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Dr. Susy is practicing in OREGON now; please go to www.VillageDoc.info

Naturopathic Health & Healing
  
Is no longer

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SUSY MACSAY, NMD (AZ), ND (OR), DDS (Denmark), a national board certified and Arizona licensed NATUROPATHIC MEDICAL DOCTOR who graduated in 2007 from the accredited medical school, Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine, Tempe, AZ, USA - www.scnm.edu 

   My scope covers GENERAL AND FAMILY NATUROPATHIC CARE with a focus on
  • Lifestyle & Nutrition
  • Mind-Body Medicine
  • Herbs & Homeopathy
  • Acupuncture
  • CranioSacral Therapy 

   The intention is to rarely prescribe pharmaceutical meds, and then only when found absolutely necessary.  As a matter of fact, I'm willing to assist you in weaning off the meds that no longer serve you.
 

   NATUROPATHIC MEDICINE is always tailored to the individual patient.  It has been said that naturopathy is "whatever it takes" to get the patient back to health in both body, emotions, mind, and soul.  To be more specific, the different naturopathic modalities, or tools in my tool box, include, but are not limited to, acupuncture (specifically part of SCNM's education and AZ's naturopathic license), behavioral medicine and psychology, counseling, herbal medicine, homeopathy, minor surgery (AZ), nutrition, pharmaceutical drugs, and physical medicine, including hydrotherapy. 

For more information on Naturopathic Medicine, please go to our national website for AANP (American Association of Naturopathic Medicine)www.naturopathic.org

Naturopaths utilize technological screening methods to monitor treatment, and to educate around life style's influence on health. 

  • Blood tests are a good health screening tool, and they are also used to test for food allergies and sensitivities; 
  • urine tests a general screening tool, and very valuable in testing for heavy metals and other toxins;
  • saliva tests determine the true values of specifically the sex hormones and the stress hormones, since the way these tests are done reveals the daily cyclic pattern and not just a value at one single point in time, such as is the limitation with blood tests ;
  • and last but not least, we utilize various forms of imaging. 
Another part of our scope in AZ is intramuscular vitamin injections; nutritional and therapeutic IV's such as the "famous" Myers' Cocktail and other individualized vitamin/mineral combinations; oral and IV chelation for detoxification, and more.

   Being a certified YOGA INSTRUCTOR since 2001 with White Lotus of Santa Barbara, certified in CRANIOSACRAL THERAPY I & II since 1995 with the Upledger Institute of Florida, and having been trained extensively and certified in different types of ENERGY MEDICINE and HANDS ON HEALING, including Reiki, throughout the last 20+ years, these disciplines are very much shaping the way I look at health, and the way I treat you.

      A former DENTIST, DDS, from the Copenhagen Dental College of Denmark, I will be able to guide you when it comes to more natural and less harmfull ways of treating oral and dental issues.  It is actually advisable to recieve CRANIOSACRAL THERAPY prior to initiating orthodontic treatment, since it has been shown effective at aligning not only the oral cavity but even the teeth themselves.  TMJ, whiplash and headacheare other areas which can be treated very succesfully with this gentle method of physical manipulation and alignment,but the list of benefits for the body, mind and emotions is long, so please go to www.upledger.com for more details.  
 

Since I am in GENERAL PRACTICE I will treat you with a HOLISTIC MINDSET, whether you suffer from
  • allergies
  • eczema
  • asthma 
  • indigestion
  • intestinal dys-biosis
  • heart burn
  • back ache
  • arthritis
  • chronic fatigue
  • diabetes
  • over or under weight
  • high cholesterol
  • high blood pressure
  • OR SOMETHING ELSE - when you remove toxins, add nutrients, and support the whole being overall, you can heal many diseases that often are thought of as "life-long chronic illnesses"...but it does take a change of habits and life style, and lots of patience, and of course...though there is a good chance, there are never any guarantees

Nevertheless, I would like to mention SOME SPECIFIC AREAS OF INTEREST: 

CHILDREN, WOMEN AND FAMILY MEDICINE  

Having given natural birth to two beautiful and healthy children, one of which was a home birth with only the parents present, and having breastfed both and raised them with emphasis on "nature knows best", I am ready to assist you during this important journey.  Though not leading you through the birthing process itself, I will guide you through your pregnancy, including private pregnancy yoga classes, birth preparation with visualization and meditation, and after the birth assist you in the art of breast-feeding (a past member of La Leche League).  If you would love to become pregnant, but have infertility issues, please read the paragraph below on Hormone Balancing.

