Healing Modalities
These are some of the ways that you can heal yourself. You have the freedom to choose which ones you'd like to attempt. Dr Gryder will guide you as to the specifics that have been shown effective for your situation. For a one page pdf about Dr Gryder's approach, click here.
Therapeutic Nutrition
We are what we eat. Many people have nutritional deficiencies without knowing it. Change your diet, or take a supplement for something you aren't getting, and you could feel so much better and prevent some of the challenges of age. Nutritional deficiencies are particularly common in kids, old and overweight folks. Satisfying nutritional requirements can relieve cravings, improve sensory function, reduce fatigue, and contribute to long and vigorous life. Every person is unique. Some people respond really well to amino acid therapy. Whatever supplement was a "miracle cure" for someone else may do nothing for you. You will not be asked to completely revise your diet in one day, instead we will change one or two things at a time until we find a combination that makes you feel good and sets you up for the life you want.
Hydrotherapy
The use of hot and cold water for healing is as old as the hills, and it can help heal any organ system of the body. Naturopathic medicine has its roots in the mountain retreats of Europe, where physicians stimulated their patients' vital force using the elements available: cold water, clean air, bright sunshine, and simple food. Many patients made miraculous recoveries from tuberculosis and other potentially lethal diseases. Modern applications of hydrotherapy are perhaps more humane, but still effective, and can be done in the privacy of your own home. Once you have learned the proper applications of these ancient treatments, they are available to you and yours for life.
Herbal medicine
We evolved eating plants. Plants know how to turn sunlight into chemical energy and also to protect themselves from harmful rays. They know how to pull nutrients out of soil and water. Plants have their own wisdom. We can isolate components of plant matter and do experiments to find out their effect on us, but the combined effect of everything that is in a plant is hard to measure. Some plant constituents are as powerful as prescription medicines, and we may prescribe herbs based on this alone. But herbs can cause healing far greater than the known constituents of the plants would suggest. The challenge lies in recognizing which herbs are appropriate for which patient, and getting the form and the dose right. Many people attempt to self-medicate with herbs, but few know what they are doing. Naturopathic medicine is deeply founded in traditional herbalism with the advantage of modern scientific knowledge of the mechanisms by which herbs act in the body. Ultimately herbal medicine is the most sustainable of all forms of medicine, because we can cultivate what we need.
RX medicines
Modern pharmaceuticals are so powerful that it could be foolish to avoid them entirely. Sometimes they are exactly what you need. Sometimes they are not. New drugs are not to be trusted because the approval process is hasty and biased by money. The first generation of patients using a new drug are the ones who discover the side effects (Remember Vioxx?). In America many elders are on several drugs, and those drugs interact and affect organ systems in unintended ways. Oregon Naturopaths are licensed to prescribe. Most of us will write a prescription, but perhaps you'd like to try something else first? Usually there are other approaches. My philosophy is to use the minimal effective dose only when it is needed, and to eliminate dependence on pharmaceuticals when possible. The body finds its own balance when not overwhelmed by chemicals. Pharmaceutical medicines are best used on a temporary basis, while a deeper change is taking place.
Counseling
To be human is to be emotional and irrational at times. People have different thresholds and predispositions. We live in maddening times. There is no need to be stigmatized for a lifetime just because you have a difficult period in your life. My goal is to help you weather the storms and attain happiness and success in life. I'm not trained as a counselor, but I've lived long enough to know that just being able to talk with someone about what's going on can help you see into a blind spot, or tackle a stubborn problem. If you feel stuck in one emotion, frustrated, afraid or self-destructive, you need to talk to someone who won't instantly judge you, slap on a label and put you on meds. If you have a mental/emotional issue there are many things to try. Sometimes the problem is biological, and not because your mother treated you bad. I can support your mental health from nutritional and environmental angles. A psychiatrist or professional counselor may be useful too, and I can help you find one. It's good to have a team on your side. Do not despair. Get help, and take a deep breath. I will gladly be a resource. We need all kinds of people.
Lifestyle
Everything you do matters. If you have dis-ease, odds are good that something in your life is contributing to it. My goal is to help you identify the changes with the biggest payoffs, and figure out how to actually do them. It is not easy. Change does not come overnight. But it can happen, in baby steps, when and where you are willing. Small changes made with total commitment could save your life. Lifestyle includes such considerations as home environment, activities, meal timing, work environment, commutes, recreation, entertainment and sleep.
End of Life Assistance
A teacher told me a long time ago that eventually our patients would die, and we should not take it personally. In his words, "Ten out of ten people die." When we are adult enough to admit it, we all need to plan ahead for a good ending. If we do not make our wishes known, anything could happen when we are incapacitated. I can help you sort out your advance medical directives such as your living will, organ donor choices, power of attorney, and information about the options of home hospice, wakes and burials. As each of us approach death, how we die will depend on how we lived. I can help you and your loved ones to work through unfinished business and find the peace that can only come when the journey is near its end.
