West Seattle Natural Medicine: Welcoming a new WSB sponsor

Today we welcome a new sponsor, West Seattle Natural Medicine, at 3256 California SW (map). As always, new sponsors are offered the chance to tell you about their business: The clinic is run by Dr. Katherine Oldfield and employs three other doctors – Dr. Debbie Whittington, Dr. Molly Gray, and Dr. Jennifer Lush. (Photo right, clockwise from top: Drs. Oldfield, Lush, Whittington, Gray) She and her staff work with patients to create long-term plans for health and nutrition. Dr. Oldfield says, “I’d like to think that we help empower people to realize that they have considerable control over their own health. We take the time to explain lab work thoroughly and explain what’s going on in their body physiologically to help them understand what is making them feel bad. Finally, we help them turn their health around with diet, exercise, counseling and maybe supplements, hormones, or a prescription.” West Seattle Natural Medicine welcomes those who are looking for another approach to seeking out health care. They do family medicine, pediatrics, allergy treatments, women’s health and physicals – including gynecological exams – and they draw blood for lab work at the office. Dr. Oldfield says the clinic has a great reputation for being compassionate, safe, consistent, and thorough. “We are very nice and approachable and treat everyone equally. Patients feel very comfortable talking to us. When patients are in a safe environment we can learn more about them and therefore help find the underlying cause of their health concern.” Dr. Katherine Oldfield is not only the director of the clinic, but also an instructor for PCC Cooks at PCC Natural Markets (also a WSB sponsor) and a member of CoolMom. She’s a specialist in women’s health and also a member of Physicians for Social Responsibility. You’ll find the clinic online at westseattlenaturalmedicine.com; you can call West Seattle Natural Medicine at 206-938-1393.

We thank West Seattle Natural Medicine for sponsoring independent, community-collaborative neighborhood news on WSB; find our sponsor team, and info on joining, all here.

LinWS July 28, 2010 (4:50 pm)

Did I miss something — Would the clinicians tell us what their doctorates are in? Are they DPTs, DOs, DCs, MDs, NDs, PhDs, DNPs, DOMs, PharmDs, or another doctoral-level practitioner? There are so many types and all seem to be going to, or have, doctoral degrees. It can get confusing for us patients!

WSB July 28, 2010 (4:55 pm)

The doctors’ backgrounds are on the WSNM website: http://westseattlenaturalmedicine.com/healthcare-providers.aspx

SG July 28, 2010 (8:35 pm)

A great practice! I have been going there for several years and they are a very caring and thorough bunch of women that spend much more time diagnosing and getting to the root of issues than any other medical practice I have been to.

ValMalGal July 28, 2010 (10:15 pm)

They are all NDs – naturopathic doctors. It is extremely important to me to manage my health through natural means whenever possible and Dr. Oldfield and her team have really helped me get to the root of many problems that plagued me for a very long time. I’ve been thrilled with their care. I highly recommend them.

lina rose July 28, 2010 (10:35 pm)

I have been very happy with Dr. Oldfield and Dr. Gray. I feel like they have been thoughtful, supportive and knowledgeable and I enjoy going in there, I would surely recommend them!

ad July 28, 2010 (11:18 pm)

All of those ladies have such lovely smiles!

wisepunk July 29, 2010 (12:17 am)

what’s up, docs?

Rejuvenation July 29, 2010 (9:47 am)

I have been a patient of Dr. Whittington for several years now and without a doubt she’s the best! When I was seeing my regular MD I felt such a sense of disconect, like I was just another patient crammed into the schedule. They didn’t take the time to “listen” to me as a patient, and I felt like my overall health wasn’t their goal. With Dr. Whittington, “you” and your health are her primary focus. She is very knowledgable, caring and approachable. I won’t go any where else. If you want focused and attentive medical care then go to WSNM.

nh July 29, 2010 (10:51 am)

I have been here a few times and felt rushed through my appt. with very little explanation as to what could be going on and never got anywhere with the issues I needed help with. I still would highly recommend them as they are true professionals and it could have been that they were still learning how to run that business at the time – but just be advised to manage your care and ask for what you need. Ask questions and be active in the process. Don’t allow the insurance model to rush you out the door.

Scar July 29, 2010 (11:34 am)

Hate to say it, but naturopathic doctors are basically quack doctors. If you hear about homeopathy — run in the other direction. It’s a shame the way these type of “doctors” are downplaying real science and pushing garbage like herbal remedies.

d-san July 29, 2010 (11:48 am)

I love Dr. Lush! After going to my primary care doc and then a gastroenterologist, she was the one doctor that thought allergy testing might help figure out what was wrong with me. Oh yes, off the charts allergic to milk! I feel so much better now. Don’t knock it til you try it!

rejuvenation July 29, 2010 (12:16 pm)

Scar- You may be surprised to know that Naturopath Doctors are just as highly trained as traditional Western Medical Doctors. They are required to complete a Bachelor of Science degree (equate that to 4 years @ University) prior to being accepted into a Naturopathic school such as Bastyr. Once they start their post graduate training it is generally 4-6 years of education, coupling both Naturopath training along with Western Medicine. They actually have more knowledge & training then regular MD’s. Quacks? No . . . Real Doctor’s? Absolutely!!

Scar July 29, 2010 (1:08 pm)

From Wikipedia:

“Naturopathy medicine is criticized for its reliance on and its association with unproven, disproven, and other controversial alternative medical treatments, and for its vitalistic underpinnings.[75] As with any alternative care, there is a risk of misdiagnosis; this risk may be lower depending on level of training.[1][4] There is also a risk that ailments that cannot be diagnosed by naturopaths will go untreated while a patient attempts treatment programs designed by their naturopath. Certain naturopathic treatments, such as homeopathy and iridology, are widely considered pseudoscience or quackery.[98][99][100] Natural methods and chemicals are not necessarily safer or more effective than artificial or synthetic ones; any treatment capable of eliciting an effect may also have deleterious side effects.[3][5][101][102]

“Non-scientific health care practitioners, including naturopaths, use unscientific methods and deception on a public who, lacking in-depth health care knowledge, must rely upon the assurance of providers.[103] Quackery not only harms people, it undermines the ability to conduct scientific research and should be opposed by scientists”, says William T. Jarvis.[103]”

rejuvenation July 29, 2010 (1:50 pm)

Scar- Your recent post quoting Wiki is a statement from the “criticism” section listed on their Naturopathy page. I would encourage you to read the full page and you will see that Wikipedia validates the educational background and legitimacy of these highly trained individuals. I get that Naturopathy isn’t for everyone, but to call it Quackery is inaccurate. Yes, in some states there are no laws requiring Naturopaths to have a higher education, and in this situation I’d be hard pressed to seek medical care from said person. Fortunately we live in a state that has strict regulations. These individuals are classified by state law as “Doctors” for a reason.

From Wikipedia:
Naturopathic physicians are now licensed in many states as primary care physicians proficient in the practice of both conventional and natural medicine. Pre-naturopathic education training varies depending on the institution, followed by at least four years of naturopathic medical education, including pharmacology and minor surgery.

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