Nutritional Therapies for Immune System,
Inflammatory, Digestive and Related Disorders
Dr. Scott Woodworth BSc ND is a licensed Naturopathic Doctor practicing in Nova Scotia, Canada. He received his undergraduate Degree from the University of New Brunswick and his Naturopathic Doctorate at the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine in May of 2000. He has been in private practice since graduation. He is a member of the Canadian Association of Naturopathic Doctors, Nova Scotia Association of Naturopathic Doctors, and maintains his Licensure from the State of Vermont as well as with the College of Naturopathic Doctors of Alberta.
Dr. Woodworth also practiced for 2 years in an advanced Cancer treatment hospital in Chicago Illinois from 2011 until 2013. There he focused on the impact of anti-inflammatory dietary protocols and their impact on conventional cancer treatments and impacts on patient well being and outcomes
Dr. Woodworths special interest and passion in the Immune system and Inflammation disorders began very on in his practice. He began working with children with Crohn’s and Ulcerative Colitis. After 25+ years of working with these and various other Autoimmune Disorders, some similar and critical patterns became obvious.
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Chronic Immune / Inflammatory issues often run through families. The conditions can vary from generation to generation but the Inflammatory susceptibility / tendency is often passed on genetically
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If something triggers Inflammation in one part of the body, it often triggers Inflammation in other parts as well. So the underlying cause of an Inflammation is often the cause for other Inflammatory issues elsewhere. So you can’t treat one condition without treating all the conditions.
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Inflammation always has a trigger or cause, and it’s not stress. Stress can fan a fire and make a fire worse, but it cannot light the fire. The immune system is a Mechanical system (receptor based, lock and key) and requires a structural “key” to activate the Immune and Inflammation response.
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Diet ALWAYS has a role to play with Inflammation and Immune system disorders. Either as the main allergen / trigger for the Inflammation response, or as a secondary aggravating factor (cytokines/chemo-kines associated with food triggers) aggravating other Inflammatory processes in the body (Infections, Structural damage, etc)
Treat the cause, not the symptom is the basis for his approach for all his patients. He focuses on nutritional and environmental interventions with his patients. Nutritional supplements and herbal medicines are focused on repairing and restoring normal function, after the cause of the dysfunction has been addressed.
Conventional medicine is excellent for acute crisis care and management. For chronic health conditions, conventional medicine often focuses on symptomatic management for conditions. Pain killers for headaches, sleeping pills for insomnia, antidepressants for depression, antacids for reflux, etc. Often these medications are helpful, but what happens if we stop taking them? The symptoms return, because we didn’t identify and treat what was causing the symptom in the first place.
Many people think Naturopathic Medicine is about taking “natural medicines” instead of conventional ones. For example, taking an anti-inflammatory herbal medicine such as Curcumin for muscle or joint pain instead of an anti-inflammatory medication. Take Melatonin for sleep issues rather than a prescription sleep aid. Unfortunately, many natural health professionals believe this to be the case as well. This is not "Treat the Cause" medicine. This is "treat the symptom with as natural pill instead of a synthetic pill" medicine.
If we treat a symptom with a natural product rather than with a synthetic one, we are still just focusing on treating the symptom and not the CAUSE of the symptom. We can use these products as symptomatic aids during your treatment, but emphasis MUST be on identifying the cause of the symptom and addressing that.
For inflammatory disorders, don't ask "What can I take for inflammation?"
Ask "WHAT is the trigger or cause for the inflammation?"
For depression, anxiety and insomnia, don't ask "What can I take for sleep and for anxiety?"
Ask "What is the biochemical or hormonal imbalance causing the sleep and anxiety problem?"
For reflux don't ask "What can I take for reflux?"
Ask "What is causing my reflux?"
Instead of asking “WHAT can I take for this…” We need to ask “WHAT is causing this…”
The overall approach to any health condition is always the same.
Identify the underlying Inflammatory Triggers (Food, Infection, other)
Remove Them
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Repair the Damage (Gut Permeability, Gut Flora Balance, Nutritional Deficiencies, Hormone Balancing and Adrenal / Immune Support)
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The emphasis of natural “treatments” such as nutraceuticals, botanical medicines, homeopathic, vitamins and minerals should be on repairing and restoring normal function, not management of symptoms. If we try and repair and restore normal function, while the cause of the dysfunction is still occurring, you will have limited results or success with these treatments. It is like trying to fill up an empty bucket, with a big hole in the bottom of the bucket.
Repair the hole first, and you will be able to fill up the bucket.