Santa Barbara Holistic & Naturopathic Doctor – Dr. Lizzie Clapham
Pathways to Natural Health
The relationship between food and health has been well understood since the time of Hippocrates (460 – 359 BC). Many conditions can be improved through changes in food intake and others respond well to specific high quality nutrients.
About Dr. Lizzie Clapham
Pathways to Natural Health is a family medical practice in Santa Barbara, California that offers holistic integrative medicine for its patients. The clinic’s goal is to help support patients in all steps of their healing process.
The underlying philosophy that governs the clinic is the respect for the inherent wisdom of the body to heal. Treatments are prescribed based on the individual patient. No prescription is complete without honoring the connection between the body, mind and spirit.
Dr. Clapham compassionately spends time with each patient to look beyond the diagnosis to the person and their unique physiology. She inspires and encourages each patient to optimize their health potential so that they are not only improving their current conditions but also preventing future disease.
What is Naturopathic Medicine and how is it Different?
Naturopathic medicine is a distinct system of primary health care – an art, a science, a philosophy and a practice of diagnosing, treating and preventing disease. Naturopathic medicine uses modern, traditional, scientific and empirical methods to restore overall health.
The 6 principles of healing that form the foundation of naturopathic medicine include:
- First, Do no Harm – Primum no nocere
- The Healing Power of Nature – Vis medicatrix naturae
- Identify and Treat the Cause – Tolle causum
- Treat the Whole Person – In pertubato animo sicut in corpore sanitas esse non potest
- Doctor as Teacher – Docere
- Prevention is the Best Cure – Principiis obsta: sero medicina curatur
What is a Naturopathic Doctor?
A naturopathic doctor (ND) is a primary care provider who focuses on the whole patient and believes in the body’s innate ability to heal itself. The doctor’s role is to support the body in its own process through a variety of natural therapeutics. Naturopathic doctors are interested in all factors that contribute to disease and symptoms. Their focus is to find the underlying cause of disease and to use treatments that promote the natural healing mechanisms of the body. Typically, they spend more time with patients than the average doctor; and, education and dialogue with patients is considered an important aspect of care.
Naturopathic doctors treat both acute and chronic conditions. They not only look at family and personal history, but also lifestyle factors like quality of sleep, diet, stress levels, hormonal influences, hydration levels, bowel health and others. As general practitioners, they treat the full spectrum of conditions from acute upper respiratory infections to diabetes.
Wellness Services
Bioidentical Hormones
Hormones that are termed bioidentical have the biochemical structure of the hormone that is identical to the hormone produced by our own body. This simple definition is what distinguishes bioidentical hormones from synthetic hormones. Bioidentical hormones can be prescribed based on the individual and his or her symptoms and hormone levels. This allows for a greater ability to tailor the prescription to the individual.
IV Nutrient Therapy
Intravenous nutrient therapy allows the body to use a greater quantity of nutrients than the body could absorb orally. The cells of the stomach and small intestines can only transport nutrients so fast, while intravenous routes allow the body’s cells to absorb greater quantities of nutrients in a shorter period of time, thus improving the overall health of the body. This therapy can be useful especially in chronic conditions like chronic fatigue, cancer support, viral disorders, and detoxification.
Neurotransmitter Support
The brain signals the body in the form of chemical messages called neurotransmitters. Neurotransmitters then affect the body’s glands that produce hormones. If there is a breakdown in communication from the brain, the entire hormonal system can be affected. Neurotransmitters can be assessed through a simple urine test and rebalanced with specific amino acids and nutrients based on the individual.
Clinical Nutrition & Lifestyle Counseling
“Let your food be your medicine and your medicine be your food”. The relationship between food and health has been well understood since the time of Hippocrates (460 – 359 BC). Many conditions can be improved through changes in food intake and others respond well to specific high quality nutrients. In addition, stress, emotions and mental attitudes have a tremendous impact on the health of the body and contribute to the healing process.
Botanical Medicine
The use of plants as medicine has been practiced for centuries and current scientific research has supported many of the traditional uses. In fact, many pharmaceutical drugs on the market today originate from certain plant constituents. High quality botanicals (also commonly referred to as herbs) are powerful medicines that are safe and effective when used properly and can be used in the treatment of many different conditions. Botanicals can be given in different forms including teas, tinctures, capsules or poultices depending on the condition being treated.
Homeopathy
Homeopathy or homeopathic medicine is a system of medicine that treats the whole person through a specifically chosen remedy that is based upon each person’s individual case. This system of medicine originated in Germany in the late 1700’s and was discovered by Dr. Samuel Hahnemann. It is becoming widely used in Europe and India and more common in the US.
Hydrotherapy
Hydrotherapy is the application of water for healing purposes and is one of the oldest systems of healing. Modern techniques of hydrotherapy include sitz baths, steam inhalation, poultices, and warming socks or shirts. It is a highly effective treatment for maintenance of overall health.
Conditions Treated:
- Acute and chronic infections
- Skin disorders
- Sleep disorders
- Fatigue
- Hormonal imbalance
- Menopausal symptoms
- Digestive disorders
- PMS and Women”s health
- Allergies
- Interstitial Cystitis
- Anxiety
- Fibromyalgia
- Anxiety and Depression
- Migraine Headaches
- MS
- Arthritis
- Asthma
- Blood sugar imbalances
- Supportive Cancer care
- Adrenal issues
- Chronic Fatigue
- Hypertension and cardiovascular disease
- Urinary tract infections and BPH
- Diabetes
- Lyme disease
- Laboratory testing
- Laboratory blood testing
- Heavy metal toxicity screening
- Adrenal gland assessment
- Hormonal testing
- Nutritional status testing and dietary assessment
- Parasite and digestive health analysis
- Neurotransmitter testing