For the past two years, while modern medicine has been at the forefront, naturopathic doctors have been completely under the radar. In addition to traditional clinics, the San Juan Islands also has several naturopathic doctors to choose from.
Dr. Leyardia Black has witnessed the evolution of naturopathic medicine since opening her clinic in Friday Harbor in 1988. “There was a time when you weren’t even allowed to prescribe a glass of water,” she laughed.
There are currently fewer than 10,000 naturopathic doctors practicing nationwide.
Ms. Black was effectively born into the world of natural medicine, as her father also ran a medical clinic.
“It felt natural to me,” she said.
When she first arrived in the area, she faced some backlash due to a lack of understanding of medical practice. Currently, she works with local doctors when patients need help beyond using herbs, diet, and exercise.
Dr. Mandy Gulla has worked at Living Medical Arts for eight years. She also agreed that there are many misconceptions surrounding the profession.
“A lot of people think we’re trying to take away from modern medicine or move away from modern medicine. We’re not like that,” she said. “It’s linked to that.”
Black had suffered an aneurysm. She said she realizes she might not have survived if her brain surgeon hadn’t operated on her. Likewise, she credits her naturopathic way of life for her recovery.
Unlike Black, Gala did not grow up influenced by natural remedies. She grew up in Detroit with a single mother. When her mother died of lung cancer at the young age of 55, she said her interactions with doctors forced her to rely on practical, natural remedies. Doctors believed that massage and physical exercise increased the spread of cancer cells. There was also no dietary or physical advice.
“I was not impressed with the level of care my mother received during that experience,” Gala said.
Taking dance classes made her realize how movement can heal, which led her to further pursue natural remedies.
“It had a huge impact on me,” she said.
Gala also became a midwife and massage therapist, which she uses in her practice.
When a new patient comes to her office, Gulla thoroughly reviews all medical files before their arrival. In some cases, she can take up to 12 hours to review.
“When they come in, I talk to them about their lives,” she said. “People think it’s random, but it’s not random. I learn about their family history, exposure, experiences.”
She keeps all of that collective knowledge in mind when considering health issues.
“We look at the mental, emotional and physical aspects that can contribute to the disease.”
One of the big ideas of naturopathic medicine is to encourage clients to continue learning how to help themselves without the help of a doctor.
Natural remedies start with the least invasive treatments. It could be simple water and healthy food.
“Naturopathic medicine tends to focus on diet and lifestyle,” Black says. “When we suggest something, we usually focus on herbs and nutrition first, but in some cases traditional formulas can be less toxic than herbs. There are a lot of herbs that are toxic.” she laughed.
Regardless of any particular discipline or style, medical knowledge is constantly changing and growing, and as a result, practice is evolving as well. Gala is currently considering working with Lisa Holt’s nonprofit organization PAD. At PAD, we train dogs to identify the scent of Parkinson’s disease.
“This is a very diverse field. My colleagues come from all over the world,” she said. “I was very impressed with all of them.”
