If you’ve ever been to the doctor with a complaint and walked out with a new prescription that seemed to have nothing to do with your symptom, you’re not alone. You wondered how your fatigue was related to an antidepressant – the truth is, medications are meant to solve a pressing symptom. They are not meant to actually resolve the problem and bring you back to a great state of health – because without the medication the problem would come right back, or it may not resolve it all.
The supplement industry is a multi-billion-dollar business – and there is no mistake that supplements can be a crucial component of truly resolving a health issue. Essentially, the problem is that most medical practitioners are not trained in how to properly dose supplements to get a certain outcome or know where to send their patients for quality supplements.
As a naturopathic doctor I see things differently from most medical doctors. I work much like a functional medicine doctor. We order labs, and then depending on the results will prescribe a specific dose of a supplement and then retest to make sure the supplement is doing its job.
Top 10 labs I order as a naturopathic doctor:
- Ferritin
- 25-Hydroxy, Vitamin D
- Homocysteine
- HS CRP
- RBC Magnesium
- Hemoglobin A1C
- CBC with Diff
- Comprehensive Metabolic Panel
- Lipid Panel
- Thyroid Panel (TSH, Free and Total T3 and T4, Reverse T3, T3 Uptake, Anti-TPO, Anti-TBG)
Laboratory Interpretation
More important than having these labs ordered for you is having a doctor who can interpret them properly. I look for optimal levels rather than what the lab considers the normal range. This is how I am generally able pin-point a solution when someone is experiencing:
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Fatigue
- Insomnia
- Weight gain or trouble losing weight
This list goes on, but I would say that close to 100% of patients I see experience at least one of these symptoms.
If this resonates with you, finding a doctor who practices naturopathic medicine or functional medicine will likely get you to a solution quickly. Who wants to suffer needlessly for months or years when it isn’t necessary?
How to pick the right doctor for you
You also want to make sure your doctor has experience with supplements – and that they provide you with professional grade supplements. Think about it, you wouldn’t order your medication from Amazon – would you? Do you look at amazon ratings for your diabetes medication and order from the best seller? This seems a little backward. You pay a lot for medical insurance, and make sure you get your medicines from a trusted source. The same should be done for supplements. Naturopathic doctors and functional medicine doctors are trained in using supplements and dosing. They are trained to interpret labs and know how to supplement.
I say, pick the right practitioner when you’re looking for help to feel well. Not piecemeal from someone who does not have the expertise in the solutions you are seeking.
Did you miss our last blog? Take a look at The top two things to remove from your body that cause fatigue or watch How to stop anxiety and panic attacks for good! – our most viewed video ever!