Life Passages
Want to design an event to celebrate your son or daughter coming of age? Your first grandchild? Your own passage through menopause to become an honored crone? The return of a veteran warrior from experiences no human should have to endure? Did someone die far away and leave you feeling unresolved? So many passages go without proper notice in our culture. It is my intention to assist people in emphasizing the things that are really important. If you need help putting together such an event, or just need ideas, talk to me. I would be honored to be involved in the happenings that really matter in your life.
Heavy Metals
Heavy metal toxicity is more prevalent in modern society than people realize. It can result in liver disease, cancer, Alzheimers, and many other distressing conditions. We begin with an assessment of your risk factors, and if enough are present we follow up with a simple hair screening test for metal burden. If your metal levels are elevated, we check for metals in your urine. If needed we can treat you with oral or IV chelators, and diet and lifestyle adjustments to enhance elimination of toxins and reduce exposures. Even for people who don't already have a metal burden, it's useful to know how to keep your internal detoxification mechanisms working.
Fasting
What is the difference between a crash diet and a fast? It's not a trick question or a joke, and yes, there is a difference. Fasting is a controlled and gradual reduction in certain food intakes for a specific time-period, with a specific protocol for returning to a regular diet. An ancient modality, fasting is incredibly powerful for reducing inflammation, detoxifying, and resetting metabolism. Nearly every religion has used ritual fasting as a means of attaining a cleaner and more enlightened state of consciousness. There are solid physiological reasons why this works, however there is a reasonable fear of fasting. You can do yourself harm. Do not attempt a fast without medical supervision. Fasting is not recommended for all conditions. One goal of this practice is to develop an inpatient facility where patients may undergo extended fasts while in a safe and comfortable environment.
Bio-Identical Hormones
You are as young as your glands which make your hormones. From thyroid to progesterone to testosterone, a little help with your hormones can make all the difference. Hormones can help you have a sex life again, conceive, sleep, be happy, strong and vibrant. Sometimes all your body needs is a little nutrition and it can make the hormones it needs. Sometimes you need a little help from the outside. BHRT, as it is called, is the administration of hormones that are identical to the ones that are manufactured by our bodies, even though they may be synthesized from plant sources. This approach is far superior to synthetic variants on human hormones because the actions are better known. If your difficulties may be due to hormonal imbalances, we will support your hormone levels while we promote your body's ability to manufacture its own. Dr Wilson's T3 protocol for rebooting proper thyroid function will also be available.
Genetics and Epigenetics
The field of genomics is brand new and offers exciting possibilities for medicine. Understanding your genetic makeup makes it possible to individualize your treatment based on something more than symptoms: we can know something about the underlying physiology and do something to address that. You can get tested on your own using 23andme, but you may need some help knowing what you can do for your health based on that information. That's where I come in. I can help you understand the impacts of any SNPs (single nucleotide polymorphisms) that show up on your health panel, and devise a diet and lifestyle plan that will help you reduce your risks and increase your overall health.
Naturopathic Manipulation Therapy
Got a crick in your neck? NMT is similar to chiropractic, and involves the assessment and manipulation of soft tissue and bony structures. Dr Gryder is trained in high speed low force bony manipulations, Positional Isometric Relaxation (PIR), Muscle Energy Technique (MET), Strain Counterstrain, and blocking. Balancing and stabilizing your anatomy can be supported through simple exercises that you can do at home.
Aroma therapy
Essential oils impact us in ways that science has yet to understand. The olfactory nerves in the nose are the part of the brain most directly exposed to the external environment. As such, the sense of smell directly affects mood and focus. Olfactory stimulation promotes neurogenesis, and may be useful for those with brain injuries. It also affects neurotransmitters.
Yoga therapeutics
Exercises and breathing have been used for thousands of years to facilitate health and wellbeing. A specially selected yoga asana (position) may be suggested to help you recover. Emphasis on chakras may use ancient Hindu references but is based in a modern understanding of the core of the body and the psyche.
Minor Surgery
I am trained in minor surgery which includes repairing wounds and removing superficial lesions. Depending on the ultimate location of my practice, I may be permitted to stitch you up if you get a deep cut, snip or freeze off a bothersome wart. I may take biopsy samples of suspicious lesions. If your biopsy comes back positive for cancer, or if you have a surgical issue that requires work in the muscle, bone and organ layers, I will refer you to a specialist.
Referrals
My goal is your increasing health and independence from any one kind of medical care. I don't want you back in my office every week. I want to see you when you have a decision to make about your next step. I will gladly refer you to whatever doctor or practitioner is most likely to be able to help you. That practitioner might be alternative or conventional. There are a great variety of resources at our fingertips in this modern world. When you decide that you need a rational evaluation of your options and set of treatment ideas, I am here.
