Naturopathic Family Practice
Why I Do What I Do
Today I met with a patient with an all too familiar story. For 10 years she’s suffered persistent and worsening symptoms, visiting doctor after doctor, only to be told that everything is “normal.”
You might ask, “How can it be that a medical professional would send someone home to continue suffering with no further concern, not to mention curiosity, as to what was at the root of her symptoms?”
I believe this occurs for two reasons. One is that the body is really good at compensating and keeping things "normal" in the blood while the other parts of the body are ailing, which is why blood test results often come back "within the normal range" even when the patient feels terrible. The second reason is that conventional medical training focuses on the extreme of medical conditions. This means that for someone whose
symptoms or lab results have not met the threshold for a medical diagnosis, the doctor’s only diagnostic option is "normal."
My approach as a naturopathic doctor is completely different from the scenario just described. I look for changes in the whole body that indicate imbalances.
If you don't feel well or "normal," then very likely there is an imbalance in your digestion, immune system, hormones and/or neurotransmitter levels. You might be reacting to foods you are eating or need to detoxify your system.
When we work together we gently seek out the less obvious reasons for “dis-eases” resulting from simply being alive on this planet. These could include years of compensating for our environments, stressful situations, our diets, or our genetic tendencies.
I do what I do because I know that there is more going on than what is revealed in blood tests. I know the symptoms you are experiencing are not unrelated to each other as they are all going on in one body and are very likely rooted in one cause. I help people figure out what that cause is and to use natural therapies to address it and feel their best.
What Is Naturopathic Medicine?
The core philosophy of naturopathic medicine is to support the body's ability to heal itself using natural therapies. A naturopathic physician works together with patients to identify the underlying cause of illness and to promote wellness with individualized approaches and integrated therapies that address the whole body, not just a single symptom.
Dr. Donielle Wilson practices naturopathic medicine with a particular passion for supporting the health and wellbeing of women and children. For women, she specializes in fertility, breast feeding, PCOS, irregular menstrual cycles, peri-menopause, and general hormone balancing. Her approach, called Cycle Naturally, can include detoxification, nutrition, herbs, homeopathy, stress reduction, hormone balancing and neurotransmitter support. While treating children’s illnesses Dr. Wilson’s efforts reach beyond the immediate crisis to identify its cause so that it can be prevented in the future.
For example, if your child has an ear infection, Dr. Doni will treat it using natural therapies, and then explore ways to prevent future infections by identifying an underlying reason for their persistence. Causes could include food allergies and simple dietary changes could put an end to the ear infections.
Education & Associations:
Dr. Wilson received her doctorate in naturopathic medicine and a certificate in midwifery from Bastyr University in 2000. She completed a residency in general naturopathic medicine at Bastyr University and a women’s health focused internship with Tori Hudson, ND. Dr. Wilson is currently president of the New York Association of Naturopathic Physicians (NYANP) and has held that position since April 2003. She was awarded the NYANP Naturopathic Physician of the Year award in 2004. In addition, Dr. Wilson is a past board member of the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians (AANP) and the American Association of Naturopathic Midwives.
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