Naturopathic Medicine
Assisting the Natural Healing Process
Do you want to
Increase your energy?
Improve your sleep?
Change your eating habits?
Address a current illness?
or
Prevent future diseases?
Naturopathy has much to offer you!
Naturopathic medicine uses safe and effective, natural therapies to restore vitality to the physical body, the mind and the emotional sphere of the individual.
Naturopathic modalities include Botanical medicine, Clinical nutrition, Dietary supplements, Hydrotherapy and Lifestyle modifications.
Naturopathic practitioners are trained to recognize the underlying causes of dis-ease, to remove the obstacles to cure and to provide the body with the tools it needs to heal itself.
What’s new this Season?
Women’s Health Awareness
May marks the month for
increasing awareness about health and disease prevention in women.
As heart disease, osteoporosis, diabetes and cancer become more prevalent in women, it is important to assess for your individual risks and educate you about how Naturopathic medicine benefits your health.
Learn which foods and natural supplements are right for you, based on your family history, current health issues, nutritional status and any medications that you may be taking.
Other female conditions successfully
addressed using Naturopathic medicine include:
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Individualized Organ Cleansing Programs
The spring, summer and
fall are ideal seasons for cleansing the body of accumulated
toxins.
Daily life exposes us to toxins through the foods we eat, the water we drink and the air we breathe. Over time, the elimination pathways in our bodies can become overburdened, affecting our metabolic processes and potentially giving rise to physical complaints.
Acne, fatigue, chronic headaches, digestive problems, joint pain and menstrual discomfort are common indicators for the need to cleanse.
Learn how an organ cleansing program designed to meet your individual health needs may improve your digestion and cellular function, increase your energy, enhance your immune system and/or prevent disease.
Seasonal Allergy Relief
Decrease your symptoms
and support your body during allergy season using Naturopathic
medicine.
Reduce your exposure to airborne and food allergens.
Not sure what foods may be playing a role in your allergy symptoms? A simple blood test can tell you which foods you are allergic to!
Consider supplementing with specific nutrients and botanicals to help decrease inflammation, support the immune system and minimize persistent sneezing, wheezing, runny nose and itchy eyes.
About Jessica Edge, BS, ND
Jessica Edge, BS, ND holds a Doctorate of Naturopathic Medicine degree from the National College of Naturopathic Medicine, a four-year accredited Naturopathic medical school in Portland, Oregon. Jessica Edge, BS, ND is nationally board certified Naturopath and currently maintains an Oregon medical license. She is also a member of The American Association of Naturopathic Physicians.
After receiving her Bachelor of Science degree in Biological Sciences from the University of Nevada, Reno in 2000, she moved to Portland, Oregon to study alternative medicine from one of the oldest accredited Naturopathic Medical Schools in the US.
Jessica Edge, BS, ND has returned to her hometown to offer her expertise in alternative and complementary medicine. She is one of only six medically trained Naturopaths in the state of Nevada. She designs individual wellness programs for her clients and welcomes working with conventional health-care practitioners to provide co-treatment to patients who are already under care.
“My goal as a Naturopathic practitioner is to
listen to your health care needs, find the cause of your health
issues and help restore your health and vitality, so that you may
achieve your optimal level of wellness.”
Jessica Edge, B.S., N.D
Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine
Alternative Healthcare Consultant
Definition of Naturopathic Medicine
“Naturopathic medicine blends centuries-old natural, non-toxic therapies with current advances in the study of health and human systems, covering all aspects of family health from prenatal to geriatric care.”
The American Association of Naturopathic Physicians
The Principles of Naturopathic Medicine
First, do no harm
Naturopathic practitioners use non-invasive therapies that minimize the risk of harmful side effects and avoid suppression of the body’s symptoms.
The healing power of nature
The human body and spirit have considerable power and wisdom to heal. The role of the Naturopath is to remove obstacles to this curative path.
Identify and treat the cause
Naturopathic medicine addresses the underlying causes of disease rather than just managing the symptoms. Symptoms are expressions of the body’s attempt to heal, while the causes can arise from imbalances on the physical, mental or emotional levels.
Treat the whole person
Naturopaths look beyond the symptoms and view the individual as a whole person, composed of a complex set of physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, genetic and social factors.
The doctor is a teacher
Naturopathic practitioners are teachers first and foremost. Educating, empowering and motivating individuals play a large role in the success of their healing process.
Prevention is the best cure
Prevention of disease is accomplished through recognizing hereditary risk factors and disease susceptibilities and encouraging lifestyle habits that support health and wellness before disease processes occur.
Establish health and wellness
Naturopaths help individuals establish and maintain optimal physical, mental and emotional well-being. Each patient is met on their level of health, regardless of their current state of health or disease.
Treatment Modalities
Botanical medicine
Plants have tremendous healing abilities!
Plant medicines have been used throughout history to increase nutrition, support the immune system, speed wound healing, calm inflammation, enhance mood, aide digestion, improve cardiovascular health, regulate blood sugar levels and so much more!
Many pharmaceutical drugs have their origin in botanical, or herbal, medicine.