We are what we eat. Many people have nutritional deficiencies without knowing it. Change your diet, or take a supplement for something you aren't getting, and you could feel so much better and prevent some of the challenges of age. Nutritional deficiencies are particularly common in kids, old and overweight folks. Satisfying nutritional requirements can relieve cravings, improve sensory function, reduce fatigue, and contribute to long and vigorous life. Every person is unique. Some people respond really well to amino acid therapy. Whatever supplement was a "miracle cure" for someone else may do nothing for you. You will not be asked to completely revise your diet in one day, instead we will change one or two things at a time until we find a combination that makes you feel good and sets you up for the life you want.
Hydrotherapy
The use of hot and cold water for healing is as old as the hills, and it can help heal any organ system of the body. Naturopathic medicine has its roots in the mountain retreats of Europe, where physicians stimulated their patients' vital force using the elements available: cold water, clean air, bright sunshine, and simple food. Many patients made miraculous recoveries from tuberculosis and other potentially lethal diseases. Modern applications of hydrotherapy are perhaps more humane, but still effective, and can be done in the privacy of your own home. Once you have learned the proper applications of these ancient treatments, they are available to you and yours for life.
Herbal medicine
We evolved eating plants. Plants know how to turn sunlight into chemical energy and also to protect themselves from harmful rays. They know how to pull nutrients out of soil and water. Plants have their own wisdom. We can isolate components of plant matter and do experiments to find out their effect on us, but the combined effect of everything that is in a plant is hard to measure. Some plant constituents are as powerful as prescription medicines, and we may prescribe herbs based on this alone. But herbs can cause healing far greater than the known constituents of the plants would suggest. The challenge lies in recognizing which herbs are appropriate for which patient, and getting the form and the dose right. Many people attempt to self-medicate with herbs, but few know what they are doing. Naturopathic medicine is deeply founded in traditional herbalism with the advantage of modern scientific knowledge of the mechanisms by which herbs act in the body. Ultimately herbal medicine is the most sustainable of all forms of medicine, because we can cultivate what we need.
RX medicines
Modern pharmaceuticals are so powerful that it could be foolish to avoid them entirely. Sometimes they are exactly what you need. Sometimes they are not. New drugs are not to be trusted because the approval process is hasty and biased by money. The first generation of patients using a new drug are the ones who discover the side effects (Remember Vioxx?). In America many elders are on several drugs, and those drugs interact and affect organ systems in unintended ways. Oregon Naturopaths are licensed to prescribe. Most of us will write a prescription, but perhaps you'd like to try something else first? Usually there are other approaches. My philosophy is to use the minimal effective dose only when it is needed, and to eliminate dependence on pharmaceuticals when possible. The body finds its own balance when not overwhelmed by chemicals. Pharmaceutical medicines are best used on a temporary basis, while a deeper change is taking place.
Counseling
To be human is to be emotional and irrational at times. People have different thresholds and predispositions. We live in maddening times. There is no need to be stigmatized for a lifetime just because you have a difficult period in your life. My goal is to help you weather the storms and attain happiness and success in life. I'm not trained as a counselor, but I've lived long enough to know that just being able to talk with someone about what's going on can help you see into a blind spot, or tackle a stubborn problem. If you feel stuck in one emotion, frustrated, afraid or self-destructive, you need to talk to someone who won't instantly judge you, slap on a label and put you on meds. If you have a mental/emotional issue there are many things to try. Sometimes the problem is biological, and not because your mother treated you bad. I can support your mental health from nutritional and environmental angles. A psychiatrist or professional counselor may be useful too, and I can help you find one. It's good to have a team on your side. Do not despair. Get help, and take a deep breath. I will gladly be a resource. We need all kinds of people.
Lifestyle
Everything you do matters. If you have dis-ease, odds are good that something in your life is contributing to it. My goal is to help you identify the changes with the biggest payoffs, and figure out how to actually do them. It is not easy. Change does not come overnight. But it can happen, in baby steps, when and where you are willing. Small changes made with total commitment could save your life. Lifestyle includes such considerations as home environment, activities, meal timing, work environment, commutes, recreation, entertainment and sleep.
End of Life Assistance
A teacher told me a long time ago that eventually our patients would die, and we should not take it personally. In his words, "Ten out of ten people die." When we are adult enough to admit it, we all need to plan ahead for a good ending. If we do not make our wishes known, anything could happen when we are incapacitated. I can help you sort out your advance medical directives such as your living will, organ donor choices, power of attorney, and information about the options of home hospice, wakes and burials. As each of us approach death, how we die will depend on how we lived. I can help you and your loved ones to work through unfinished business and find the peace that can only come when the journey is near its end.
