Services at Yellowstone Naturopathic Clinic

We are not currently offering nutrition services, but we are interviewing candidates and hope to resume as soon as possible.  In the meantime, please feel free to discuss your dietary concerns with your Naturopathic Physician.

Oncology Care

Cancer continues to be on the rise in our country in spite of massive funding from both the federal and private sectors.  Due to the complexity of cancer, we are realizing that the treatment of cancer demands more than current conventional options have to offer.  YNC is teaming up with local Oncologists and other health care practitioners to develop a comprehensive integrative approach to cancer care.  This program will be unique in many ways.  It is one of a few sites in the country that bring together various health care practitioners who are committed to educating each other and working as a team for the benefit of the patient.  This will transfer, over time, into seamless cancer care where all practitioners communicate and are aware of your various treatment plans.  We will provide tools for you, the patient, to keep track of your treatments and actively participate in choosing the combination of therapies utilized.  This will lead to an individualized program suited to your needs.   

The following questions can be answered by your Naturopathic Physician:

 ü  Everyone seems to have a product that they feel will help me, how do I know what to take?

 ü How do I improve the effect of my radiation and chemotherapy treatments yet decrease the side effects and long term toxicities? 

 ü Are these therapies congruent with my oncologist’s goals?

 ü I have completed my conventional therapies, is there anything else I can do?

 ü What foods will benefit me the most?

 ü Conventional medicine has no options for me at this point, what else can be done?

 When should you schedule a visit?

 The ideal scenario is to see a naturopathic physician prior to starting conventional therapies.  Your treatment plan will be designed to support your body, mind and spirit through each stage by protecting organs at risk, decreasing side effects and increasing the efficacy of the conventional therapies.

 Once you have completed conventional therapies you will be guided through various treatment options to decrease the risk of recurrence and rebuild your body.

 What types of cancer patients do Naturopathic Physicians see? 

1. Individuals diagnosed with cancer who are actively receiving conventional medicine (surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, etc.)
2. Individuals diagnosed with cancer that are not eligible for conventional medicine or have been thoroughly educated and have chosen not to receive chemotherapy or radiation.
3. Individuals who have completed conventional regimens and are looking for preventative measures and/or support to regain strength and vitality post treatment, i.e. to decrease the risk of recurrence.
4. Individuals who have a genetic predisposition to cancer or strong family history of cancer and are looking for ways to decrease their risk.

 What types of treatments (naturopathic modalities) should I expect to be incorporated into my overall plan?

• Botanical medicine

• Homeopathy

• Diet and Lifestyle

• Specific nutrients for each level of conventional care (surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, hormone therapy)

• Hydrotherapy

• Nutritional IV’s

• Detoxification protocols

• Cranial Sacral

• Medicinal spa treatments

MESOTHERAPY – TREATMENT FOR PAIN, CELLULITE AND AGING SKIN

 Deborah Angersbach, ND, DC  

Mesotherapy was developed in France for the treatment of sports injuries and pain management.  With time it was also found to be effective in the treatment of cellulite as well as for a non-surgical “face lift” called the MesoGlow.  Mesotherapy has been practiced in France for 50 years and is considered to be mainstream medicine practiced by more than 16,000 licensed practitioners.

A Mesotherapy treatment consists of injecting medicine intracutaneously – that is, a needle penetrates only 4 millimeters into the skin – over the area of pain.  Studies have shown that the more superficial the injection, the longer the solution stays in the area, continuing to penetrate to deeper tissues.  In this way the skin acts as a time-release mechanism for medicine to get to the injured tissue. 

Solutions used in traditional Mesotherapy include a local anesthetic, either procaine or lidocaine, a vasodilator such as melilotus, and a multivitamin.  Additional substances can be added as needed: salmon calcitonin for bone spurs or tissue degeneration, magnesium for muscle spasm, hyaluronic acid for the MesoGlow, Hyaluronidase for cellulite treatment, and homeopathics for trauma.  In addition to being an anesthetic, procaine has vasodilatory properties (increases blood flow and therefore increases healing) and breaks down into nutritive substances in the tissue.   

