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When I tell someone we are a Naturopathic Doctor, one of the first questions we get is: “So…what exactly does that mean?” It's a fair question. Some people assume naturopathic medicine means we only use herbs and supplements. Others think it means we are against medications or conventional medicine. Neither is how we practice. So, What Is a Naturopathic Doctor? A licensed Naturopathic Doctor, or NMD/ND, attends an accredited four-year naturopathic medical school and is trained in medical sciences, physical examination, laboratory testing, diagnosis, pharmacology, nutrition, botanical medicine, and other therapeutic approaches. What makes naturopathic medicine different is often how we approach the patient. When someone comes into our office with fatigue, weight gain, low testosterone, high blood pressure, digestive problems, or another concern, We don't want to only ask: “What can we give you for this symptom?” We also want to ask: “Why might this be happening?” We Use Natural and Conventional Medicine We don't believe healthcare has to be divided into two teams. Sometimes nutrition and lifestyle changes are appropriate. Sometimes we may use nutritional supplements, botanical medicine, or other natural therapies. And sometimes medication is absolutely appropriate. Our job isn't to choose a treatment because it is “natural” or “conventional.” Our job is to determine what makes sense for the individual sitting in front of me. For example, if someone has high blood pressure, we may talk about sleep, exercise, nutrition, stress, body composition, and metabolic health. But if that blood pressure requires medication, we are not going to ignore it simply because medication isn't “natural.” There is a time and place for both. Why Our Appointments May Feel Different One of the biggest differences patients notice is how much we talk. We want to understand your health history, symptoms, medications, supplements, diet, exercise, sleep, stress, goals, and laboratory findings. Those details help me connect the dots. If you're exhausted every afternoon, for example, we don't automatically assume you need testosterone, a vitamin, or another supplement. We want to understand your sleep, hormones, thyroid, blood sugar regulation, nutrition, medications, stress, and overall health before deciding what makes sense. Our Goal Is to Help You Understand Your Health We believe patients should understand why we're doing something. If we recommend a treatment, laboratory test, medication, supplement, or lifestyle change, we want you to understand the reasoning behind it. That's what naturopathic medicine means to us. It's not about choosing natural medicine over conventional medicine. It's about looking at the whole person, asking better questions, and using the tools available to help you become healthier. That's the kind of medicine we practice. -Dr. C and Dr. B
You’re tired. Your motivation isn’t what it used to be. Your workouts feel harder to recover from. Maybe your sex drive has dropped, you’re gaining weight more easily, or you simply don’t feel like yourself. So, you get your testosterone checked. The result comes back “normal.” But you still don’t feel good. So, what’s going on? This is something I see frequently in men who come to see me. They have symptoms that sound like low testosterone, but they’ve been told their testosterone is normal and that everything looks fine. The problem is that testosterone is only one piece of the puzzle. When I evaluate a man’s hormones, I don't only want to know his total testosterone. I want to understand the bigger hormonal picture. Total testosterone tells us how much testosterone is circulating in the blood, but I may also look at free testosterone, SHBG, estradiol, ultra sensitive estradiol and the hormones responsible for signaling testosterone production. More importantly, I want to know why you're having symptoms in the first place. What If It Isn't Your Testosterone? Fatigue, low libido, brain fog, decreased motivation, weight gain, and poor exercise recovery can happen with low testosterone, but testosterone isn't the only thing that can cause them. I also think about sleep quality and sleep apnea, thyroid function, blood sugar regulation, metabolic health, nutrition, medications, stress, exercise, and recovery. Sometimes testosterone is part of the problem. Sometimes it isn't. And sometimes several things are happening at the same time. That's why I don't believe in treating a testosterone number without understanding the man attached to it. “Normal” Doesn't Mean I Stop Looking Reference ranges are useful, but they're not the end of the conversation. If your testosterone is within the laboratory range but you still don't feel like yourself, my next question isn't automatically: “How can we raise your testosterone?” My question is: “Why do you feel this way?” That's where the real investigation begins. I may need to look deeper into your hormones, sleep, metabolic health, cardiovascular health, thyroid function, nutrition, exercise, medications, stress, or other areas based on your history and symptoms. The goal isn't to chase a testosterone number. The goal is to understand what your body is telling us. Looking at the Whole Picture Men's health is rarely about one hormone. Energy, libido, body composition, cardiovascular health, sleep, metabolism, mood, and performance are all connected. When something starts to change, I want to understand why before deciding what we should do about it. If you've been told your testosterone is “normal” but you still don't feel like yourself, there may be more to the story. that's exactly what I want to help you figure out. Your testosterone level is one piece of the puzzle. Let's look at the whole picture. -Dr. C
