The natural world offers a variety of integrative healing options. Naturopathy is an eclectic and comprehensive integrative medical system that focuses on using natural remedies to prevent illness, enhance wellbeing and promote the body’s innate ability to heal and maintain itself. Naturopathic physicians offer several treatment modalities, including diet and lifestyle advice, and using plants and minerals to promote good health. Animal-assisted therapies also have resulted in impressive outcomes for numerous health challenges. In this episode, learn how natural remedies can effectively supplement allopathic medical treatment, including surgery and drugs, and thereby help heal mind, body and spirit.

LIsten: 12-4-09: The Healing Power of Nature: Plants, Minerals, Animals and More Guests: Helen Healy, ND and Bill Benda, MD

Helen Healy, ND

Helen Healy received her B.A. in biopsychology from Vassar College in 1977. She earned her N.D. degree from the National College of Naturopathic Medicine and was licensed in Oregon in 1983. Since 1984, she has had a wholistic practice at Wellspring Naturopathic Clinic in St. Paul, MN. Dr. Healy lectures on nutrition, botanical medicine, and specific health issues. Helen is one of the founding members of the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians (AANP), is immediate Past President of the Minnesota Association of Naturopathic Physicians (MNANP), is the Speaker of the House of Delegates to the AANP, and is a member of the Oncology Association of Naturopathic Physicians. Dr. Healy is a community based faculty member of the University of Minnesota Medical School, in which medical students and residents come to observe her in her clinic as part of their rotation within the Spirituality and Healing program.

Bill Benda, MD

Bill Benda MD served as Director of Emergency Medical Services at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center before entering the residential fellowship in the Program in Integrative Medicine at the University of Arizona College of Medicine. He is an NCCAM principal investigator researching the effects of equine-assisted therapy on children with cerebral palsy, and serves on the editorial board of several peer-reviewed journals. His is also the first MD elected to the Board of Directors of the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians. Dr. Benda is currently hosting invitational conferences at the Esalen Institute exploring the philosophical infrastructure of the current humanistic medicine paradigm.