What is Naturopathic Medicine?
Naturopathic medicine is founded on the premise that the human body has an inherent ability to heal. The practice of naturopathic medicine addresses the underlying or root causes of dysfunction in the body and seeks to restore balance from within. Naturopathic physicians, much like Functional medicine doctors, combine evidence-based medicine with traditional and natural healing methods to create a comprehensive diagnosis and treatment plan for patients.
Naturopathic Doctors (NDs) are trained in the art and science of natural health care at accredited medical colleges endorsed by the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians.
A naturopathic medical practice is built upon a foundation of six core principles:
1. Allow Nature to Heal: Naturopathic physicians recognize there is an inherent self-healing process in people that is ordered and intelligent. They help facilitate this inherent self-healing process by identifying and removing obstacles to healing and recovery.
2. Identify & Treat the Root Cause: Naturopathic physicians understand that the true path to healing is by identifying and removing the underlying causes of illness, rather than merely eliminating or suppressing symptoms.
3. First, Do No Harm: Naturopathic physicians follow 3 guidelines to ensure the patient’s safety:
- Use low-risk procedures and natural substances – like dietary supplements, herbal medicine, and homeopathy – with little to no side effects.
- When possible, do not suppress symptoms, which are the body’s way of working through illness and self-healing.
- Acknowledge, respect, and work with the unique biochemistry of every individual patient to formulate a personalized plan of care.
4. Educate Patients: Naturopathic physicians educate their patients on nutrition, exercise, relaxation, sleep hygiene and related health and wellness topics to empower patients to take charge of their own health. They work closely with each patient to help him or her achieve their health and wellness goals.
5. Treat the Whole Person: Naturopathic physicians treat each patient by taking into account individual physical, mental, emotional, genetic, environmental, social, and spiritual factors to craft a customized healthcare strategy and protocol.
6. Focus on Prevention: Naturopathic physicians practice proactive, rather than reactive, medicine. By assessing risk factors, heredity and susceptibility to disease, they promote wellness and prevention of illness.
Adapted from the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians
The best way to start is to know where you’re starting from.
Naturopathic practice includes functional and diagnostic laboratory testing. At Colorado Natural Medicine, we use the most advanced and comprehensive lab testing to find the root cause of your health issues. By identifying the root cause of your illness we can use targeted, natural treatments to restore your health.
Here are some of the functional laboratory tests we use to help target treatment:
Comprehensive Stool Analysis – diagnose digestive issues
Metabolic and Nutritional Analysis – test nutritional deficiencies and metabolic analysis
Advanced Cardiovascular Analysis – heart and blood vessel health
Complete Thyroid Panel – thyroid issues: fatigue, weight gain, etc.
Adrenal Stress Test – measures stress hormones in the body
Food Allergy Test – find out which foods your immune system is reacting to
Women’s Hormone Test – measures all female hormone levels
Men’s Hormone Test – measures all male hormone levels
Advanced Osteoporosis Analysis – measures bone health
Heavy Metal Toxicity – measures levels of heavy metals in the body
Neurotransmitter Analysis – measures neurotransmitter levels
Naturopathic Medicine Services
FREE 15-minute phone consult with Dr. Graves SCHEDULE NOW
New Patient Appointment Adult SCHEDULE NOW
New Patient Appointment Child (under 12) SCHEDULE NOW
Return Office Visit Adult SCHEDULE NOW
Return Office Visit Child (under 12) SCHEDULE NOW
Return Phone/Virtual Appointment Adult SCHEDULE NOW
FREE 15-Minute Consultation with Dr. Graves
Have you been searching for answers to your health questions/concerns, but not finding the answers you need?
Have you been told that your labs look normal, yet you feel something is wrong?
Are you looking for a more natural/holistic approach to your health and finally getting to the root cause of your health issues?
The FREE 15-minute consult is an opportunity to speak with Dr. Graves over the phone about your health goals. Dr. Graves will share how naturopathic medicine may benefit you to help you determine if Colorado Natural Medicine will be the right fit for your integrative healthcare needs. No specific medical advice is given in this consult.
