Healthy Parenting

Finding a Holistic Practitioner

If there's one thing that I hear most often from those in my circle, it's the complaint that good practitioners with a holistic slant are hard to find.

In my travels over the years, I've found a few places that have been successful for us. So I am sharing them here in hopes of helping others find the practitioners they feel most comfortable with.

                    

I just can't stand that "authoritative" position that some doctors take. I am NOT a doctor, but I know my children better than anyone and can partake in the healing and health process if given a chance. Finding a holistic practitioner does not guarantee that you'll be happy. We had a family practitioner awhile back that advertised himself as "natural" and "holistic" and yet his manner was not one that welcomed chat or conversations about what was wrong with my child. It was just the same old, "here's the problem, here's the solution, end of story". How can they get the whole picture if all they do is talk and not listen?

As I've mentioned, my son Connor runs very high fevers. His immune system goes into hyperdrive whenever he gets sick (a result of his food allergies). We ended up in the ER once when the thermometer rose up over 107 degrees. Another time, we went to our supposed "holistic" Family Practitioner when he had a fever of 105.4. The MD said to me, "If I didn't know better and IF he had spots, I'd say he had the Measles." What? What the heck does that mean? I can say that about just about anything. "If I didn't know any better and IF you had pink hair, I'd say you had pink hair". No offense to anyone with pink hair, some of my best friends have had it, but just trying to make a point. Obviously, this guy was trying to make the fact that we don't vaccinate the reason for my son being sick but sheesh.. of all the idiotic things to say.

I was also very disturbed that this same MD, had a PA (physician's asst) who advised me after 2 questions she asked me, that I was feeding my son Owen too much fruit and should stop immediately. I really have contempt for such blatant abuse of power and misinformation. That particular morning, Owen had old fashioned oatmeal with cut up dried apricots in it AND a pear. He was in for a regular check up and nothing was wrong or out of the ordinary.

My husband felt that I was being too unforgiving with this doctor but it infuriates me to think about all those who don't know enough to question the so-called "authority" that is the doctor, or in this case the PA (supposedly the doctor's voice).

Anyhow, my point in sharing here is that it is important to find a practitioner that you feel you are in partnership with to make the best health decisions for your children. Even if you don't agree on all things, I believe that there needs to be a level of respect in the relationship.

So here are a few tips on finding a holistic practioner near you!

• A fairly new list that might help in the search!
  http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AP_Doctor_Referral/
• This is a directory of all sorts of holistic directories; from chiropractic organizations to yoga. Check here for naturopathic doctors, homeopaths, osteopaths, etc.
  http://www.holisticmed.com/www/directory.html
• American Holistic Health Association Search for a holistic health practitioner
  http://www.ahha.org/
• This is a bulletin board site where you post what you are looking for in the way of a practitioner. At the Discussion Forum click-on "NEW TOPIC" to post your request and include the following:
  > What kind of practitioner you need or your health challenge
  > Your Name
  > City, State, Zip Code
  > Area Code (or area codes that you will travel to)
  
  To protect your privacy DO NOT include a mailing address and DO NOT include a phone number.
  
  The site owner maintains and extensive database and emails you privately with a listing report. I did this years ago but was not sure how holistic the place near us was and discovered recently it is VERY holistic with MDs (it's the place we go to now). So try it.
  http://www.holisticwebdirectory.com/webboard/2_Find_A_Practitioner/
• Search for a homeopath or a vet homeopath. http://www.homeopathyhome.com/directory/index.shtml
• Another holistic practitioner database. http://www.alternativemedicine.com

And look through these directory listings of holistic practitioners;

• http://www.alsearsmd.com/content/index.php?id=61
• http://www.holisticboard.org/roster.html
• http://www.hpakids.org/state_search.html

• You can also search at this site (American College for Advancement in Medicine). Look for family practice, pediatrics or osteopaths.
  http://www.acam.org/dr_search/
• Try searching for chiropractors..many offer well visits for children and are holistic in nature. http://www.a-logic.com/ica05.asp
• Search for a holistic Vet!
  http://www.ahvma.org/
  http://www.altvetmed.com/
• Find a nutritionist, not necessarily holistic so be sure to ask; http://www.nanp.org/
• Find a holistic Dentist. http://www.holisticdental.org/HDASearch.htm
• Find a colon hydrotherapist http://i-act.org/

Also try connecting with your local LLL. Ask at your local health food stores.

GOOD LUCK and please let me know if you discover any resources that should be listed here.






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