Life Passages
Want to design an event to celebrate your son or daughter coming of age? Your first grandchild? Your own passage through menopause to become an honored crone? The return of a veteran warrior from experiences no human should have to endure? Did someone die far away and leave you feeling unresolved? So many passages go without proper notice in our culture. It is my intention to assist people in emphasizing the things that are really important. If you need help putting together such an event, or just need ideas, talk to me. I would be honored to be involved in the happenings that really matter in your life.
Heavy Metals
Heavy metal toxicity is more prevalent in modern society than people realize. It can result in liver disease, cancer, Alzheimers, and many other distressing conditions. We begin with an assessment of your risk factors, and if enough are present we follow up with a simple hair screening test for metal burden. If your metal levels are elevated, we check for metals in your urine. If needed we can treat you with oral or IV chelators, and diet and lifestyle adjustments to enhance elimination of toxins and reduce exposures. Even for people who don't already have a metal burden, it's useful to know how to keep your internal detoxification mechanisms working.
Fasting
What is the difference between a crash diet and a fast? It's not a trick question or a joke, and yes, there is a difference. Fasting is a controlled and gradual reduction in certain food intakes for a specific time-period, with a specific protocol for returning to a regular diet. An ancient modality, fasting is incredibly powerful for reducing inflammation, detoxifying, and resetting metabolism. Nearly every religion has used ritual fasting as a means of attaining a cleaner and more enlightened state of consciousness. There are solid physiological reasons why this works, however there is a reasonable fear of fasting. You can do yourself harm. Do not attempt a fast without medical supervision. Fasting is not recommended for all conditions. One goal of this practice is to develop an inpatient facility where patients may undergo extended fasts while in a safe and comfortable environment.
Bio-Identical Hormones
You are as young as your glands which make your hormones. From thyroid to progesterone to testosterone, a little help with your hormones can make all the difference. Hormones can help you have a sex life again, conceive, sleep, be happy, strong and vibrant. Sometimes all your body needs is a little nutrition and it can make the hormones it needs. Sometimes you need a little help from the outside. BHRT, as it is called, is the administration of hormones that are identical to the ones that are manufactured by our bodies, even though they may be synthesized from plant sources. This approach is far superior to synthetic variants on human hormones because the actions are better known. If your difficulties may be due to hormonal imbalances, we will support your hormone levels while we promote your body's ability to manufacture its own. Dr Wilson's T3 protocol for rebooting proper thyroid function will also be available.
Genetics and Epigenetics
The field of genomics is brand new and offers exciting possibilities for medicine. Understanding your genetic makeup makes it possible to individualize your treatment based on something more than symptoms: we can know something about the underlying physiology and do something to address that. You can get tested on your own using 23andme, but you may need some help knowing what you can do for your health based on that information. That's where I come in. I can help you understand the impacts of any SNPs (single nucleotide polymorphisms) that show up on your health panel, and devise a diet and lifestyle plan that will help you reduce your risks and increase your overall health.
Naturopathic Manipulation Therapy
Got a crick in your neck? NMT is similar to chiropractic, and involves the assessment and manipulation of soft tissue and bony structures. Dr Gryder is trained in high speed low force bony manipulations, Positional Isometric Relaxation (PIR), Muscle Energy Technique (MET), Strain Counterstrain, and blocking. Balancing and stabilizing your anatomy can be supported through simple exercises that you can do at home.
Aroma therapy
Essential oils impact us in ways that science has yet to understand. The olfactory nerves in the nose are the part of the brain most directly exposed to the external environment. As such, the sense of smell directly affects mood and focus. Olfactory stimulation promotes neurogenesis, and may be useful for those with brain injuries. It also affects neurotransmitters.
Yoga therapeutics
Exercises and breathing have been used for thousands of years to facilitate health and wellbeing. A specially selected yoga asana (position) may be suggested to help you recover. Emphasis on chakras may use ancient Hindu references but is based in a modern understanding of the core of the body and the psyche.
Minor Surgery
I am trained in minor surgery which includes repairing wounds and removing superficial lesions. Depending on the ultimate location of my practice, I may be permitted to stitch you up if you get a deep cut, snip or freeze off a bothersome wart. I may take biopsy samples of suspicious lesions. If your biopsy comes back positive for cancer, or if you have a surgical issue that requires work in the muscle, bone and organ layers, I will refer you to a specialist.
Referrals
My goal is your increasing health and independence from any one kind of medical care. I don't want you back in my office every week. I want to see you when you have a decision to make about your next step. I will gladly refer you to whatever doctor or practitioner is most likely to be able to help you. That practitioner might be alternative or conventional. There are a great variety of resources at our fingertips in this modern world. When you decide that you need a rational evaluation of your options and set of treatment ideas, I am here.