Mesotherapy for Pain: Indications are for acute sprain/strain; muscle spasm; chronic pain; migraine headache, post-surgical pain; arthritis; spinal pain not adequately treated with conventional medicine; neuropathic pain; Achilles tendonitis and tennis elbow.  Treatments are scheduled 1 time per week for 1-6 visits.  Treatment length depends on the severity of the condition, although often one treatment is sufficient.

 Cellulite: Mesotherapy for cellulite treatment has been successfully practiced in France for 40 years.  Cellulite is a hypertrophic connective tissue change that has more to do with fibrotic tissue formation than fat accumulation.  Mesotherapy treats the fibrotic tissue, reducing or eliminating the “bunching” of the subcutaneous fat.  Cellulite treatment works best on healthy, non-obese patients with Stage 1 or 2 cellulite.  Treatment is generally one time per week for 10 weeks.

 MesoGlow: Cosmetic Mesotherapy, or MesoGlow, is anti-aging medicine for the skin.  It is used on the face, neck and hands nourishing and rejuvenating the skin by increasing microcirculation.  Hyaluronic acid is a naturally occurring substance that maintains tissue hydration and decreases as we age.  For the MesoGlow, hyaluronic acid is added to the base solution to help smooth fine lines and plump the skin.  A Mesoglow is done one time per week for 3 weeks, then every other week for one month.  Effects last approximately 4 months.

 It should be noted that what has been described here, and what we are doing at Yellowstone Naturopathic Clinic, is traditional Mesotherapy as it has been practiced in France for 50 years.  The American Society of Aesthetics and Mesotherapy (ASAM) is an organization devoted to cosmetic procedures described as “mesotherapy”.  Unfortunately, their procedures bear little resemblance to true Mesotherapy and the French Mesotherapy Society has denounced ASAM’s use of the term “mesotherapy” and asked them not to use it.  Hopefully, this will help avoid confusion between true Mesotherapy and American cosmetic mesotherapy.

Regenerative Injection Therapy (Prolotherapy)

 Deborah Angersbach, ND, DC

 Chronic musculoskeletal pain is the number one cause of chronic disability in America and the leading reason for patient visits to physicians.  Treating musculoskeletal pain can be difficult.  Conventional treatment options are at times insufficient to restore function and reduce pain.  Physical therapy, manipulation, drug treatment, corticosteroid injections and surgery can be beneficial in certain circumstances.  When they are not successful, however, patients are often left without options. 

 Regenerative Injection Therapy (RIT), also known as Prolotherapy is a treatment for joint pain that has been studied and practiced by physicians since the 1950’s.   RIT is performed by orthopedic, osteopathic and naturopathic medical doctors.  Many studies have been done on RIT with more than 500,000 patients studied.  With time, knowledge of RIT has increased and it is currently being practiced at Yale University Hospital, The Mayo Clinic in Rochester, and Scripps Institute in California. The American Academy of Pain Management endorses RIT for chronic unresolved musculoskeletal pain.

 RIT gives ligaments and cartilage a second chance at healing and is often described as “anti-aging medicine” for the joints.  When a joint is injured ligaments and tendon insertions are “strained”.  This causes an inflammatory response, a critical phase of healing.  Inflammation at a site of injury clears dead cells, promotes capillary growth and restores damaged tissue.  However, there is the misconception that with time sprains and strains will heal completely.  In fact, post-injury healing of ligaments and tendons is only 50-70% of pre-injury strength.  When ligaments are lax, joints become unstable and degenerative changes occur which cause osteoarthritis.  For example, if one of the ligaments in the knee were strained, the knee joint is predisposed to early onset of arthritis.  Because RIT gives the ligament and cartilage a second chance and healing, the ligament is strengthened, the joint is stabilized and the course of arthritis is reversed.

 Commonly, NSAIDS or cortisone shots are used for joint injuries.  These do reduce inflammation, but studies show that NSAIDS interfere with bone and healing of injured tissues.  Cortisone injections also cause an inferior healing response resulting in joint instability and degeneration if used repeatedly.  In comparison, RIT triggers the body’s natural healing response allowing for regeneration of damaged tissue. 

