy
- Laboratory Testing
- Liver Detox
- Massage Therapies
- Nutrition
- Relaxation Techniques
- Shamanic Therapy
- STD Testing
- Stress Hormone Testing
- Vitamins and Minerals
- Weight Loss Counseling