By Claudine Hodges


A natural approach to healthcare is easy to find in Minneapolis-Saint Paul. This metropolitan area is home to many healthcare providers, both mainstream and alternative. Minnesota has made it legal for unlicensed practitioners to counsel on natural health and nutrition Woodbury MN. State law also guarantees consumers freedom of choice in their wellness advisers.

Today the lines between conventional medical treatment - which adheres to the American Medical Association's 'standard of care' regulations - and holistic methods (including homeopathy, nutritional counseling, massage therapy, herbal supplements, and more) are more blurred than they have been in the past. Minnesota has become a leader in the healthcare field for both conventional and holistic methods.

Holistic care addresses illness and its consequences in a 'whole body' approach. Whereas conventional care treats symptoms with prescription medicine, the holistic practitioner seeks the underlying cause of disorders and tries to correct them. In this way, the body heals itself as its balance and functionality are restored. Although pharmaceuticals may be used in treatment, they are usually a last resort, and chronic use of drugs is never seen as a solution.

The efforts of concerned citizens and sympathetic legislators have made Minnesota a friendly place for alternative wellness procedures and healthcare providers. Natural healers compete with conventional doctors and hospitals on an even playing field. This pleases those consumers who want to take an active role in maintaining or restoring well-being, rather than leaving all decisions to a doctor.

The Twin Cities, MN area is home to the Association of Naturopathic Physicians, a non-profit organization dedicated to raising public awareness, setting professional standards for alternative health care, and facilitating consumer access to natural and integrative health practitioners. This association has a list of natural care outlets on its home website.

The Minnesota Natural Health Coalition, based in Saint Paul, was formed to help ensure consumer access to integrative and alternative care. This group worked to get the Alternative Health Care Freedom of Access Act of 2000 through the state legislature. This law enables unlicensed caregivers and counselors to practice legally and guarantees consumer freedom of choice in medical care. The Coalition offer information to the public about wellness issues and maintain a list of holistic doctors and dentists.

Actually, consumers can have the best of both worlds. There are many alternative healthcare clinics headed by licensed medical doctors. Also on staff might be chiropractors, herbalists, massage therapists, acupuncturists, dietitians, and naturopaths. This reflects the fact that extensive research validates traditional methods. Most natural healers are open to recent scientific discoveries that support non-invasive practices. Modern science is providing new understanding about how traditional methods work to heal.

Holistic means whole body. The well-being of the entire person - physical, mental, and spiritual - is the end goal for alternative healers. The underlying philosophy is that the body can heal itself if the immune system is strong and non-invasive help is given. Modern scientific methods support this idea, rather than refute it. Conventional medicine can be a back-up if alternative measures fall short. To learn more, investigate the many organizations in the Woodbury area that offer information and direction.




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