Many of your child's health problems later in life, whether it be ADD-ADHD , Otitis Media/ear infection, or maybe just a "stomach ache", have a multifactorial cause.  The family's life style, coupled with the different influences at school or daycare center, is the foundation for a child's health.  Food allergies and sensitivities often play a major role in the above mentioned cases, and it is paramount that this be taken into consideration before a treatment plan is finalized. 

BREASTFEEDING

A past member of LLL, La Leche League, the world's leading authority on breastfeeding, and adding personal experience from breastfeeding my own children, plus my expertise as a physician, I will prepare you for the sacred act it is to feed your baby with the very best of all: your breast-milk. 

It is important to be guided step by step, BEFORE you give birth, as well as during the process - especially during the very first days of breastfeeding, since this is when you lay the foundation for months to come. 

Good breastfeeding habits for mother and child are crucial, if you are to succeed.  Even though it is the most natural thing in the world, we seem to have lost this art in the maize of priorities in the Western world of today, but what could ever be more important than the health and well-being of your new-born child?

ADD-ADHD

5-10% of children in the United States have been diagnosed with some form of Attention Deficit Disorder, whether in it's pure form, dominated by hyperactivity, or a combination of the two.  The definition upon which the diagnosis is based is somewhat vague, and the diagnosis is unfortunately often given, and medication prescribed, even without a proper professional evaluation.  These pharmaceutical drugs can have some grave side effects, and a considerable amount of  children have very negative reactions to them.  These children could be helped with a more natural approach. 

Some health care providers claim that there is no direct correlation between what the children eat and the diagnosis and/or severity of ADD-ADHD, others have seen a strong correlation.  As a matter of fact, some children have experienced complete relief from symptoms, simply by having a blood test taken, which reveals what foods should be excluded from the diet, and then following through with that under the guidance of a professional. 

Most health care providers caring for children with ADD-ADHD agree, that the best treatment approach involves a broad spectrum of modalities, where the whole child and its environment needs to be examined and incorporated into the treatment plan.  (The diagnosis is not only given to children, but adults as well). 

One treatment modality, which I offer in my office, and which has proven to be very helpful, is CranioSacral Therapy - see above and the link provided for further information and detailed explanation of this gentle physical manipulation form.

GASTRO-INTESTINAL HEALTH and FOOD ALLERGIES

"Follow your gut!", we say.  We often sense and feel things "through" our stomach and gut.  If someone's presence or something is bothering us, we can get "a nervous stomach".  We can react with diarrhea or constipation depending on the stressor, the stress level, our personality and the circumstances.  Shortly, our feelings and emotions influence our digestive system.  Needless to say, also what we eat and drink has an impact on our gastro-intestinal tract, and many people know to stay off certain foods, if eating them produces heartburn, migraine or "an upset stomach".   Last, but not least, the amount of water we drink, and our exercise frequency and level is closely linked to the amount, quality and consistency or our bowel movements.

Fewer people are probably aware of the fact that 70-90% of our immune system is located in the gut (number depending of whom you talk to, individual differences, etc)!  A common cold can simply be caused by an imbalance in our intestinal environment.  The quality of our bacterial flora is extremely important to our health and well-being, and probiotics (capsules/tablets of bacteria) has become a very popular and helpful supplement.

Having lived with sensitivity/allergy to several foods for many years, I can guide you through the process of learning how to eat and live in a way that pays respect to your nutritional needs, but doesn't sacrifice the joy.  It is one thing when you discover sensitivities/allergies in yourself, another when you discover it in your children as well - it often happens in the reverse order, just as it did for me, and it can be challenging to handle motherhood and sensitivities simultaneously, but it is nevertheless possible.  My message is this: There is a way of not only "getting by" without, but actually "living happily" without.  It is a creative process of awareness, acceptance, elimination and adjustment, where keeping an open heart and mind can be very helpful.  

HORMONE BALANCING - THE MOST NATURAL APPROACH

Hormones and emotions are very closely connected.  Every woman knows that stress can "throw her period off" when it comes to timing, duration and quality.  Some will not get their period for a while, others will get it sooner than usual; some will bleed longer and more, others shorter and less.  Each woman is unique.  This is not an isolated event for women only; men's hormones need to be in balance too. 

It IS possible to balance the hormones WITHOUT adding synthetic or even so-called Bio-Idential Hormones, though the "natural hormones" can be very beneficial for people who do not respond to the even more natural and gentle approach of lifestyle, nutrition, etc.  A healthy balance in life style is required for healthy hormone balance.  Right relaxation, rest and sleep needs to go hand-in-hand with right activity and exercise.  A joyful and optimistic outlook on life, along with positive relationships and an inspiring work situation, is just as important as healthy habits and healthy foods.  You may be what you eat, but you are certainly also what you think.  Do we have to be "perfect" human beings, living a "perfect" life?  No, but we need to pay attention to who we really are, what our true needs are, and where we repeatedly compromise ourselves.  In order to change what is out of balance, we need be aware of our patterns.

