What is naturopathic medicine?
Naturopathic medicine is centered around “the vis”
The vis is the healing power of nature and the understanding that the body has an innate ability to heal
It is in all living things
It explains why we are able to heal without thinking about it after a paper cut
Naturopathic medicine also is founded on the naturopathic principles, the concept of the vis being one of them. The others are to first do no harm, “Docere” or doctor as teacher and the importance of educating clients, to find the root cause, to treat holistically with mind body and spirit, and to lean into prevention.
The therapeutic order helps guides decide making. First helping to establish the foundations or determinants of health but also meeting everyone where they are at on a case by case basis.
The education and training behind this practice is what stands out to me. Along with all of the conventional medical school classes like immunology, pathology, gross anatomy, biochemistry, pharmacology, we also are trained in nutrition, botanical medicine, physical medicines, homeopathy, and counseling giving a very thorough and holistic approach to care.
What is functional medicine?
Training through Institute of Functional Medicine helped reinforce and emphasize the importance of systems thinking when it comes to the body. I learned how to connect the dots between past medical events and how they may lend to where we are today in health. Gaining the full picture to your health alongside lab assessment from the functional/optimal lens helps better understand which systems need the most support, which nutrients should be focused on and what further testing and therapeutics would be most helpful to your unique health picture.
I was born and raised RI, I was an active kid who came from a family that really practiced the “alternative” approach to health. We worked with herbs, spent time outside, and let the body do its thing to bring us back to balance when we were sick. I started as a mother’s helper in 4th grade and cared for newborns to 10 year olds until after graduating medical school. I studied biology, sustainability and Spanish at Franklin Pierce University in NH. I traveled to Central America and learned more about permaculture and connected more deeply with myself. I lived in Colorado then California and practiced regenerative agriculture before jumping head first into medical school at Bastyr University. I started my virtual health practice in 2023, traveled some more through the north west, Mexico and puerto rico and then landed back home in RI and am practicing out of my space on Spring Street in Newport doing bodywork and virtual health consults. To learn more feel free to schedule at the link below or reach out to hello@radicalhealthND.com
Who is Dr. Julia?
What is different about my approach?
My approach is one of deep listening. I offer very thorough intakes, to develop a plan that is both personalized and approachable for you.
The goal is to have you feeling empowered to make educated decisions about your health and wellbeing - not to have you on a long list of supplements forever.
My approach to bodywork is a blend of craniosacral (very gentle, rhythmic and intentional touch), visceral manipulation (helping unwind restriction around organ systems) and family constellation therapy (based in quantum physics as a way to communicate with “trapped” tension).
In the words of someone who has experienced my care: “Julia’s knowledge feels like wisdom, and her care is not something she performs, it is simply who she is…every body holds an experience we’ve ever had. Every emotion, every memory, grief, anger, excitement, and joy. Finding someone to help navigate those layers requires trust, patience, and safety. Julia gets it.”
One therapeutic that I refer to often is cranioscaral therapy. Craniosacral is a light, supportive, gently rhythmic form of bodywork that focuses on supporting the body’s fascial system. The fascia is this 3D like webbing that covers everything in our body. It has been studied for centuries across different cultures and the most recent research on this system of the body reemphasizes the importance in nervous system signaling, hormone regulation, digestion, mental health, and overall physical wellbeing. Therapeutic Touch alone can be so healing. Done is a safe container, this work is helpful for encouraging proper flow through the interstitial fluid and balance of the somatics within the body. These are important for nervous system regulation, detoxification, hormone regulation, immune system balance and maintaining healthy cellular processes. If you would like to try this modality for yourself, find a time below.