Jessie Miller, ND-Foundations Family Medicine
Are you wanting more from your doctor?
Are you tired of getting less than five minutes of their time to cover a challenge that you can barely understand, and then walk out wondering if the medication they prescribed will even help? Or possibly hurt?
Some of these things are what bring individuals to medical providers and Naturopathic doctors like Dr. Jessie. Her office here in Lakewood, CO is busy with families that are looking for another approach to their health.
Harmonizing Your Health With Nature
More and more research is coming forward to support natural remedies that bring us back in touch with our natural environment. No, our natural environment is not concrete and cars!
Studies are finding when individuals spend more time in nature, they have higher feelings of wellbeing, and lower amounts of stress. This is also true when we spend time with others and in community.
While in high school, a young and determined Jessie was able to shadow an orthopedic surgeon and see value in medical interventions. The flip side of this came when she worked for a Chinese Acupuncturist and Herbalist during her undergrad at CU Boulder.
It was at this point that she started asking different questions, and saw the unique perspectives of alternative medical approaches, which are based on natural elements and approaching the body as a whole.
Her interest began to expand outside of traditional western medical practices when she started exploring the idea of, what is the root cause of disease. In this search she found her calling in Naturopathic Medicine.
What is Naturopathy?
It’s no surprise that Dr. Jessie found her alma mater at Bastyr University during her search, the leading Naturopathic medical school. During her 5 years here, she learned the base foundation of Naturopathic
Medicine is in both prevention and the cause of disease.
There are 6 Principles of Naturopathic Medicine that Dr. Jessie outlines on her website. They are:
1. The Healing Power of Nature
2. Identify and Treat the Causes
3. First Do No Harm
4. Doctor As Teacher
5. Treat the Whole Person
6. Prevention
Understanding these six principles helps you gain a better understanding of how Dr. Jessie practices. When you come into her office, you will be seen as a whole person, rather than a few symptoms.
The symptoms that you are experiencing are considered and evaluated, but what came before them, the “root cause” or “obstacle to heal”, is what Dr. Jessie will uncover. This allows for the most natural way to approach the cause, not just cover the symptom.
Physical exam, basic and advanced lab work in office can be done with Dr. Jessie to learn as much as possible about your concerns and to ensure that the appropriate treatments and care are applied. This can involve diet, lifestyle interventions, supplements, herbal remedies, physical medicine, and more. Evaluation of the medications that you are on can be assessed as well, so the care you’re receiving is as comprehensive as possible.
It is truly bridging a gap between conventional and holistic medicine.
The key piece in much of this is that in naturopathy, the goal is to use as little intervention as possible. Part of “do no harm” is to take time with evaluation and any subsequent action or prescription. Making sure the science being used is evidence-based supports this principle as well.
Naturopathy As A Way of Living
When you’re a practicing doctor of this philosophy, taking in the whole person is true in every sense. To be an effective practitioner, one must practice what one teaches.
The whole of Dr. Jessie’s life is a living practice of naturopathy. From her backyard garden, to the foods that nourish her and give her the energy to keep up with her kids, to the cocktail that she enjoys on occasion.
Yes, you read that right. Nature has given us some of the most wonderful medicine. Understanding its power and knowing when it’s ok or not to use the many forms is a great discipline for any provider. Dr. Jessie truly believes in balance and enjoying life!
A way for Dr. Jessie to rejuvenate herself is being out in nature, for a hike, exploring, and camping. Bringing nature to the kitchen is an obvious place for Dr. Jessie to connect with nature when she isn’t available to be out in it. The foods she loves best are the ones that bring the most comfort.
That can be a new exploration of mac and cheese, a nutritionally dense Buddha Bowl with sweet potatoes, or a hearty bowl of soup and homemade bread.
This may seem like an idyllic life, and in many ways it is when a person is living in alignment with their core beliefs. That doesn’t mean that Dr. Jessie doesn’t get pulled into stress and frustration.
Like her practice, when this shows up she looks to the cause of the stress and imbalance. In looking at it this way, the symptoms are managed easily with breathing exercises, movement, good foods, and the time to come to her center so she can see the challenge clearly. The same things she teachers her patients everyday.
When it can’t be seen, just like in practice, she will look to others with more experience or the ability to see the situation from another perspective to support the challenge. Working with various providers and specialists not only supports her personally, it supports her clients as well.
A Little More About Foundations Family Medicine
I’ve spoken in a way that makes you think that Dr. Jessie only works with “YOU” as an individual. While this is true, her passion is focusing on the family unit. Specializing in women’s care, pediatrics, and digestive health, Dr. Jessie is able to round out her care for everyone concerned.
When this approach to the body and healing is applied, it typically creates a shift for everyone, not just the one person coming into the office. When clients change their diets to support their healing, it helps to have the whole family on board.
As patients have healed with Dr. Jessie, many have seen the value in having her as more of a main provider, which also created the demand for annual visits. She truly offers comprehensive care that you expect from your traditional western physician.
If you’d like to learn more about Dr. Jessie, you can visit her website at www.drjessiemiller.com . She offers free 15min consults which can be booked by clicking on the “Book an appt tab” Here you can talk with her directly, and get your questions answered about whether or not Naturopathic Medicine is the right choice for you. She is also on IG @foundationsfamilymedicine and FB @FoundationsFamilyMedicineND
Thank you for taking the time to learn about Dr. Jessie in the Women In Business Series. Are you a woman in the Lakewood and Littleton area of Colorado that owns a small business? Would you like to be featured? I’m always looking for great entrepreneurs that are willing to share with others what gets them going, fills their cup, and makes them laugh out loud. Fill out this submission form, and I’ll be in touch!
Until next week!!
Cheers!
~Kim
This peek into Kim’s world was brought to you by Emily Kamala. Emily is a freelance writer and life coach who loves to share stories, write blogs, and experience life so fully she has to bring it to life on the page. If you’re interested in reading more of her work, you can visit: www.EmilyKamala.com
Kim Morgan has brought her passion for connecting and telling stories through photography to life. Her ability to put you and your family at ease is so palpable you don’t even realize she’s behind the camera getting those precious moments for you to carry with you many years later. She lives in Colorado with her husband, son, and dog, where they enjoy exploring the mountains and laughing at every opportunity. Her website is KWDesignsPhotography.com to see her amazing work and set up your session!