Washington DC Naturopathic Medicine

If you're seeking a different approach to healthcare, you may be interested in naturopathic medicine because it offers a comprehensive and natural approach to optimize wellness. Naturopathic doctors specialize in designing personalized wellness plans, which are holistic and individualized for each patient. Plans are based on clinical assessment and diagnostic testing, and they are tailored specifically to individual patient needs and health goals.

Naturopathic doctors are trained to emphasize prevention and support health through early intervention. Naturopathic medicine includes the practice of modern and scientific, as well as traditional methods. It is dedicated to promoting optimal health through minimally invasive therapies. The goal is to address the root cause of symptoms, rather than focus on symptom management.

When addressing the root cause of symptoms, this is done as naturally and gently as possible. Patients are educated on what their lab work results mean and how this corresponds to their unique symptoms. Each patient is given a plan to optimize wellness and focus on healing and recovery. Focus is placed on supporting the body’s inherent self-healing process and the body as a whole to improve health and wellness.

Naturopathic medicine includes clinical diagnostic testing. Both standard and specialized tests are used. Standard tests include blood analysis, urinalysis, stool tests, and diagnostic imaging. Specialized tests include food sensitivity testing, comprehensive stool analysis, advanced hormone testing and cardiometabolic testing.

Foundational support is also addressed. This may include diet, movement and exercise, stress management, emotional health and decreasing exposure to toxins. Naturopathic medicine places a strong emphasis on preventative medicine by encouraging patients to live healthy lifestyles that decrease the risk of chronic disease.

There are six principals that set the foundation of naturopathic medical practice. The first is the healing power of nature, which places trust in the body's inherent wisdom to heal itself. The second is to look beyond the symptoms to address the underlying cause. The third principal is to utilize the most natural, least invasive and least toxic therapies. The fourth is educate patients in the steps towards optimal wellness and maintaining health. Next, is to treat the whole person. The sixth and last principal is to emphasize prevention, with a focus on overall health and wellness.

A licensed naturopathic doctor has graduated from a 4-year, graduate-level naturopathic medical school accredited by the Council on Naturopathic Medical Education, which is recognized by the US Department of Education. Here, they learn all of the same basic sciences as medical doctors but their education also includes other practices, such as clinical nutrition, botanical medicine, acupuncture, physical manipulation and counseling.

What Dr. Anne Berkeley in the DMV area can do for you

The most common reason why patients seek care from Dr. Anne Berkeley is because they are told that all their lab work is “normal”, but they still aren’t feeling well. They are looking for another perspective and a practitioner to run lab work to understand their health in a different way.

Once comprehensive lab work results have returned, Dr. Berkeley forms a wellness plan tailored to the results. The plan may include diet, lifestyle, nutritional supplements and botanical medicine. It’s her goal to help guide each of her patients on their health journey.

After graduating from Penn State University, Dr. Berkeley completed a Master’s Degree in London, England. She then spent nearly a decade working overseas, where she observed natural medicine in Europe and Asia. These experiences, in addition to her own health journey, led her to pursue a career in naturopathic medicine.

Dr. Berkeley is licensed in the District of Columbia by the Board of Medicine and is licensed in Maryland by the Board of Physicians. She specializes in Naturopathic and Functional Medicine. She is Board Certified in Naturopathic Endocrinology and is a Fellow to the American Board of Naturopathic Endocrinology. Dr. Berkeley is also a Certified Practitioner with the Institute for Functional Medicine and a Certified Corporate Wellness Consultant.

She is Vice President of the District of Columbia Association of Naturopathic Physicians and has served a term as President as well. She is a member of the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians, the Endocrinology Association of Naturopathic Physicians and the Institute for Functional Medicine.

Dr. Anne Berkeley is currently accepting new patients in her private practice in Washington DC. For those interested in learning more about naturopathic medicine, you can see the website for the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians (AANP). You will also find a database of practitioners and more information about naturopathic medicine on their website.

Register for a free 20 minute discovery call with Dr. Anne Berkeley here.