Healing the Naturopathic Way
My name is Dr. Kathryn Boulter, ND, I am so excited to join the Burlington community and bring more holistic healthcare resources to the region. As a naturopathic doctor, I believe that the body has an inherent ability to heal itself if the obstacles to cure are removed. This means focusing on diagnosing physiologic problems, as well as determining the ideal diet and lifestyle for your body. Over time I have become interested in the intersection of the microbial world (bacteria, viruses, and fungi) and our health. Microbes are a major source of imbalance that needs to be addressed for optimal health. My specialty is working with people who have complicated health concerns; for the people who have often not found answers in the conventional medical world, who have been told their labs are normal, but still feel unwell. I use my medical detective skills and holistic perspective to discover what is preventing you from feeling your best.
My specialty is what is broadly called complex chronic illness, chronic fatigue syndrome and other illnesses of mysterious origin such as autoimmunity. In my practice, I work to diagnose and treat previously unrecognized infections and toxicity and I see this led to improvements in the health of chronically unwell patients. This work was recently validated in a study led by Harvard University researchers; the study found that Epstein Barr Virus (EBV) is a major causal agent of multiple sclerosis. Through a process called molecular mimicry EBV that tricks your body into attacking its own nervous system causing MS. The researchers acknowledge that this and other common viruses have implications in origin of other autoimmune conditions. I have seen this play out with my own patients; I have seen MS and other autoimmune conditions improve significantly by identifying and treating underlying viral and bacterial infections such as EBV and Lyme disease.
What I love about naturopathic medicine is that we take a whole-body view. We know that mind, body, and spirit are all connected and for someone to achieve optimal wellness, all three elements need to be in balance. This means that I spend the time to assess your individual needs and develop a treatment plan using the best tools for you. This could include diet recommendations, herbal medicine, IV nutrients, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, hormone replacement therapy or conventional medications if needed. It also requires a commitment to working on your own health. Healing is not done to you; it is a journey, and I aim to help you along the way.
Citations:
“Longitudinal analysis reveals high prevalence of Epstein-Barr virus associated with multiple sclerosis,” Kjetil Bjornevik, Marianna Cortese, Brian C. Healy, Jens Kuhle, Michael J. Mina, Yumei Leng, Stephen J. Elledge, David W. Niebuhr, Ann I. Scher, Kassandra L. Munger, Alberto Ascherio, Science, January 13, 2022, doi: 10.1126/science.abj8222
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