President of Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine & Health Sciences
BY TISHIN DONKERSLEY, M.A.
When faced with making a choice in healthcare providers, more patients are turning to naturopathic doctors for an all-natural treatment plan, or to blend traditional with nontraditional methods. I sat down with Paul Mittman, ND, EdD, president of Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine & Health Sciences, who shared his insights into the explosive growth of naturopathic practices, and the benefits of utilizing natural solutions for health and wellness.
Was there a pivotal point in your life that made you want to be a naturopathic doctor?
Absolutely. I was living in Boulder, Colorado, at the time and was very much an outdoorsman. I enjoyed riding my bike, rock climbing, and was a vegetarian. My cousin took a class in naturopathic medicine and encouraged me to learn more about the practice – I’m glad he did. The combination of natural medicine and lifestyle was an extension of who I already was, and this practice possessed values I already embraced. The thought of helping other people and healing through a natural lifestyle was fitting.
What do you think is misunderstood about naturopathic doctors?
1. Traditional versus Natural, or both. I think people might think that it’s an “either/or” proposition, and one has to choose traditional or naturopathic medicine for their treatment plan – and that’s not so. Back in the ‘80s when I was in school, there was very little mixing among practices, and people may have felt intimidated to talk to traditional doctors about incorporating natural methods into their treatment. But today, it’s about what is best for the patient, and the patient has a choice.
2. It’s not affordable. There is a belief that naturopathic and holistic healthcare is reserved purely for the well-to-do…that is false. The college provides holistic care in 10 clinics around the Valley with the primary population from challenging environments. This population needs access to this medicine. Also, several private practices are flourishing, providing low-cost naturopathic medicine.
How does a patient typically decide to seek the naturopathic route?
Most people come to this medicine in a couple of different ways:
1. Referred by someone that is close to them, or by someone they respect who will help them access this information – or it may come by word of mouth from a trusted source.
2. When people have exhausted all alternatives, and options are drugs that have some significant side effects – the risk-to-benefit analysis comes into play.
As more naturopathic specialists evolve, such as naturopathic oncologists, where there is a natural fear that dominates the experience, the relationships between the MDs and DOs are so much richer, and healthcare providers are working together to do what is best for the patient.
Share with us your feelings on the importance of empowering the patient.
When you are sick, you may feel disempowered to ask the questions of your primary care doctor and discover how he/she might work with a naturopath. Ask. See if they are open – if not, to me, that is a red flag.
One of the benefits of working with a naturopath is that we educate the patient and help them understand the root causes of a problem – then the patient can assess all of the options. For example, what one is putting into their body could be exacerbating the problem, thus inflaming the body. With more information and education, patients can be empowered by the information, increase their options of care, and choose what is best for them.
At the college, we teach our students to embrace the healing power of nature, and the relationship between the patient and environment. Most importantly, no matter who the doctor is, the healing comes from within – there are no secret herbs to make someone heal faster. If we live in good stewardship and align with the future, we can strive to have good air quality, food and water, and eliminate things that would poison us.
What can people do to begin to enhance their life through nutrition, exercise, and stress reduction?
Nutrition: Increase the percentage of produce in your diet – the more colorful fruits, the darker the vegetables, the more nutritious. Decrease inflammatory fats like saturated fats, hydrogenated oil, and meats and dairy products. Eat more omega-3 and unsaturated fat food. Stretch your food dollars, and be aware of what produce to purchase organically and which ones to safely consume conventionally (Dirty Dozen™ vs. Clean Fifteen™)
Exercise: Find what you love to do, whether it be yoga or cycling, but find something you like, and stay active.
Stress reduction: Out of all the areas of naturopathic medicine, this area has the most research behind it. I suggest setting aside a certain amount of time for mindful relaxation, and develop some simple breathing routines during the day.
Share a little about you.
We have three dogs, and I love to bike. My wife and I met in naturopathic school, and we have two grown children – one is starting naturopathic medical school and the other lives in California.
I really like sandwiches – my favorite is an open-faced, plant-based sandwich, where I substitute tofu for mozzarella; then I use a mild miso as a spread and add mustard, arugula, tomato, and avocado.
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