 |
| West Hartford Naturopathic Medicine, LLC |
| Dr. Frank L. Aieta Naturopathic Physician Certified Acupuncturist Nutritionist |
| Dr. Aieta's 7 Step Approach to Healing |
| INTRODUCTION: Each year, people are exposed to thousands of toxic chemicals and pollutants in air, water, food and soil. People living today carry within their bodies a “chemical cocktail” made up of industrial chemicals, pesticides, food additives, heavy metals, general anesthetics, and the residues of conventional pharmaceuticals, as well as of legal (alcohol, tobacco, caffeine) and illegal drugs (heroin, cocaine, marijuana). Today people are exposed to chemicals in far greater concentrations than were previous generation. For example, over 70 million Americans live in areas that exceed smog standards; most municipal drinking water contains over 700 chemicals, including excessive levels of lead. Some 3,000 chemicals (in the form of solvents, emulsifiers, and preservatives), are used in food processing and storage. These can remain in the body for years. To make matters worse, food and product labels do not always list every ingredient. When people consume these foods, (especially meat, seafood, and poultry), they ingest all the chemicals, hormones, and pesticides that have remained as accumulated contaminants in the food chain. These pollutants lodge in the body, loading it up with poisons, and manifest in a variety of symptoms, including decreased immune function, nerve cell toxicity, hormonal dysfunction, and psychological disturbances. Other symptoms may also arise as the body naturally attempts to eliminate this accumulated toxicity by any mean necessary. Most people are born with an inherited constitutional weakness in a particular organ system. Following the path of "least resistance," the body uses these areas first to push out the toxicity in the form of inflammation or discharges. When the organs of elimination such as the liver, kidneys and intestinal tract are overburdened, these secondary organs of elimination are called upon. For example in a person with psoriasis or eczema, the skin becomes that secondary organ of elimination. In the case of asthma or bronchitis it maybe the lungs, or the joints in a person with arthritis. Regardless of the name of the disease, the process is essentially the same. Symptoms are just your body’s way of trying to restore balance to a system that is overburdened and needs to eliminate. It’s when we suppress these attempts by the body to eliminate, in the form of anti-inflammatory drugs, antibiotics, antihistamines, etc. that we cause the body to stop reacting to the toxic burden. The body eventually stops trying to push out the toxicity and starts storing it within our cells leading to tissue damage and eventually chronic, destructive health problems like cancer and autoimmune diseases. " Achieving optimum health is more than just eliminating symptoms, it is a multi step process that will leave the patient feeling good not only physically, but mentally and emotionally as well." Dr. Aieta’s Approach to healing: Following an hour to an hour and a half medical interview, physical examination, and any pertinent laboratory testing, Dr. Aieta will start implementing his 7 step approach. His approach starts very basic with dietary and lifestyle changes. Many times just after starting this first step, patients will see dramatic improvements in their symptoms and overall health. When Dr. Aieta feels the patient is ready, they will move on to the next steps to healing. As the person progresses, different treatment options will be chosen to best fit the patient and their specific condition. Dr. Aieta views all of his patient’s as individuals presenting with different complaints so each treatment plan is designed with that in mind, unlike the traditional medical model that just treats the disease(symptoms) and not the whole person. Step 1- Dietary and lifestyle changes. Eliminating food intolerances, eating organic foods, eliminate toxic exposures (cigarette, alcohol, caffeine, drugs, preservatives, environmental exposures etc.), exercise, stress reduction, adequate sleep, increased water intake Step 2- Supporting the organs of elimination (liver, kidneys, lungs, skin, intestines) Herbal medicine, homeopathic medicines, biotherapeutic drainage remedies, acupuncture, vitamins/mineral supplements, probiotic supplementation, enzyme supplementation, hydrotherapy, diet, exercise, spinal manipulation, soft tissue work (massage) Step 3- Elimination of toxins Herbal medicines, chelation therapy, homeopathic medicines, biotherapeutic drainage remedies, gemmotherapy, oiligoelements, hydrotherapy (saunas, colonics etc.) Step 4- Tonifying weakened organ systems especially the Nervous, Hormonal and Circulatory systems Herbal medicine, vitamins/minerals, glandular products, homeopathic medicines, acupuncture, stress reduction techniques, natural hormone replacement Step 5- Structural Alignment Spinal manipulation, physical therapy, postural changes, therapeutic exercise, soft tissue manipulation, reflexology Step 6- Psychological healing Counseling, psychotherapy, homeopathic medicine, flower essence remedies, hypnosis, stress management and relaxation techniques, acupuncture Step 7- Repair Damaged Organs/Tissues Dietary changes, vitamins/minerals, herbal medicine, organotherapy, glandular therapy, homeopathic medicine |