Finding alternative healthcare in the Twin Cities, MN area is extremely easy. Minnesota has legal protection for both unlicensed practitioners and the consumers who wish to consult them. The industry that provides natural health and nutrition Woodbury, MN is alive and well. This upscale residential suburb of Minneapolis - Saint Paul is near many alternative clinics and holistic practitioners.

Minnesota is home to both conventional and alternative healthcare entities. Today many medical doctors are embracing holistic methods not covered by the American Medial Association's standards of care. It's not uncommon to find clinics headed by a MD and staffed also by a homeopath, a chiropractor, a Chinese herbalist, an acupuncturist, a massage therapist, and a dietitian.

Holistic care addresses illness and its consequences in a 'whole body' approach. Whereas conventional care treats symptoms with prescription medicine, the holistic practitioner seeks the underlying cause of disorders and tries to correct them. In this way, the body heals itself as its balance and functionality are restored. Although pharmaceuticals may be used in treatment, they are usually a last resort, and chronic use of drugs is never seen as a solution.

Many authorities feel that only medical doctors licensed by the AMA should counsel people on healthcare matters. There is also the threat of competition as more and more consumers want to participate in their own healing and quality of life rather than relying on a doctor's decision. However, consumer pressure has led to opposition to attempts to silence alternative practitioners, nutritional counselors, and the supplement industry.

An organization that can direct consumers to alternative healthcare providers is the Association of Naturopathic Physicians, a non-profit based in the Twin Cities, MN. A naturopath is the alternative world's version of a medical doctor; a naturopath has completed similar training in anatomy and physiology, without the focus on pharmaceutical drugs and surgery as a form of treatment. The Association works to raise public awareness of alternative methods, help practitioners succeed, and direct consumers to healthcare providers.

The Minnesota Natural Health Coalition, based in Saint Paul, was formed to help ensure consumer access to integrative and alternative care. This group worked to get the Alternative Health Care Freedom of Access Act of 2000 through the state legislature. This law enables unlicensed caregivers and counselors to practice legally and guarantees consumer freedom of choice in medical care. The Coalition offer information to the public about wellness issues and maintain a list of holistic doctors and dentists.

Many clinics offer integrative services, which combine traditional healing methods with the latest scientific research and developments. A clinic may be headed by a licensed medical doctor, with homeopaths, herbalists, massage therapists, acupuncturists, chiropractors, and dietitians on staff. This satisfies many insurance regulations and may offer reassurance to consumers new to alternative methods.

'Holistic' means 'whole body' and includes physical, mental, and spiritual aspects of well-being. Restoring natural balance is the goal of treatment, enabling the body to heal itself. Conventional medical practices, such as pharmaceuticals and surgery, are used as 'last resort' measures. Chronic illness and living on medication is not seen as acceptable. To learn more, contact some of the organizations and care providers in the Woodbury area.