Natural Medicine with Tony Serna
Tony Serna
Naturopathic Doctor
Dr. Tony Serna is a naturopathic doctor that has studied over 7 different types of natural medicine. Dr. Serna sought out a degree in natural medicine because he believes that there is another alternative to all of the drugs that are prescribed to so many people each and every day. He watched as his close friends and family used pharmaceuticals much too often, making it a lifestyle rather than a temporary treatment.
Dr. Serna believes that the truth about medicine lies in
Genesis 1:29, “Then God said, ‘I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food.' ”
In this bible verse, God explains that he has provided humans with all that they will ever need (in order) to be sustained, to live how He had intended them to. Dr. Serna lives according to this verse by choosing and recommending medicine that is created from elements that can be found in nature, without the need to add chemicals. Currently, only 21 out of the 50 US states allow practicing naturopathic doctors.
Natural medicine is the overall umbrella of all medicines that are not drug-related. Dr. Serna says that while natural medicine is typically called “alternative medicine,” it is actually traditional medicine. This is because the original medicine created, at the beginning of time, did not include synthetics or chemical modifications. As a result, Dr. Serna describes pharmaceutical drugs as the true alternative, because they were created after natural medicine. Unlike medicines prescribed by allopathic doctors, natural medicines are not always sold over-the-counter and do not always require a prescription. There are numerous types of natural medicine, which include: herbal, homeopathic, Chinese (oriental), Indian, Indigenous, Acupuncture, and Cryotherapy. To explain herbal medicine more specifically, Dr. Serna likes to go back to the roots and dissect some quotes from Hippocrates, the founder of medicine.
Hippocrates was a Greek physician during 400 BC who shared many beliefs similar to those of modern, natural doctors. Dr. Serna uses some of the following quotes to better explain the truth about medicine through the eyes of Hippocrates.
| Hippocrates's Quotes | Dr. Serna's Translation |
|---|---|
| “Let food be thy medicine, and let medicine be thy food.” | Simply put, we must watch what we eat. More nutritious foods offer the benefits and vitamins necessary to maintain good health. |
| “Everything in excess is opposed to nature.” | Our bodies can only endure so much, we must know our limits. This is when doctors come in to assist us. |
| “To do nothing is sometimes a good remedy.” | At times, it is best for us to do little to nothing during the healing process. |
According to Dr. Serna, these three quotes by Hippocrates play a lot into natural medicine. However, Dr. Serna believes that there is also a dire time and a place for allopathic drugs. For example, a person who has gotten into a car wreck and needs immediate relief may require the use of a strong drug, such as one that would help with tolerating the pain. Overall, allopathic drugs do have a place, but should not be used as a lifestyle or as prevention.
Herbal medicine and homeopathic medicine are two branches of natural medicine that both take numerous factors into account. Before prescribing patients with any medicines, naturopathic doctors consider the patient’s age, height, weight, ethnicity, family history, allergies, etc. Then, naturopathic doctors decide on an extraction source (plants, animals, rock minerals, etc.) and delivery method (transdermal, injection, oral, topical, etc.).
Herbal Medicine: Prepared from plants, including most of the world's traditional remedies for disease.
Homeopathic Medicine: Uses natural substances prepared in a special way and used most often in very small amounts to restore health.
Dr. Serna believes that a naturopathic doctor can certainly help any disorder. However, like allopathic doctors, naturopathic doctors are limited on research and the known data on certain illnesses, such as cancer. Sometimes a combination of both emotional and biological healing must be done. Dr. Serna gives the example of mental disorder treatments. A person suffering from depression may find it difficult to express their emotions effectively. As a result, they may benefit from natural medicine that helps them reduce their stress and overwhelming feelings so that they can calmly and comfortably speak to a professional for further assistance. A person may visit a naturopathic doctor for various reasons, some including stress, migraine, nutrition deficiencies, and many more.
"We were not created to rely on pills our entire life."
- Dr. Tony Serna
Dr. Serna recommends that natural medicine only be used as a preventative when you feel sickness coming on or have seasonal allergies that you know will soon appear. While some patients may rely on natural medicines for longer periods of time than others, Dr. Serna’s goal with any patient is to help them come off of the medicine as soon as they can. Dr. Serna aims to help people recover more quickly through the use of natural medicine so that they are soon able to live free of any medicinal use.
Natural medicines can produce side effects due to an allergic reaction to the combination of two or more herbs in one medicine. Dr. Serna believes that there are more side effects from allopathic (mainstream) drugs due to the introduction or foreign substances into the body. Common ingredients used in natural medicines - apples, lavender, eucalyptus, turmeric - are all extracted by using distilled water, alcohol, and other natural liquids. These are all ingredients that the human body is already familiar with and will most likely experience a less drastic reaction, if any at all. The Institute for Integrative Nutrition (IIN) is a reliable online source for those interested in researching natural medicine. IIN offers health coaching programs for those looking to pursue a degree in the field of natural medicine.
Dr. Serna’s biggest piece of advice for someone who is interested in incorporating natural medicines into their life is to find a naturopathic doctor that you are comfortable with. It is best to find a professional who you trust and feel that you can be open with when it comes to your health history and current health goals. Dr. Serna says that once you begin taking natural medicine, it is important to complete the whole “program.” As with any other medicine, natural medicine cannot heal overnight and requires patience and sometimes modifications. It is important that we remember to adapt our lifestyle to the seasons and our changing environment. For example, fruits and vegetables each have different seasons during which they are of the highest quality. Overall, we are all biologically unique and require different remedies and resources to better our quality of life.
VITALITY