Whole foods and so-called super foods, combined with Acupuncture, CranioSacral Therapy, Energy Medicine and Hands on Healing, gently, but sometimes rather rapidly actually, help the body re-gain a healthier hormonal balance.  Herbs and homeopathy have also been shown to be very beneficial, as have massage, yoga and meditation.  The results are mood stabilization, increased or balanced libido, healthy sexual performance, return of monthly menstrual cycles, increased fertility, reduction or elimination of hot flashes and other menopausal symptoms, increased energy level, enhanced endurance, increase in lean muscle mass, and so much more.  Good bye to imbalance and lack of function, hello to balance and rejuvenation!

TMJ, HEADACHE AND WHIPLASH

CranioSacral Thearpy can treat these problems in the most gentle and effective way.  Please go to www.upledger.com for much more information. 

VERY IMPORTANT: Headache can be caused by chemical intoxication, intracranial bleeding, tumors, and many other serious issues - if the headache is "the worst ever", persistently getting worse over the course of time, or if you otherwise have any alarming head symptoms and signs, you need to be examined by a specialst as soon as possible, or go to the ER. 

PHYSICAL INJURIES AND ATHLETIC PERFORMANCE

A former National Team 4-events gymnast, a dancer, yogini, and more, I have experienced many injuries, and always found natural non-invasive ways of healing.  As a gymnast I learned how to both optimize my training and perform at my best; always fine-tuning the psyche as well as the body. 

The methods I have applied with great success are: 

Nutrition and supplements, botanical medicine, homeopathy, yoga, breathing exercises/pranayama, visualization/meditation, qi gong, tai chi, contrast hydrotherapy, water exercises and swimming, bodywork (energy medicine and hands on healing, massage, and as always CranioSacral Therapy), acupuncture and Chinese herbs, and more. 

All of these methods work together in synergy, while healing and balancing the whole being. 

ANXIETY, DEPRESSION AND ADDICTION

It is human and natural to feel sad or anxious once in a while, especially when sad and disturbing things occur in our lives. When the feelings are felt, processed and released, the only remnant is a distant memory with no or little emotion attached to it.  If the disturbance is of major proportion and/or if we are not able to process and release the impact, we can become chronically anxious or depressed.  This state of un-easiness can be very difficult to bare, and often times we turn to something that will dull the feeling - food, alcohol, recreational and prescription drugs, etc.  

Also feeling bored, insignificant or without purpose can lead us to abuse and addiction - we look for an escape because things feel too dull, or too overwhelming and unbearable.  Then again, we might have found purpose, but something tells us we are not doing enough and not producing enough, so we start adding stimulants/drugs to enhance our ability to perform.

Life can be very challenging at times, no matter how positive and optimistic we are, and we can feel too overwhelmed to deal with things in a healthy way.  Unfortunately, once we begin to dull or pain with toxins, we have created a vicious cycle and a ticking bomb.  Not only are we not happy, but our body will also suffer from the constant stress, and we can become dis-eased.

I believe in the importance of conversation and counseling, where one becomes aware of one's own feelings, and thoughts, so they can be examined and dealt with in a natural and healthy way.  I also believe that the art of forgiveness is paramount to healing, and that healthy habits and healthy structure in one's life is a very important part of becoming mentally and emotionally stable. 

Of course there are a multitude of natural remedies and therapies to help treat the cause and the symptoms, but I firmly believe that one has to actively seek a change, as well as be open-minded and disciplined, in order to heal successfully.  I am here to help you get back on track and off to a good start.

CANCER TREATMENT - NATUROPATHIC ONCOLOGY 

I am very happy to be able to refer you to Naturopathic Specialists, LLC of Scottsdale, AZ.  The Drs Daniel Rubin, ND, FABNO, and Lise Alschuler, ND, FABNO are board certified in Naturopathic Oncology and highly experienced in integrative cancer therapy. 

Please, go to www.naturopathicspecialists.com   Naturopathic Oncology works in close collaboration and synergistically with Conventional Oncology by

1. Enhancing the beneficial effects of surgery, chemotherapy and radiation

2. Reducing trauma and even eliminating many of the side effects of these same conventional treaments mentioned, and finally

3. Reducing tumor growth and/or killing off cancerous tumor tissue.