“My work is about bringing my patients to a good balance so they feel well,” says Lynne Shinto, N.D., M.P.H. “I treat the whole person with natural medicine.”

Dr. Shinto practices naturopathy at the OHSU Center for Women’s Health. Naturopathic medicine is about supporting your body’s natural ability to heal itself using whole-body therapies such as:

• Nutrition
• Herbal medicine and dietary supplements
• Physical medicine, like massage and exercise
• Counseling

Your first appointment

For Dr. Shinto, starting out with a good understanding of your overall wellness is the key. “I see each patient for an hour, so I can really take the time to get to know them and their lifestyle,” she says.

At the first appointment, Dr. Shinto asks questions about everything: diet, digestion, energy level, sleep, exercise habits, lifestyle, menstrual cycles, hobbies, work, mood, health problems, medicines, and the list goes on.

“I collect all this information and then we talk about your strengths, weaknesses and where I might be able to rebalance things or fill a gap with natural medicine,” says Dr. Shinto.

Conditions Dr. Shinto treats

Naturopathy is often called complementary medicine because it can complement conventional or Western medical treatments you’re already receiving. Natural medicine can:

• Treat side effects of conventional medicine
• Add to the effectiveness of conventional medicine or help you decrease your dose
• Treat symptoms or health conditions that conventional medicine has limited effect

Dr. Shinto can help with general wellness, but she also has unique expertise in both women’s health and neurology. She specializes in helping with:

• Perimenopausal symptoms
• Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)
• Fatigue
• Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
• Diet and weight control
• Supplement management
• Fatigue
• Neurologic conditions (multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, dementia prevention)

Navigating the world of supplements

Herbal supplements are an important tool in Dr. Shinto’s medical kit. But she emphasizes that they’re called supplements for a reason.

“I always look at diet and exercise changes first,” she says. “Diet is medicine and it is very powerful. When I recommend a supplement, it is because it adds something on top of diet and exercise.”

Dr. Shinto often helps her patients navigate the world of supplements. If you are interested in trying a supplement, or wondering if the supplements you take are the right ones for you, Dr. Shinto can help. The Office of Dietary Supplements is also a good resource.

To schedule an appointment with Dr. Shinto, call the OHSU Center for Women’s Health at 503-418-4500.