Overall health goal of naturopathic physician
The body has a natural ability to heal itself.
Often overlooked or underappreciated, the body repairs insults and injuries automatically, seeking to restore its operational balance.
But complex lifestyle factors can upset the body’s healing ability.
Margaret Philhower, a naturopathic physician, has seen evidence that support of the body’s natural processes helps alleviate disease.
“I’ve seen the body do some amazing things,” she enthused. “I’ve seen people get better quickly with just simple diet changes.”
Philhower, a recent arrival in Illinois Valley, has established an office in Takilma. She has given and plans several more free workshops on common medical questions. A primary-care physician, she offers natural alternative medical services including:
- Diagnosis and treatment of most health conditions.
- Preventative medicine check-ups, school sports physicals and lab testing.
- Women's health exams, birth control and menopause support.
- Diet, nutrition, exercise and lifestyle recommendations.
- Herbs, vitamins, amino acids, minerals and many conventional prescriptions.
- Craniosacral therapy and homeopathy.
She finds a “cookie-cutter” approach to medicine unsatisfactory, recognizing the that each individual is in a unique situation
“Our bodies are amazing about healing themselves,” she said. “A lot of what I do is trying to support the body, by taking away the things that prevent the body from doing what it knows how to do.”
As with any general practitioner, most of the complaints her patients present are fairly common ailments.
“Most often I treat acute conditions: injuries, colds, and flu, and musculoskeletal pain,” she stated.
“What I see and treat are the statistically most-common ailments: diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and risk factors for cardio-vascular disease.
“Many of these chronic conditions are result of standard American lifestyles, poor diet, busyness and lack of exercise.”
Although a specialist in naturopathic medicine, Philhower is not a dogmatist.
“Sometimes it’s just in their best interest to have that surgery, or whatever,” she said. “It might surprise my patient that I would recommend a conventional, allopathic approach, but I will if it’s warranted.”
A visit with naturopathic physician differs from that of a conventional doctor.
“I take a holistic approach to a person’s health,” Philhower said. “I’ll spend at least an hour getting to know them, asking about their life.”
Her questions include, “Who are you? What is your life like? What are your goals? What is your diet like? Where do you live? Do you like your work? What do you do for fun? Are you happy? Are you not? What is your environment like? Do you have support and healthy relationships?
“I ask about the health history of their family, too,” she noted. “These things tell me a lot about what a person is at risk for.
“I try to get people thinking not just about their immediate health problem,” she said, “but also how to prevent things before they happen.”
Philhower then works with the patient to develop a plan to address their condition and restore balance. The plan could include diet changes, herbal or homeopathic remedies, hydrotherapy, or vitamins and exercise. She works closely with Deb Lukas, of Siskiyou Mountain Herbs, who has a full herbal dispensary. Philhower’s patients can have their remedies prepared there.
“I feel it’s great that we can support one another like this,” she said.
Philhower’s clinic occupies a cozy corner office in the Siskiyou Regional Education Project building in Takilma. She says that she’s felt welcomed and encouraged by the community to locate her practice here.
She’s a 2002 graduate of Bastyr University, at Kenwood near Seattle, and has performed clinical work in the Seattle area.
“This is a perfect fit for me because I want to focus on healthy people and a healthy planet,” she said. “We’re all working together, and it’s great.”
Appointments to meet with her can be scheduled. A patient of record can see the doctor for common illnesses for as little as $20.
Phone her at 415-1549, or contact her via naturedoctor@frontiernet.net.
