Fundamental Medicine is the Future of Medicine
Hi, I'm Dr Teresa Gryder. I'm here to offer you Fundamental Medicine. There is nothing more basic than living well to prevent disease and injury. This is the foundational level of the therapeutic order (see illustration below). My goal is to help you attain a state of health that eliminates the need for doctors, medicine and hospitals. I am willing and able to use methods from conventional medicine as well as alternative approaches; some combination is usually better than either alone.
Conventional doctors (MD's) are generally required by their employers and insurance to practice within a certain standard of care. Their situation dictates short visits addressing billable codes. This system is not about you, and it isn't really good for the doctors either. It is also not about the evidence. What counts as medical evidence comes from studies funded by pharmaceutical companies and contorted to serve their interests. It is not about helping you, it is about making money.
If I believed that studies evaluating drugs were the only science relevant to human health, and if I accepted insurance, I would be limited in the same way. By practicing outside of the existing medical system I am free to address your situation fully, take the time that is needed to really understand, and use everything we know from science to provide you with tools to improve your situation. If we start early enough, drugs and surgery can be avoided. If it's too late for prevention, I can help you prepare for surgery, chemotherapy and radiation, and other challenges of modern medicine, so you can get the best possible results. This is called adjunctive care: I will work with your conventional doctors to be sure that you are supported well and nothing is missed.
I am different from most naturopaths in that I am a science-minded skeptic. I'm not selling supplements, or suggesting the same treatment for everyone. I am dedicated to finding out the truth about each patient and their medical options. My "free time" is spent filtering through the claims on all sides, reading incoming studies, working to understand which treatments really are most effective. I will discuss any and all treatments with you, but I will only recommend treatments that have a reasonable chance of resolving your concern.
I will not give placebos or suggest evaluations that have been proven ineffective. Effective treatments can come from any tradition, just as ineffective ones can. Fundamental Medicine is a return to the basics: small changes that we make in our lives to support health and vitality, and help us throw off the challenges that life brings. Changing your life isn't easy, but it is worth it when it brings you health and happiness.
Conventional doctors (MD's) are generally required by their employers and insurance to practice within a certain standard of care. Their situation dictates short visits addressing billable codes. This system is not about you, and it isn't really good for the doctors either. It is also not about the evidence. What counts as medical evidence comes from studies funded by pharmaceutical companies and contorted to serve their interests. It is not about helping you, it is about making money.
If I believed that studies evaluating drugs were the only science relevant to human health, and if I accepted insurance, I would be limited in the same way. By practicing outside of the existing medical system I am free to address your situation fully, take the time that is needed to really understand, and use everything we know from science to provide you with tools to improve your situation. If we start early enough, drugs and surgery can be avoided. If it's too late for prevention, I can help you prepare for surgery, chemotherapy and radiation, and other challenges of modern medicine, so you can get the best possible results. This is called adjunctive care: I will work with your conventional doctors to be sure that you are supported well and nothing is missed.
I am different from most naturopaths in that I am a science-minded skeptic. I'm not selling supplements, or suggesting the same treatment for everyone. I am dedicated to finding out the truth about each patient and their medical options. My "free time" is spent filtering through the claims on all sides, reading incoming studies, working to understand which treatments really are most effective. I will discuss any and all treatments with you, but I will only recommend treatments that have a reasonable chance of resolving your concern.
I will not give placebos or suggest evaluations that have been proven ineffective. Effective treatments can come from any tradition, just as ineffective ones can. Fundamental Medicine is a return to the basics: small changes that we make in our lives to support health and vitality, and help us throw off the challenges that life brings. Changing your life isn't easy, but it is worth it when it brings you health and happiness.
Training and Licensing of Naturopaths
In order to be licensed and legally practice medicine, a Naturopath must graduate from a credentialed 4-year school and complete many hours of clinicals and preceptorships. This is preparation for a general primary care practice. The first two years of naturopathic training are the same as that for an MD, covering biochemistry, anatomy and physiology, microbiology, physical exams, lab diagnosis and palpation lab. The remaining years are when ND training diverges from the conventional path, covering alternate diagnostic approaches and treatments and spending countless hours with real patients learning what it means to be someone's lifeline.
There is no way that one person can ever know everything about human health and illness. You can't learn it all in school. The best docs are the ones whose eyes, hearts and minds remain open, and who continue to learn for the duration of their careers. I have been a student of medicine since I was young, and I am grateful to have found a field that permits me to practice building health, as opposed to attacking disease.
The following states have licensing laws for Naturopathic Physicians: Alaska, Arizona, California, Connecticut, Washington DC., Hawaii, Idaho, Kansas, Maine, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Oregon, Utah, Vermont, Washington, and the United States Territories or Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. We're getting close to having licensing laws passed in other states, and in some states we're not so close. There are Naturopaths practicing in all 50 states and around the world, but without a medical license our practice is restricted. It is hard to assess the skills of a Naturopath in states without licensing, because anybody can claim the title. It is wise to investigate the qualifications of your physician, including their education, licenses and certifications. This statement applies to MD's too: find out about them before you give them your trust. A legitimate doctor will maintain a license, even if they are living in a state that will not license them.
There is no way that one person can ever know everything about human health and illness. You can't learn it all in school. The best docs are the ones whose eyes, hearts and minds remain open, and who continue to learn for the duration of their careers. I have been a student of medicine since I was young, and I am grateful to have found a field that permits me to practice building health, as opposed to attacking disease.
The following states have licensing laws for Naturopathic Physicians: Alaska, Arizona, California, Connecticut, Washington DC., Hawaii, Idaho, Kansas, Maine, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Oregon, Utah, Vermont, Washington, and the United States Territories or Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. We're getting close to having licensing laws passed in other states, and in some states we're not so close. There are Naturopaths practicing in all 50 states and around the world, but without a medical license our practice is restricted. It is hard to assess the skills of a Naturopath in states without licensing, because anybody can claim the title. It is wise to investigate the qualifications of your physician, including their education, licenses and certifications. This statement applies to MD's too: find out about them before you give them your trust. A legitimate doctor will maintain a license, even if they are living in a state that will not license them.