Naturopathic Source

The ACE (Adverse Childhood Experiences) Study is looking at the relation between childhood trauma and different aspects of an adult person's health; everything from smoking to heart disease. This study is being done through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Kaiser Permanente. It involves 17,000 adults and while they are not taking any new participants, you can get your ACE score on the website at www.acestudy.org (look at the bottom of the home page for the link). Then go to the "About Us" page to see all the links for the information they have thus far.

Naturopathic Medicine has always held that our emotions affect our health but the fact that a reputable source such as this is researching hard data is fascinating.

From a more practical point of view, what can be done about this? Well, there are a variety of options.

1. Counselling/psychotherapy. There are as many different ways of practicing counselling and psychotherapy as there are practitioners. Ask someone you know and trust for a referral or even search the internet.

2. Homeopathy. Homeopathy is a system of medicine unto itself, but it is also included in the scope of practice for Naturopathic Doctors. (The homeopathic treatment of emotional issues is not my forte and thus I use other methods with my patients as discussed below.) Homeopathy is energy medicine and uses remedies. It is very different from other styles of medicine and you can read more information at www.homeopathy.ca/articles/what_is.html. This article is written by Andre Saine, probably the best homeopath in Canada (quite possibly North America). Although he writes this article mostly in reference to physical disease conditions, there really is no difference in how it works with respect to emotional issues. 

3. Emotional Freedom Technique. This is a technique based on acupuncture points that everyone can learn to do at home that effectively heals emotional trauma. I teach this to patients in my office over the course of a 1 hour visit, but anyone can learn more about EFT at their website www.emofree.org and there are plenty of free downloads.

4. Body Talk. Body Talk is a treatment that is geared towards re-balancing the body and healing emotional wounds. I have been treating patients with this technique for the past 8 months and it is fascinating. It is basically what is referred to as "Energy Medicine" and it is very effective. Body Talk "peels away the layers" of imbalance (physical and emotional) and allows your body and emotions to heal. To read more, go to www.bodytalksystem.com.

5. Hypnosis. This has been shown to be very effective as well. Many hypnotherapists are also psychotherapists. Again, ask for a referral or search the internet.

TC