Naturopathic Medicine
Much like a general practitioner, a naturopathic doctor manages a broad range of health conditions affecting all people of all ages. However, naturopathic medicine is a distinct system of primary health care, distinguished by the healing principles upon which its practice is based.
Naturopathic Principles of Health & Healing
Our naturopathic doctors, Korey DiRoma, N.D; Jacquelyn Burrell, ND and Kathryn Boulter, ND practice in accordance with the following foundational naturopathic principles:
The Healing Power of Nature: Naturopathic physicians recognize an inherent self-healing process in each person and act to facilitate this process.
Treat the Whole Person: Naturopathic physicians see each person as a unique individual and treat each patient by taking into account their particular physical, mental, emotional, environmental, social, spiritual and other aspects of health.
Identify and Treat the Cause(s): Naturopathic physicians seek to identify and remove the underlying cause(s) of illness, rather than to merely eliminate or suppress symptoms.
First Do No Harm: Naturopathic physicians follow three guidelines to avoid harming the patient:
- Utilize methods and medicinal substances which minimize the risk of harmful side effects, using the least force necessary to diagnose and treat;
- Avoid the harmful suppression of symptoms whenever possible;
- Acknowledge, respect and work with the individual's self-healing process.
Doctor as Teacher:Naturopathic physicians educate their patients, encourage self-responsibility for health and recognize the therapeutic potential of the doctor-patient relationship.
Prevention: Naturopathic physicians emphasize the prevention of disease, assessing risk factors, heredity and susceptibility to disease and making appropriate interventions in partnership with their patients to prevent illness.
Naturopathic Doctors Are Trained As Primary Health Care Practitioners
Naturopathic doctors are trained as primary health care practitioners, and as such treat a broad range of health conditions. Founded upon a holistic philosophy, naturopathic medicine combines safe and effective traditional therapies with the most current scientific advances in modern medicine.
For many diseases and conditions (a few examples: ulcerative colitis, asthma, menopause, flu, obesity, chronic fatigue, depression, anxiety), treatments used by naturopathic physicians can be primary and even curative.
Naturopathic physicians also function within an integrated framework; for example, referring patients to an appropriate medical specialist, such as an oncologist or a surgeon. And within the context of specialized care, naturopathic therapies can complement the treatments used by conventionally trained medical doctors.
The result is a team-care approach that recognizes the needs of the patient to receive the best overall treatment most appropriate to his or her specific medical condition. The goal of a naturopathic doctor is to employ therapies that support and promote the body's natural healing process, leading to the highest state of wellness.
Education of a Naturopath
A Naturopathic doctor (N.D.) is the highest trained practitioner in the broadest scope of natural holistic treatments.
In addition to the basic medical sciences and conventional diagnostics, naturopathic education includes therapeutic nutrition, botanical / herbal medicine, homeopathy, hydrotherapy, naturopathic manipulative therapy, counseling, mind/body medicine, and pharmacology.
Naturopathic physicians are trained as primary health care practitioners, whose diverse techniques include modern and traditional, scientific and empirical methods.
A licensed naturopathic doctor (N.D.) attends a five-year graduate-level naturopathic medical school and is educated in all of the same basic sciences as an M.D., in addition to studies of the holistic and nontoxic approaches to therapy with a strong emphasis on disease prevention and optimizing wellness.
Contemporary Naturopathic Doctors, such as Dr. DiRoma, Dr. Boulter, and Dr. Burrell, who have attended an accredited naturopathic medical school, recognized by the US Department of Education, practice medicine as primary health care providers and are increasingly acknowledged as leaders in bringing about progressive changes in the nation's medical system.
Naturopathic Treatments
In accordance with their training, modern American naturopathic doctors use therapies that are primarily natural (hence the name naturopathic) and nontoxic. These therapies include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Clinical nutrition
- Homeopathy
- Botanical medicine
- Hydrotherapy
- Physical medicine
- Detox/cleanse protocols
- Mind/body medicine
- Counseling
Our Special Team Approach to Your Health Care
Unique to the Center’s medical practice, our naturopathic doctors , offer full comprehensive evaluations in collaboration with Dr. Ronald Stram, M.D. These practitioners utilize a team approach to the care of their patients, and develop customized treatment plans, taking into account the benefits of the best combination of therapies available. The result is a team-care approach that recognizes the need of the patient to receive the best overall treatment most appropriate to his or her specific medical condition.
