Naturopathy is a system of health care that supports your body’s natural ability to heal itself. At the Center for Women’s Health, our naturopathic doctors work hand in hand with the full range of specialists and providers at OHSU.

Important things to know:

• We take a whole-body approach to treatment.
• Treatments include nutrition, lifestyle changes, herbal medicine and dietary supplements.
• We may recommend counseling to encourage overall wellness.
• Naturopathy may be especially helpful as you age.
• You can use naturopathy alone or together with other medical care.

What is naturopathy?

Naturopathic doctors treat the whole person rather than the disease. We see a connection between emotional and physical health and look first to diet, exercise and other lifestyle changes before considering herbal supplements.

What to expect

At the Center for Women’s Health, your visit with a naturopathic doctor will typically take more time than with a conventional provider. You can expect an hour for an initial visit.

We will take a complete history to get to know you and learn about your diet, exercise, digestion, energy level, sleep, lifestyle, menstrual cycles, hobbies, work, mood, health concerns, medicines, supplements and more.

This information helps us understand your strengths and weaknesses and figure out where natural medicine might help.

We take a holistic approach to treatment. If you have a migraine headache, for example, we won’t just write a prescription. We will look at your diet, physical activity, sleep patterns and mental health to find the best options for healing.

We work closely with your conventional providers. Naturopathy can complement your treatment by:

• Treating side effects of conventional medicine.
• Adding to the effectiveness of conventional medicine.
• Helping you reduce your dose of conventional medicine.
• Treating conditions that don’t respond to conventional medicine.

Conditions we treat

Naturopathic medicine focuses on wellness and vitality. At the Center for Women’s Health, our naturopathic doctor has specific expertise in:

• Aging
• Perimenopause
• Menopause
• Premenstrual syndrome
• Gut issues like irritable bowel syndrome
• Diet and weight control
• Supplement management
• Neurological conditions like Alzheimer’s disease, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease and dementia

Hormone balancing

The changes brought on by menstruation, pregnancy and menopause are different for each person. By looking at your diet, stress and exercise, naturopathy can help you stay healthy during these life stages.

Healthy aging

The naturopathic approach to prevention may help you notice risk factors for cognitive decline and diseases like Alzheimer’s. We also support you to protect your brain function through a healthy diet, good sleep and regular exercise for the body and the mind.

Supplements

Supplements are a useful tool, but it’s important to have a knowledgeable guide. We make recommendations based on your unique situation.

Learn more

• Naturopathy, National Institutes of Health
• Herbs at a Glance, National Institutes of Health
• Office of Dietary Supplements, National Institutes of Health
• American Association of Naturopathic Medicine
• Clinical Trials, Center for Women’s Health
• Clinical Trials, OHSU Brain Institute
• Neurology Wellness Clinic, OHSU Brain Institute

Dr. Lynne Shinto is a naturopathic doctor with special interests in neurology and women’s health. She is an expert in managing symptoms and protecting your brain through aging and hormone changes. Patients facing a range of health concerns can benefit from her holistic approach to a healthy mind and body.