What is a Naturopath...ND ???

[Melle]

I just went to the Health Food Store. While there, I noticed that there is an ND that comes to our town (to this store), once a week. When I first went into the store, I asked if they had Lithium (which I've read about) and she went into his office, to get it.

I got a business card, and it lists his name...N.D. and his wife's name...MSHN.

I've heard that Naturopaths are actually Doctors, but they believe in natural alternatives FIRST...conventional medicine only as a last resort.

I was just wondering if anyone knew anything about Naturopaths and if an ND is actually a Naturopath.

[Houston Heather]

They get 12 years of medical training, just like an MD, but are trained to focus more on holistics (diet, stress, herbal options if possible) than "heroic" medicine (drugs, surgery, radiation).

An ND might examine your diet and caffeine intake if you were suffering from anxiety, as opposed to a MD who would just write you a prescription for a drug.

I would LOVE to get myself an ND. Lucky you!

[nonstickpam107]

Um, the naturopaths in MY state don't take 12 years of college/study! They are more 'holistic' and can put out the shingle offering just 'supplements and precursors and herbs'. Depends on the state. (About ten years ago...don't know if that's changed, but there were four ND's in my 'neighborhood'...and I had run into a woman who had a HUGE goiter (swollen thyroid...this one was so 'gross' it laid on her neck) and I kind of mentioned my doctor to her and she said "Oh, no....my ND gives me iodine that I paint on my feet at night".

I also have been to two ND's who DID have proper schooling and they BOTH told me iodine would 'fix me right up' (now, I'm sure there are really great ND's and I even recommend quite a few for good thyroid treatment and those that can write prescriptions for natural thyroid (Armour) but those aren't what I've found around here).

Pam

[nonstickpam107]

Oh, and I just found an article about being wary of doctors just calling themselves 'naturopathics'....AHA...(There are no N.D.'s in my area...just a lot of doctors ??? who are calling themselves naturopathics..hmm...)

Who are Naturopathic Physicians (N.D.s) - Naturopathic Medicine Network

Pam

[txtapper]

pam those don't sound like ND's to me. They sound like charlatans. ND's are only licensed in a few states. If you don't live in a state that licenses them then it's probably hard to find a good one although not impossible.

[Melle]

Originally Posted by nonstickpam107

Who are Naturopathic Physicians (N.D.s) - Naturopathic Medicine Network

Pam

That article basically answers my question. Anyone can call themselves a "naturopath", but if they are an N.D. (Naturopathic Doctor), they have to be licensed. So, I guess this guy is licensed as a Naturopathic Doctor. Awesome!

[nonstickpam107]

Well, I guess I would claim them as 'charlatans' but others around me call them 'the doctor', lol. They are NOT ND's...they are 'naturopathic healers'. ???? I urge anyone having symptoms of thyroid disease to see a LICENSED physician (but I recommend a LOT of ND's across the USA...they are all doctors, licensed, lol).

Pam

[Houston Heather]

Why do you want lithium anyway?

If you are worried about bipolar disorder you should be seeing a psychiatrist, who is an expert in brain disorders.

I have bipolar type 1. I tried to treat it "holistically" with dismal results.

Also, the lithium available in the health food store is not a therapeutic dose. It's only 80 mg. I started at 600 mg a day and now take 900. If you're not getting a prescription, it'll bankrupt you.

Not to mention the prescription lithium is far better regulated. If you are not taking it for a mood disorder I would be interested to see what you think it will help. Lithium comes with a boatload of scary side effects, including possible liver and kidney damage, mineral imbalances, etc.

[Melle]

Originally Posted by Houston Heather

Why do you want lithium anyway?

If you are worried about bipolar disorder you should be seeing a psychiatrist, who is an expert in brain disorders.

I have bipolar type 1. I tried to treat it "holistically" with dismal results.

Also, the lithium available in the health food store is not a therapeutic dose. It's only 80 mg. I started at 600 mg a day and now take 900. If you're not getting a prescription, it'll bankrupt you.

Not to mention the prescription lithium is far better regulated. If you are not taking it for a mood disorder I would be interested to see what you think it will help. Lithium comes with a boatload of scary side effects, including possible liver and kidney damage, mineral imbalances, etc.

I am not worried about bipolar disorder. I am taking it as a "dietary supplement"...it's not for therapeutic reasons. They are 130mg Lithium Orotate.

Our bodies all naturally produce lithium, when we are young. As we get older, we quit producing as much (if any). Taking supplements (in minute dosages) helps with memory and sharpness of the mind.