New Patient Appointment Adult
Your first appointment with Dr. Graves will be an in-depth assessment of your case including your Present Health Concerns, Medical History, Medications & Supplements, and Nutrition & Lifestyle.
Here is what to expect from this appointment:
- The purpose of the first appointment is to get a baseline for your health and to determine what can be done immediately to get you feeling better as quickly as possible.
- Dr. Graves will give you personalized Recommendations & Instructions that may include Nutrition & Exercise; Acupuncture, Massage, or other Complementary Therapies; Vitamin & Mineral Supplements; Counseling/Therapy; Chinese Herbal Medicine; and Meditation & Relaxation Techniques.
- If beneficial and appropriate, Dr. Graves will recommend additional functional laboratory testing to further pinpoint the source of your health issues. The naturopathic or functional model of medicine is based on identifying and removing the underlying causes of illness, rather than merely eliminating or suppressing symptoms.
- It’s important to remember that the road to completely healing the body is complex and takes time. Dr. Graves will lay out the road map for what this journey may look like, but he cannot anticipate everything! Patience with the process is key, but when the body truly heals, everything heals.
New Patient Appointment Child (under 12)
Similar to the first appointment for adults, Dr. Graves will conduct an in-depth assessment of your child’s case including Present Health Issues, Medical History, Medications & Supplements, and Nutrition & Lifestyle.
Many parents find it helpful to bring their child in for an appointment proactively before they experience any health issues. They are comforted to know they have a natural-minded practitioner ‘on the team’ so when their child inevitably does experience the common (or uncommon) ailments of childhood they have someone who knows their child to turn to. Dr. Graves regularly works in concert with pediatricians to deliver a 360-degree view of your child’s healthcare options.
Return Office Visit Adult
Return office visits serve several purposes. Dr. Graves most successful patients make the decision to partner with him on the long-term strategy for their health. The investment of time and money pays off in the form of consistent progress.
Here is what to expect from your partnership with Dr. Graves:
- Follow-up appointments are often used to review functional laboratory testing. Dr. Graves will interpret the results of your test and make modifications to your protocol as necessary.
- Follow-up sessions are your opportunity to ask questions, get tips/solutions, troubleshoot with Dr. Graves, and get support for anything you are struggling with. As with any successful partnership/relationship, keeping the lines of communication open leads to the best results.
- Working with Dr. Graves will give you access to practitioner-grade supplements. We can ensure the testing, quality and purity of these products – unlike the ones you can pick up online or at the grocery store. You will also have access to our online supplement dispensary where you can conveniently reorder your supplements online and have them shipped directly to your home or office.
Return Office Visit Child (under 12)
With more and more parents seeking natural and holistic care for their children, Dr. Graves works with many families to provide care for their children.
Many parents find it helpful to bring their child in for an appointment proactively before they experience any health issues. They are comforted to know they have a natural-minded practitioner ‘on the team’ so when their child inevitably does experience the common (or uncommon) ailments of childhood they have someone who knows their child to turn to. Dr. Graves regularly works in concert with pediatricians to deliver a 360-degree view of your child’s healthcare options.
Dr. Graves offers wellness checks for school sports as well.
Return Phone Appointment Adult
The same quality of care offered in our office is now available over the phone. Dr. Graves offers telemedicine for those who don’t have access to a functional medicine practitioner or naturopathic doctor near them. While he does not diagnose or treat over the phone, he does educate on the use of herbs, supplements, lifestyle changes, and nutritional modifications. He encourages his distant patients to connect with a local health care provider as well and will happily communicate with them as needed.
Dr. Graves also offers the convenience of telemedicine to his local patients as well to accommodate needs and schedules.
At Colorado Natural Medicine and Acupuncture, Dr. Adam Graves is one of the top providers of naturopathic medicine, functional medicine, and acupuncture to patients in many areas, including: Castle Rock, Parker, Lone Tree, Highlands Ranch, and Larkspur.