Hi. I am a registered naturopathic doctor in private general practice with emphases on gastrointestinal disorders, mold illness and chronic infections. I was trained at the National College of Natural Medicine (Now NUNM) in Portland, Oregon; and participated in a year-long mentorship under Dr. Steven Sandberg-Lewis, studying and treating SIBO (small intestinal bacterial overgrowth). I also was blessed to have had the opportunity to mentor under Dr Allison Siebecker. She is an amazing researcher and naturopathic doctor. I credit most of my success to Doctors Sandberg-Lewis and Siebecker.
I utilize functional medicine principles have experience treating patients who have acid reflux, constipation, diarrhea, IBS, SIBO, ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease, diverticulitis, hiatal hernia syndrome, leaky gut syndrome, food sensitivities, allergies, asthma, diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, insomnia, anxiety, cognitive dysfunction, thyroid conditions, mold illness, MCAS and many other conditions. I utilize clinical nutrition and natural therapies and remedies to help my patients regain health and to stay healthy.
My ideal patient is one who is willing to make dietary and lifestyle changes, if necessary, to restore their health and vitality. The Chinese proverb, “Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime” is applicable to my practice. I provide my patients with the tools they need to live more healthfully in this world with increasing levels of toxic substances. I teach them to use things provided to us by nature, nutrients and other various natural treatments so that they can develop habits that are consistent with healthful living. Each patient decides how much they are willing to modify their lifestyle in order to maximize their vitality.
With permission, I assess each person’s physical, emotional and spiritual needs that are likely to be contributing to their health problem. I, then, determine where the imbalance likely began and if the patient is willing and ready, we will support that organ or system to enable their body to heal itself. Once we remove the obstacles to cure, the body heals itself. If I feel like the patient's need would be better addressed by another practitioner, I will refer them to someone else.
I treat people of all ages, but I find it the most rewarding to work with kids because if a child learns early in life how to live healthfully in this world, they will avoid a lot of health problems. Interestingly, the rest of the family often gets healthier by adopting some of the accommodations the parents are making for the pediatric patient.
I use the most gentle, down-to-earth therapies like clinical nutrition, herbal therapy, hot and cold water treatments, touching the earth, walking in a pine forest (if it is available), nutritional supplementation when necessary, castor oil packs and poultices. I draw up a timeline for most of my patients to help me determine what may have initiated their decline in health. It is not uncommon for a health problem to be preceded by a mental, emotional or spiritually stressful event. To bring about complete resolution of the problem and to prevent recurrence, we need to resolve the initiating stressor, either in the office or by referring you to someone who specializes in that area.
I look forward to partnering with you in your journey to health.
Sincerely,
Joan D. Waters, ND
To schedule an appointment, call 970-482-2010.
Dr Joan D Waters
Naturopathic doctor,
naturopathic functional medicine practitioner
Dr Waters is a certified Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration medical examiner. She is qualified to perform DOT (Department of Transportation) physicals to evaluate drivers for the safe operation of a commercial motor vehicle.
Each driver will be offered a handout outlining general naturopathic suggestions for maintaining your health while driving for a living.
