Dr. Mark Nolting

The best way to treat high blood pressure is to understand what the cause is and what your general health is. Proper diagnosis is key. Hypertension can often be successfully treated with a combination of lifestyle changes, stress and weight management, proper medicines including supplements such as magnesium for instance and herbal strategies such as crategus for example. Find a trained ND or other informed doctor to address your condition.

No, generally speaking. Proper diet is, of course, very important to support good health and any good doctor should address that. Naturopathic medicines could be anything from Botanicals and supplements to medications and food (food as medicine is a good phrase to remember). But for medicine to function, diet is not key.

There are many forms of yoga originating in India. Hatha Yoga is the most common and what we associate with the Excercise forms call asanas. From Hatha Yoga came Bikram Yoga or hot yoga, popularized in the 70’s. Take a room heat to 95-108 degrees F, add 40% humidity, teach 26 yoga postures for 90 minutes and you have the very popular hot yoga. Not for everyone, but for those healthy enough to take up an active Excercise program in high heat will enjoy and benefit.

Yes, most NDs are well trained to be able to review your history, order any necessary testing, and work with you to develop a workable plan to meet your needs. If you have no licensed NDs in your area, then be cautious. No need for any magic potions or unproven therapies. Good luck.

Thank you for your important question. Anxiety can be a serious and debilitating problem. Mild to moderate episodes can effectively be treated without drugs, when appropriate in conjunction with counseling. I particularly find acupuncture to be a safe, simple method to treat anxiety non-chemically. Even a brief 20-minute visit to a licensed provider can calm anxiety and allow you to move on with your activities. In addition, doctors trained in Naturopathic therapies also can recommend various calming plant-based therapies, biofeedback, and relaxation methods to treat anxiety.

Yes, licensed Naturopathic physicians are well trained in natural medicine approaches to prevent diabetes. I applaud you for looking ahead and searching for preventive methods in order to prevent diabetes from occurring. Through nutritional and lifestyle counseling your ND will work with you in planning and implementing a safe and effective program of prevention. Best of health in your path.

Yes, absolutely! The licensed ND will employ a variety of methods of safe effective natural therapies for your teen while searching with you and her for the root cause of her problem. I suspect as I am sure you do that hormones maybe at the root of her issues. Your ND should be well trained in understanding what the imbalance is and in treating it. I would also add that a well trained acupuncturist may also be a good option in this case. As an ND and an acupuncturist, we are well equipped to work with pain and the imbalance creating it. Best of health to you and your daughter.

This is an all too common problem for young women. There are natural options. I suggest you find a licensed (check your States laws) Naturopathic Physician or other licensed physician who have experience working with PCOS. There are effective ways of using bio-identical hormones to help women such as you with this problem. Check medical resources in your area that use such hormones and natural support therapies.

Many NDs are qualified to use prescription medications when indicated and safe to augment our use of natural products which of course is our specialty or at least it should be. And lifestyle counseling is at the root of a holistic Naturopathic approach to health. NDs are licensed in half of the states so check your States regulations.

Type 2 DM is pretty much epidemic now in the USA and qualified NDs are in a perfect position to support and treat these conditions. Find a qualified ND, get current with blood tests, and begin a comprehensive plan to work with your body to correct imbalances.

Yes, NDs are trained as primary care docs and will counsel you about proper vaccinations as well as giving you natural approaches to support your child’s health as he grows and develops.

Yes, you should seek a doctor who can work with Bio-identical hormones, check your blood levels, gather a complete history and physical exam. There are effective natural ways to balance your hormones.

I have practiced acupuncture in my primary care practice for over 30 years and find that acupuncture is an effective support for many digestive issues but the key is diagnosing the root cause. This may involve testing to understand the functioning of your digestive tract, assessment of flora and enzymes etc. and in mild cases acupuncture may be useful alone.

I think so, but of course, I am biased, having practiced Naturopathic medicine for over 30 years. There are many NDs around, but many different styles of practice and specializations. Also, check in your state to see if NDs are practicing under a state law, otherwise unregulated practice can be inconsistent. For your problems and your interest in using natural approaches, an ND could be a great fit.

I do not recommend such a fast. There is too much risk at creating dangerous chemical imbalances and creating a potential harmful form of ketosis. I would suggest finding a healthy program that uses a combination of a modified low allergy non gluten diet along with some type of protein based protein powder. 3 levels of detoxifications can be achieved this way in a safe and supportive method.

Natural medicines such as those dispensed in Ayurvedic practice can be safe and effective when used appropriately by trained providers. Search for providers that have training and can discuss and recommend the appropriate medicines. Ayurvedic practice incorporates into the patient assessment a very specific form of diagnosis This is topic for another discussion. With respect to the case you present, one week of extreme constipation, this complaint requires a medical (naturopathic, ayurvedic or similar) examination to look for the cause. Simple constipation brought on by poor diet, medication side effects or other, may be relieved by laxative herbs, or food products (senna, soaked flax, rice gruel, mint, triphala, psyllium) among many others. Exercise and lifestyle also should be considered. But in the case of a more severe condition the source of a possible bowel obstruction but must properly diagnosed.

Excessive use of laboratory testing not weighed appropriately with medical necessity is not good medical practice regardless of the provider type. In addition the economics must be considered. I have seen patients pay $2,000 for a blood panel that others only paid $150 for. That is not right either. Always work with your doctors office to understand your insurance coverage. My practice has found major labs with very reasonable negotiated cash prices often far less than so called list prices. These rates are available for doctors to pass on to patients. Beware doctors who inflate these prices in order to make more money. This practice is illegal in some states. As for hormones work with your Naturopathic or other doctor to find the hormones necessary to check and best pricing as noted above. Again some doctors, often those with poor training in hormones, will order excessive hormone labs resulting in high unnecessary costs to the medical consumer. If your doctor cannot explain clearly why certain tests are needed, the benefit, and estimate what your costs will be then question and get a second opinion.

Yes, constipation is a frequent and common issue for folks on narcotics and many drugs. Natural solutions include; Food, Supplements, and Excercise. Drink plenty of water , avoid dehydration. Move you abs including stomach and lower abdomen. Peristalsis is the natural muscle guided movement of your abdominal muscles to aid the flow of the stool. Huge help with sluggish stools. Yoga is a great way to assist as well. Fruits such as plums and prunes can help. Fiber to help bulk up helps. Senna and flax are very helpful. Check with you local ND or natural food store to find common herbal approaches to constipation. Ayurvedic herbs are also very helpful.

B Vitamins are critically important to our health. While it is easy to maintain adequate amounts in our diet once we decrease or stop eating meat and dairy levels may drop too low. While supplements are an effective and cheap way to restore the levels there are a variety of foods you can consider. Tofu, miso, and tempeh are good fermented products that contain B12. Visit your local natural food store and inquire about the variety of healthy ways to fortify your diet with non meat and dairy sources. After a few months have your levels checked again.

Your symptoms should be evaluated by a doctor. This could be due to a reflux problem where stomach contents are moving back up into the lower esophagus also called GERD. There are natural medicine options to this and similar problems but determining the root problem is important.