Take Charge Of Your Health - Make An Appointment: NY office: (518) 689-2244; Burlington VT office: (802) 891-3459
Whether the goal is to lessen pain, find an alternative to pharmaceuticals, or improve your quality of life, naturopathic medicine lets you get the best of both worlds - conventional medicine and safe, proven complementary therapies.
Your First Appointment Call our offices in Delmar, NY or Burlington, VT
Typically the first session is 90 minutes long, during which time the doctor and patient form a partnership. An extensive history, including all facets of the patient’s beliefs, symptoms and lifestyle are examined, which form the groundwork for developing an effective comprehensive treatment plan. This partnership is strengthened by the patient’s accessibility to their providers during and after treatment begins.
To make an appointment, please call the Stram Center in Delmar at 518-689-2244 or in Burlington, VT at 802-891-3459; or Contact Us by Email.
Integrative Treatment Options
Integrative Medicine
Integrative medicine is the blending of conventional medicine with holistic, complementary, and alternative medicine. Integrative Medicine is defined as healing-oriented medicine that takes account of the whole person (body, mind, heart and spirit), including all aspects of lifestyle. It emphasizes the therapeutic relationship and makes use of all appropriate therapies, both conventional and…Integrative Medicine
Chronic Illness
Nowhere is the need for an integrative approach more apparent than in the management of chronic illness. We are a synthesis of many systems all working together, and when one or more systems become diseased, all of the others will be stressed as well. From physical challenges, to the challenges of everyday living, to a satisfying quality of life, we have to go past seeing that illness in…Chronic Illness
Cleansing Programs
Detoxification is a term that is often used for chemical and alcohol dependencies. However, it is also a term, which describes the removal of normal metabolic wastes that accumulate from the body’s normal functions. It also includes the body’s process of removing foreign substances which invade us through living in a polluted world. This includes chemicals and organism that are found in our…Cleansing Programs
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy
Dedicated to treating the root cause of illness and using the most advanced integrative methods in a safe environment, the Stram Center for Integrative Medicine, under the medical supervision of Dr. Ron Stram, will utilize the benefits of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) to complement and enhance the healing process in both chronic and acute conditions of our patients. You will…Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy
Integrative Cancer Care
KNOW ALL YOUR OPTIONS A cancer diagnosis is stressful, frightening and overwhelming. Making decisions about treatment during this phase is challenging. Conventional oncologists usually recommend only conventional treatment such as chemotherapy, radiation and surgery, but you may be left wondering, "is there something else that can benefit me?" Your cancer consultation at the Stram Center will…Integrative Cancer Care
IV Therapy for Chronic Illness
Chronic illnesses are on the rise in the US. From chronic Lyme disease, cancers, chronic fatigue, pain and more – patients are attempting to live their best lives while fighting a battle within. A patient’s response to chronic illness is unique – based upon many factors ranging from emotional response to the disease, individual physical symptoms, immune response and the duration of the…IV Therapy for Chronic Illness
Nutritional Counseling
The practitioners at the Center recognize that diet is often the basis for your heath and your potential to heal. Adopting a healthy diet is often the first step towards correcting health problems. Many medical conditions can be treated more effectively when the patient implements specific diets and uses nutritional supplements. These interventions afford fewer complications and side effects than…Nutritional Counseling
Supplements and Vitamins
Our natural remedies and supplements are carefully selected by our doctors and may be taken to promote natural healing and help treat a variety of conditions.Supplements and Vitamins
IV Therapy for Wellness
We often associate healthcare with “sick” care – but then where does wellness fit in? At the Stram Center, we believe that it is not only important to heal the body, but to also bring the body into its utmost state of wellbeing.IV Therapy for Wellness