[Houston Heather]

Uh.

Whatever.

You really believe this? Helps with memory? That's why I'm so damned forgetful on the stuff!

Lithium Side effects

extreme thirst, urinating more or less than usual;

weakness, fever, feeling restless or confused, eye pain and vision problems;

restless muscle movements in your eyes, tongue, jaw, or neck;

pain, cold feeling, or discoloration in your fingers or toes;

feeling light-headed, fainting, slow heart rate;

hallucinations, seizure (blackout or convulsions);

fever with muscle stiffness, sweating, fast or uneven heartbeats; or

early signs of lithium toxicity, such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, drowsiness, muscle weakness, tremor, lack of coordination, blurred vision, or ringing in your ears.

Less serious side effects may include:

mild tremor of the hands;

weakness, lack of coordination;

Foggy or impaired thinking

mild nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, stomach pain or upset;

thinning or drying of the hair; or

itching skin.

I'll go away now.

I'm sorry. But I cannot believe you are serious.

[nonstickpam107]

Not to mention that if your thyroid is normal NOW, it may NOT be with that lithium. Lithium produces hypothyroid in many. (BTW...I've never seen a lithium level test done...ever...why wouldn't you want something like that tested before taking if it's a known hypothyroid-causing substance?).

Hypothyroidism

Drugs that Reduce Thyroid Levels
Lithium. Lithium, a drug widely used to treat psychiatric disorders, has multiple effects on thyroid hormone synthesis and secretion. Up to 50% of patients who take lithium develop a goiter, with 20% developing symptomatic hypothyroidism, and another 20 - 30% developing hypothyroidism without symptoms.

Pam

[Melle]

Originally Posted by Houston Heather

I'm sorry. But I cannot believe you are serious.

"I cannot believe you are serious"...I believe Dr. Atkins heard that statement a time or two, in his day.

We're talking very low dosage, here...supplementation. Here's just one of many articles: The Importance of Lithium Supplementation

[nonstickpam107]

Than I would URGE you to have FT4, FT3, TSH and TPO as well as TSI testing BEFORE you do that. Cuz if you even HAVE TPO's or TSI's and take Lithium in ANY amount...you'll want to have a doc handy to help out with your treatment.

You only have the ONE article...and not any saying a 'certain amount' won't harm your thyroid even if you HAVE TPO antibodies?

I receive well over 185 emails a week from women who cannot get treatment for hypothyroidism....so I "really can't believe you are serious" until you've done much more research into this. TWO out of every TEN women have Hashimoto's autoimmune hypothyroidism. I'm not tellin' ya what to do...I'm just sayin' after all the hours (non paid) I put into my volunteer advocation and all the emails, and the frustrated women and how their lives are in the toilet cuz they can't get good treatment....I'd be a little careful and test first.

I'm not a doctor. I don't think YOU are either...so regardless of what DOCTOR Atkins was serious about, I really get upset when I find a woman has triggered Hashimoto's with soy...I don't how upset I'd be if someone writes to me and tells me they took LITHIUM (in any amount) before being tested for TPO antibodies.

Pam

[Melle]

Well, I will admit that the mg in this bottle are higher than I wanted. I didn't think Health Food Stores sold them as high as 130mg. I only took one yesterday, and probably won't take more...not that many mg.

But, what I'm talking about is 5 to 15 mg a day. Did you know that there are 3 mg of lithium in about 6 tomatoes?

[Melle]

In fact, I'm thinking I probably don't need to supplement my diet with lithium, anyway. I just found this list of foods high in lithium, and (of course) my diet is very high in Dairy Products and Eggs and vegetables. So, I probably get that 5 to 15 mg in my diet, anyway. But, I don't have a clue what "natural brines" or "trinity water" are.

Food Sources of Lithium:

• Dairy Products
• Eggs
• Lemons
• Natural brines
• Potatoes
• Sugar Cane
• Trinity Water
• Vegetables

[nonstickpam107]

Hmm, good question..I don't know what 'natural brines' or trinity water is either!

Pam

[Melle]

Originally Posted by nonstickpam107

Hmm, good question..I don't know what 'natural brines' or trinity water is either!

Pam

OH...BTW Pam and Heather...I really DO appreciate the information. I wasn't saying you were wrong....just trying to explain what I had read. It just kind of scared me. Thank God I didn't pay a whole lot for that bottle of lithium. Do you know anyone who wants a bottle of 130mg lithium?