As I have progressed through my medical education, I have been taught about a myriad of treatments for the various ailments that are seen by Naturopathic physicians. As I progressively memorized innumerable interventions, I came to notice that certain medicines and methods were repeated time and time again for a variety of conditions. I have now come to know these as the gems of naturopathic medicine. One such well known gem is fish oil.
 
Early research demonstrated that even small doses of fish oil containing EPA (ecosapentanoic acid) and DHA (docosahexanoic acid) had potent protective influences on the cardiovascular system. It has more recently been suggested in the research that this wonderful supplement in appropriate doses is as good, if not better, than a beta-blocker at reducing the chance of death in people who have suffered a heart attack. Given that fish oil is a gem though, its applications go far beyond the cardiovascular system. The anti-inflammatory benefits seen from the ingestion of fish oil are now being applied to arthritis and autoimmune conditions. It doesn’t end there though – fish oil is being tested for the treatment of depression, autism and fibromyalgia. What else will we find it to be useful for?
 
Another such gem is coenzyme Q10. This small molecule is a key ingredient in the part of your cell that makes all the energy that keeps the cell working. As such, it has a wide array of applications which include the prevention of heart attacks, lowering of blood pressure, and perhaps protection from macular degeneration. Coenzyme Q10 has also been tested for the treatment of Alzheimer’s, asthma, angina, migraines, diabetes and many other common conditions.
 
Acupuncture is another naturopathic intervention which I am delighted to report has a plethora of applications. Research has shown benefit to the use of acupuncture in improving fertility, migraines, muscle tension, arthritis and nausea to name a few. It has even shown some benefit in the treatment of autism! When I think of gems like these and others, I am reminded of the versatility and wonder that I have found in naturopathic medicine. It is truly fantastic that a medicine such as this can incorporate treatments that are so adaptable. For me at least, it’s nice to know that with such a great versatility in naturopathic medicine, there is something helpful that can be done for almost every patient.