CAMDEN —  Dr. Barb MacDonald, author of The Breast Cancer Companion, will give a free presentation on reducing the recurrence of breast cancer using lifestyle changes. This lecture will be held twice: Monday, Oct. 6, 12 p.m., at the Camden Public Library, and Tuesday, Oct. 7, 6:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. at Camden Whole Health.

No registration is required but space is limited.  Dr. Deb Mosowitz will be available on Wednesday, Oct. 8, 5:30 - 7 p.m. to show people around the newly renovated clinic, answer any questions, and share recent updates in insurance coverage for naturopathic medicine in Maine.

The public is invited to stop by Camden Whole Health, located at the corner of Park St. and Elm Street in Camden, enter a raffle to win a $50 gift certificate for use in the Camden Whole Health naturopathic pharmacy, and pick up a $20 off coupon good toward a new patient appointment.

Naturopathic practitioners are doctor level expert providers of natural medicine. Naturopathic doctors also work in international medicine, public health, in medical research and as writers and teachers in the field. For further information, see http://www.naturopathic.org/ or visit www.camdenwholehealth.com.

In 2013 the U.S. Senate unanimously passed a resolution designating the second week of October as Naturopathic Medicine Week. The resolution recognizes the value of naturopathic medicine in providing safe, effective, and affordable health care and encourages Americans to learn about the role of naturopathic physicians in preventing chronic and debilitating conditions.

Naturopathic physicians are trained to take a full history and perform physical exams; NDs use laboratory and diagnostic imaging to help arrive at accurate diagnoses. Instead of focusing on pharmaceuticals and surgery, NDs work with natural medicine approaches including therapeutic nutrition, botanical medicine, lifestyle modification and physical medicine to stimulate patients' innate healing capacity. NDs are trained to look at the whole patient, to understand the full impact of various stressors on physical, mental and emotional health.

NDs both refer to and accept referrals from other health care providers for both diagnostic and treatment support. Some NDs work in solo practices, others in groups, yet others in integrative medical care settings with MDs, DOs, DCs and allied health care providers. In states where NDs are licensed, such as Maine, insurance reimbursements for essential health benefits are now covered services in most cases.

There are 17 states plus Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands that license NDs. Many other states are currently in legislative efforts. In some states, including Maine, naturopathic physicians practice as primary care providers; in others, NDs work in more adjunctive ways.

Contact:

Deb Moskowitz at wellnessdesigned@gmail.com or Barb MacDonald at drbarbmacdonald@yahoo.com.

(207) 230-1131