Tolle causam- One of the key principles of Naturopathic Medicine
As Naturopathic Doctors, we aim to uncover and treat the root cause of symptoms and health concerns. We view symptoms as messages or clues from the body that something is wrong or out of balance. It’s important to correct those underlying imbalances so that we can resolve symptoms and create lasting changes to our health.
Naturopathic medicine involves taking a detailed and comprehensive approach in order to understand what’s going on in the body. We look at symptom triggers, timeline, aggravating and relieving factors, lifestyle, medical history, blood work and other diagnostic tests. There are various areas we consider when investigating the cause of illness or disease. These may include:
- Infections
- Toxins
- Stress, trauma, psychological disturbances
- Nutritional deficiencies
- Biochemical imbalances
- Food sensitivities or intolerances
- Environmental exposures
- Structural issues
…. And so much more!
Finding the root of the problem not only gives us answers for how to best resolve the problem, but also how to maintain health in the long run.
Here’s an example of an extremely common complaint, where identifying and treating the root cause can make all the difference!
Case Example: FATIGUE
Fatigue can present as: low energy, brain fog, weakness, feeling tried, sleepy or run down. At one point or another, we have likely all felt this way. This is such a common symptom in our practice. Patients may present with fatigue as their chief concern, or it may accompany another health issue. In order to truly improve someone’s energy level and vitality, we must figure out why they are tired in the first place.
Causes of low energy or fatigue are numerous and may include:
- A nutrient deficiency– such as iron, Vitamin B12, folate, or Vitamin D. Naturopathic doctors run blood work and other diagnostic tests to ensure your levels are not just “fine” but actually optimal for your age, condition, and wellbeing.
- Imbalances with blood sugar– spikes and crashes in blood sugar can lead to what we call “the blood sugar rollercoaster”, which cause dips in energy and leave you feeling tired and sleepy.
- Stress– a huge factor when it comes to energy levels. Stress uses up our energy stores, so chronic or prolonged stress can diminish our energy resources.
- Lack of sleep or insomnia– without proper rest, our bodies will not get the time to “charge our battery”, leaving us drained of energy.
- Hormone imbalances– there are various hormones that contribute to our energy including testosterone, progesterone, DHEA, cortisol, and many more! Fluctuations in hormone levels throughout a woman’s menstrual cycle, or at certain hormone transitions in life (e.g. puberty, postpartum, peri-menopause and menopause), can result in low energy.
- Thyroid concerns– the thyroid gland plays an important role in energy and metabolism, so when thyroid hormone levels are out of whack, it may present with fatigue as a primary symptom.
- Medications side effects– certain medications can have unwanted or adverse effects including fatigue, brain fog, and inattention.
Fatigue can also be an expression of an underlying illness or condition such as: depression, anxiety, Alzheimer’s disease, chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, post-concussion syndrome, inflammation, or dehydration.
As you can see, the causes of fatigue are numerous, and treatment would be very different based on what underlying factors are at play. If sleep is an issue, then that must be addressed. If an individual is deficient in a particular nutrient, then levels must be corrected. If someone is diagnosed with hypothyroidism, then the thyroid must be treated. The cause can vary from person to person and that is why it’s so important to get to the root of YOUR symptoms.
As Naturopathic Doctors, we take a deep dive to really understand what your body is trying to communicate to you. Our primary goal is addressing the cause of your symptoms, rather than simply managing or suppressing them. So, if you’ve been struggling with long-term health issues, then perhaps it’s time to see how naturopathic medicine can help you take a deeper look at what is at the root of your symptoms.
