logoimage
Kristin Becker, ND
The Natural Path To Health

Based in scientific research and rooted in Natural Medicine

(651) 340-4145

The Natural Path to Health offers individualized treatment plans that:



Treatment Options & Services



Home Treatments:

Consult your health care practitioner before using these therapies.



What are Colonics?

Colonic hydrotherapy uses water, both as a solvent and as a stimulator of the contractile smooth muscle in the colon's walls, to gently purge or release the colon's contents of waste products. In the past, colonics have been referred to as "high enemas" because of their ability to stimulate, secondary to the water introduced into the sigmoid colon, the reflexive contraction of the ascending colon and cecum (located where the small intestine meets the large intestine in the right mid and lower abdomen).

When waste products are not effectively eliminated through the large intestine, they can linger too long, possibly causing "autointoxication" (the poisoning of one's own system through uneliminated toxins). This results in a wide variety of symptoms which may include aching joints, headaches, poor concentration, mood swings, PMS, lethargy, fatigue, etc. Many diseases may also be linked to inefficient waste elimination. Colonics can assist the body's innate healing ability, freeing up energy to be used elsewhere, by reducing the workload on the organs of elimination and detoxification, namely the colon and liver.

What to expect at your first visit
The colonic hydrotherapy machine is a closed system that is run under an absolute maximum pressure of 1.5 PSI. We use only disposable speculums and tubing in order to eliminate any possibility of contamination between patients.

As the recipient of the treatment, you will be lying comfortably on your back on the treatment table as the therapist administers the colonic. Your only job is to relax as much as possible and remember to breathe! The colonic is not painful but there will likely be some cramping as gas, water and solids move through, somewhat like what you would experience with diarrhea. Some people experience an emotional purging of sorts when they have this treatment, in addition to the physical purging of the colon's contents.

Some people complain of a slightly "toxic" feeling after their first treatment. This is most likely due to the toxic components of the waste products that can be reabsorbed into the bloodstream. To minimize these symptoms, it is recommend that the patient drink several glasses of water throughout the day, after the treatment. Generally, following subsequent treatments, people report feeling much better overall.

During the session, a full history will be taken, including a 24 hour diet recall, lifestyle habits and stool history. Bringing a record of one day's diet including amounts of foods and liquids would be helpful. Also inform us if you have any of the following conditions: active rectal bleeding, an acute episode of ulcerative colitis or other active bowel disease, fecal impaction, bowel perforation, pregnancy and severe hypertension.

What should i eat before/after the colonic?
Eat as normal, but it is best to have a small meal of protein, such as raw almonds before your colonic. Avoid eating anything heavy one hour before your treatment. If you tend to get light-headed, bring an electrolyte drink such as Recharge or Emergenc C powder to drink after the colonic.

How often should i have a colonic?
This will depend on your condition, ability to follow adjunctive treatment plans and how quickly you respond to the treatment. If you have a chronic condition that stems from poor colonic health or function, it is likely that a series of six to twelve treatments, one to two times per week, will be recommended. Like many therapies, one treatment will bring some relief, but in order to have a lasting improvement, generally more than one colonic is needed. After having a series of treatments you will know what it feels like for your body to more efficiently eliminate waste and subsequently increase its overall efficiency of detoxification.

Some patients may chose to come back after they have had a stressful period, after traveling or after straying from their healthy lifestyle and need help getting back on track. For most people, this may be approximately every six months to one year.

Back to Treatment Options



What is Homeopathy?

Homeopathy is a scientific method of cure, which follows laws based on far reaching holistic philosophy. It is a form of medicine established over 200 years ago by Dr Hahnemann, a German physician, who began to teach that the doctor should see your symptoms not as that which should be cured but rather as visible attempts by your body to heal itself. Homeopathy is conceived as a system to help your body cure itself.

The therapeutic use of homeopathic medicines is based on scientific experimentation and the principle of like cures like. That is, a medicine capable of producing certain effects when taken by a healthy person is capable of curing any illness, which manifests similar effects in a sick person.