 RIT is defined as: “tissue regeneration and repair leading to restoration of elasticity, tensile strength, increased mass and greater load bearing capacity of the affected connective tissue.”

 RIT treats post-traumatic degenerative, overuse and painful conditions of the musculoskeletal system related to pathology of the connective tissue (ligaments and cartilage).  Indications for use are: chronic pain from ligaments or tendons secondary to sprains or strains; osteoarthritis of the spine, hips, knees, shoulders, hands, wrists, ankles and feet; overuse injuries known as “Repetitive Motion Disorders”; rotator cuff injuries; chronic postural pain of the spine; spinal dysfunctions that improve only temporarily with manipulation; sacroiliac pain secondary to ligamentous instability; and intolerance to NSAIDS, steroids or opiates.  RIT may be the treatment of choice if the patient fails to improve with physical therapy, manipulation, steroid injection, surgical intervention, or if these treatments are contraindicated.

 To determine if a person is a candidate for RIT a complete history and physical exam are done along with laboratory tests and x-rays as needed.  The joint is evaluated and the site of degeneration is determined.  If there are no contraindications, a solution of dextrose, procaine, B12 and glucosamine sulfate is introduced to the ligament or the joint.  Dextrose is a type of sugar and stimulates the healing response.  Procaine is an anesthetic that increases circulation and breaks down into nutritive substances in the tissues.  B12 is nutritive to all tissues and glucosamine sulfate is needed for building cartilage and connective tissue. The healing cascade is launched leading to the deposition of new, better organized collagen and restoration of tissue health and function.  An average patient requires 3 treatments spaced one month apart.  After treatment the patient is instructed to continue gentle exercise and stretching and avoid anti-inflammatory medications.  Optimizing nutrition and hydration are extremely helpful. Contraindications to RIT include: allergy to procaine, novacaine or dextrose; acute tendonitis or other acute condition; rheumatoid arthritis; use of the medications Coumadin, warfarin, Plavix; other bleeding disorder; uncontrolled diabetes, and needle phobia.  Smokers, those over 85 years old, and patients with Fibromyalgia or diseases associated with poor tissue healing may have less than optimal responses.  These people may benefit from a course of nutritional repletion prior to treatment with RIT.

 Overall, clinical success rates for RIT are 85% for resolution of chronic pain and dysfunction.  This makes RIT a treatment with great potential benefit for many.  Please contact Dr. Deborah Angersbach at YNC (406) 259-5096 for more information or to schedule an appointment for evaluation.

MEDGEM

Yellowstone Naturopathic Clinic is pleased to announce that it now offers a new program that can identify an individual’s unique daily caloric need, in order to better assist with food choices towards a healthy lifestyle.   

HOW IT WORKS:

 Step One:

Everyone has their own particular resting energy expenditure, which is the amount of energy (in calories) used each day by your body while at rest.  At the clinic, we can now easily calculate through simple breathing test done in our office, what your resting energy expenditure is.  A few body measurements are also taken at this time, along with your height and weight. 

       Step Two:

Next, you will have a 30 to 45-minute visit with a Naturopathic Physician, who will take the information obtained above, and with your physician’s recommendations, will calculate your total energy expenditure, along with your weight loss goals to get a total number of calories for you to eat each day to reach your goal.  Depending upon the type of diet recommended, you will also get a listing of foods that are particularly good for you for your specific health condition.  Dietary and meal planning resources are also provided at this visit.  A list of computer-based resources will also be provided, which include websites where you can track your dietary each day, along with your daily output of calories, to see how you are doing daily.

 Step Three:

We recommend a follow-up visit 3 to 4 weeks after you start the program, to review your progress, and assess your nutritional intake.

 Step Four:

Celebrate!  Because you are able to know exactly how many calories you need to eat in a day, in conjunction with a set exercise routine to burn calories, you can track your progress, as well as eating a healthy diet recommended especially for you.

Yellowstone Naturopathic Clinic
720 N. 30th St.
Billings, MT 59101
PHONE 406·259·5096/FAX 406·248·5655

ync@180com.net

Dispensary
406·254·9682

dispensary@yncnaturally.com