Naturopathic practitioners use blended teas, liquid herbal extracts, tinctures, encapsulations, salves and poultices to address a number of different health problems. Naturopaths also use botanical medicines to balance the effects of life’s stress on the body, by supporting the nervous system, endocrine system and mental/emotional sphere, to help achieve optimal health and well-being.
Clinical Nutrition
Naturopathic practitioners understand that the foods you choose
to eat are an important determinate of your health.
Without adequate nutrition, the body simply cannot function properly. The body’s biochemistry is a delicately balanced system that depends on key nutrients, antioxidant rich foods and a toxin-free environment in order to work optimally.
Clinical nutrition is the practice of using whole foods to enhance health, reverse disease and heal pathology. Many medical conditions can be treated effectively with nutrition while avoiding some of the complications and side effects of drug therapies.
Nutritional treatments are customized to each individual’s needs and health circumstances.
Dietary supplements
Inadequate nutrition and certain disease processes can wear on
the body and create deficiencies, which can lead to additional
health complications and further disease.
Naturopathic practitioners use vitamins, minerals, enzymes, amino acids, essential fatty acids and other key biochemical constituents to replace deficiencies, strengthen vitality and support the innate healing wisdom of the body. When essential nutrients and healing constituents are replaced, the body remembers the balance of health and begins to heal itself!
Naturopathic practitioners are trained to understand nutrient interactions, including which nutrients work well together and which should be avoided with specific medications.
Hydrotherapy
Hydrotherapy is a treatment modality that uses water therapy to
move stagnant, or sluggish, circulation and lymphatic flow
throughout the body. It is one of the oldest methods of natural
treatment and has been used by different cultures around the world.
When the circulation is compromised or stagnant, disease can take hold. The application of hot water pulls blood into the area beneath the application, supplying the tissues with fresh nutrients and immune cells. Cold water acts by pushing blood away from the area of application, helping to remove cellular waste and clear inflammation.
Naturopaths use hydrotherapy to stimulate healing in a number of conditions, including sore throats, sinus congestion, respiratory infections, thyroid problems, skin ulcers and even broken bones that have been set in a cast.
Lifestyle modifications
If you are currently living with dis-ease, are
interested in preventing diseases that you are genetically at risk
for or are wondering how to age healthfully, modifying your
lifestyle will be an important step to getting you on the road to
wellness.
Regaining control of your health is one aspect of your life that you are completely in charge of.
Naturopathic practitioners provide guidance and make specific recommendations regarding dietary changes, stress management techniques, physical exercise and creating a non-toxic living environment, in order to remove possible obstacles to cure.
Exchanging disease-promoting habits for healthy habits is not always easy, but the results can significantly improve your life. Naturopathic practitioners become health coaches in a sense, working along side you to offer education, support and congratulations as needed.
Naturopathic Medical Training
Accredited Naturopathic medical schools offer a
four-year program leading to a graduate level medical degree.
Undergraduate degrees and premedical coursework are required for
admission into Naturopathic medical schools. The graduate level
curriculum includes both academic study and clinical experience.
The academic courses include:
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Anatomy |
Pharmacology |
Over 700 additional hours are spent learning unique Naturopathic therapeutics including:
Clinical Nutrition
Dietary Supplementation
Botanical Medicine
Counseling Techniques
Fertility & Natural Childbirth
There are four medical colleges accredited by the Council on Naturopathic Medical Education (CNME) in North America.
The National College of Naturopathic Medicine
www.ncnm.edu
Bastyr University
www.bastyr.edu
Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine and
Health Sciences
www.scnm.edu
University of Bridgeport College of Natural
Medicine
www.bridgeport.edu
Naturopathic physicians are currently licensed as primary healthcare providers in Alaska, Arizona, California, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Idaho, Hawaii, Maine, Montana, New Hampshire, Oregon, US territories (Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands), Utah, Vermont and Washington. Naturopathic physicians are also recognized throughout all provinces in Canada. Efforts to gain licensure elsewhere are currently underway.
Conditions
Commonly Addressed by Naturopathic Medicine include:
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To Make an Appointment
Please call (775) 324-3500
or
Contact Jessica Edge, BS, ND by clicking here
Jessica Edge's office is now located at 305 Stewart Street on the corner of Stewart Street and Holcomb Avenue in Reno. For a map to the new office, click here (opens in a new window).
Naturopathic Consults
Naturopathic Consultations
An initial Naturopathic consultation includes:
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Current chief complaint
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Past and present history
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Review of symptoms
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Review and discussion of past lab work or diagnostic work-ups
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Assess the need for additional testing
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Prioritize patient health concerns
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Individualized treatment recommendations
Follow-up Naturopathic consultations may be scheduled for 30 minutes or 45 minutes.
Links
Bastyr University
www.bastyr.edu
Federation of Naturopathic Physicians Licensing
Authorities
www.fnpl.org
Naturopathic Physicians Licensing Examination Board
(NPLEX)
www.nabne.org
North America Board of Naturopathic Examiners
(NABNE)
www.info@nabne.org
Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine and
Health Sciences
www.scnm.edu
The American Association of Naturopathic Physicians
www.naturopathic.org
The National College of Naturopathic Medicine
www.ncnm.edu
University of Bridgeport College of Natural
Medicine
www.bridgeport.edu