From this foundation, it is clear to see that in homeopathy there are no treatments for disease but only medicines for people with diseases. For example, two people presenting to a homeopathic physician with arthritis will not get the same medicine because each person is individual in their symptoms. There are thousands of different medicines in homeopathy just as there are thousands of different kinds of people. In homeopathy, no two people are alike even if they have the same disease.

Homeopathy is a type of medicine, which respects the wisdom of your body and affects a cure from the inside out. Homeopathic medicines stimulate your body's vitality to initiate the healing process. A homeopathic medicine does not "override" the body's inherent attempts to heal itself, which makes it very safe. However, this is not to mean it is to be taken lightly or without proper prescription.

Homeopathy can be used to treat both acute and chronic disease. Chronic disease requires a more complete picture of the person and may take longer to affect a cure but both are effective. Homeopathy is especially effective for children as it is gentle and without dangerous side effects.

Homeopathy believes in a holistic, totalistic and individualistic approach to medicine. A homeopath does not give different medicines for different afflicted parts of body but rather gives one single remedy, which will cover the disturbance of the whole person. It is an individualized approach, which takes into account the totality of your physical, mental and emotional symptoms.

Homeopathy can act quickly or slowly but once it begins to act we do not give further medicine or interfere in any way with the process going on in your body as it heals itself. Some people may only get one dose of the medicine, which will carry them for years. Others may need re-dosing more frequently. Either way, homeopathy is one of the most cost effective and potent medicines available today.

Back to Treatment Options



Shiatsu

Shiatsu is a relaxing and effective body work treatment, developed in Japan from both acupressure and anma (Japanese massage). The goals of Shiatsu are to bring energy into balance through palpation of the meridians and to release stagnation, especially in joints, through stretching, rocking and massage. When energy is balanced and can flow freely, the body's natural healing power can work optimally.

The person receiving Shiatsu wears loose, comfortable clothing and lays on a padded mat on the floor. You are relaxed and passive, allowing the Shiatsu practitioner to stretch your muscles, rotate your joints and press along the paths of energy called meridians. The pressure will range from very light to very deep depending on your preference and the need of the body area. The mood is often quiet and meditative, although you are free to express yourself and create the atmosphere that is most comfortable to you. Shiatsu works on physical and emotional planes, please feel free to speak about any concerns, needs or experiences during the session. Feedback is always appreciated and can enhance your treatment.

I studied Zen Shiatsu for two years at the European Shiatsu Institute in Vienna, Austria. I have practiced Shiatsu since 1994. I have also been trained in classical massage and am certified by the Northwest School of Massage. I have additional training in Visceral Manipulation and Cranial-Sacral from the Upledger Institute.

Back to Treatment Options



Visceral Manipulation

Visceral Manipulation is a gentle hands-on therapy that works through the body's visceral system (the heart, liver, intestines and other internal organs) to locate and alleviate these abnormal points of tension throughout the body.

Visceral Manipulation employs specifically placed manual forces that work to encourage the normal mobility, tone and motion of the viscera and their connective tissues. Trained practitioners use the rhythmic motions of the visceral system to evaluate how abnormal forces interplay, overlap and affect the normal body forces at work. These gentle manipulations can potentially improve the functioning of individual organs, the systems the organs function within, and the structural integrity of the entire body.

Visceral Manipulation was developed by French Osteopath, Jean-Pierre Barral. At optimal health, the relationship between the organs (viscera) and structures of the body (muscles, membranes, fasciae and bones) remains stable despite the body's endless varieties of motion. But when one organ can't move in harmony with its surrounding viscera due to abnormal tone, adhesions or displacement, it works against all the body's organs and structures. This disharmony creates fixed, abnormal points of tension that the body is forced to move around. That chronic irritation, in turn, paves the way for disease and dysfunction.

For more information: click here

Back to Treatment Options