The Bulletin’s Aug. 14 Health section featured an article titled “Naturopathic physicians fight for Oregon insurance coverage.” I believe that naturopathic medicine should be covered by all insurance plans. I felt the article was unbalanced against naturopathic doctors (NDs). For instance, in the chart presented, educational requirements of naturopathic and medical doctors were compared, which omitted a lot of information about the training of NDs and emphasized the training of MDs.

The article states: “But not everyone thinks it’s a good idea for naturopaths to serve as primary care physicians … some say naturopathic physicians don’t have the same level of training as medical doctors to be able to diagnose and treat serious health issues.” Without identifying who said that, the article goes on to make much of the current residency programs MDs are required to take in order to be licensed.

The article quoted Dr. Mark Crislip, of Portland, who recited a story of how someone died of cancer while being treated by naturopathic methods. The number of people in the U.S. who die every single year at the mistreatment of MDs, so-called “medical mistakes” (estimated at 98,000 per year) is never mentioned. I personally can attest to the successes of NDs and alternative medicine, and I doubt they come close to killing as many people as MDs do.

One of the greatest differences between an ND and an MD is how a diseased patient is approached. MDs use a system of treatment based on averages of a patient population and prescribe treatments that suppress symptoms rather than treating the cause of the symptoms. NDs look at the individual patient, including lifestyle practices, health history and particularly diet. NDs look for the cause of the symptoms, treat toward that rather than treating toward the symptoms. MDs weigh and measure this or that component of the blood or urine and make recommendations based on those numbers and use a medical practice based on about 100 years of study. NDs practice “alternative” medicine based on thousands of years of study in addition to medicines used by MDs.

Until recently, I went to family practice doctors, MDs. My insurance covered most of the charges. I was subjected to treatments that were later withdrawn after it was discovered those treatments did more harm than good. I started going to an ND in preference to an MD about four years ago when an MD prescribed antibiotics for a sinus infection, which led to an intestinal upset and did not clear up the sinus infection. At that point the MD prescribed several other things over the course of several weeks treating the symptoms that the treatment had caused. I wound up with no hearing in one ear and no sense of taste or smell, and I still had the sinus infection. Taking responsibility for my own health, I went to a Bend area ND, Dr. Wendy Weintrob. She immediately began a weekly course of treatment that included acupuncture as well as herbal remedies. This treatment was not covered by my insurance plan. The treatment was successful; within a week the sinus infection was gone and gradually my sense of smell and taste came back. The loss of hearing was slower to heal but did return after about a month. Because of her attention and treatment, I am also free of several “chronic” problems conventional medicine could only “treat,” not cure. I have never been healthier in my life than I am right now.

I will continue to use naturopathic medicine even though all of the monthly insurance premiums I pay do not cover any of it. I will not hesitate to consult an MD if I think it is necessary. I think both forms of medical practice are valuable and should be covered equally.

— Sandra Neary lives in La Pine.