It may not be surprising that a person with significant and chronic childhood illnesses would end up becoming a doctor. You know, the old, “physician, heal thyself” thing.

But it may be less typical that person would eschew a traditional medical career and opt instead for working in “alternative” medicine as a Doctor of Naturopathy.

After all, the medical establishment specializes in chronic illness treatment, the kind young Holcomb Johnston had — fibromyalgia, IBS, severe asthma. She was, she says now   “surrounded” by doctors growing up.   Heavy-duty medicines like steroids, inhalers chock-full of chemicals and a lifetime of expensive medical care was what awaited her…until she found a naturopathic doctor, who through some recommendations (diet changes, detoxification, supplementation, lifestyle changes) healed her. It was enough to get Holcomb to change her career path from environmental policy work to becoming a naturopath herself. She notes wryly, “I had a thought that you probably can’t heal the planet until you first heal yourself.”

And we in Bozeman are all the better for that thought.

Johnston opened Sweetgrass Natural Medicine on Mendenhall just a few years ago, but the path to her door is already well-trod. With medical care costs sky-rocketing and a cultural shift towards all things organic and natural, more and more people, especially in health-conscious Bozeman, are looking for alternatives to standard medical practice.

Johnston is quick to emphasize that traditional western medicine has a place. “Don’t come to me with a broken leg,” she warns. But her patients do come to her with ailments ranging from chronic pain and digestive issues to thyroid complaints and weight issues. “Many of my patients come when conventional medicine hasn’t been able to help,” Johnston notes.

But before your left-brained conventional-medicine loving brain becomes quick to dismiss naturopathy as so much “new age” woo-woo, note these facts; all naturopaths are highly trained (four years at an accredited school at a doctorate level) must be licensed and pass two rounds of Board exams, and have a pre-med background consisting of things like organic chemistry, physics, biology, and psychology.

I sought out Dr. Johnston’s services for an (apparently) typical complaint — fatigue and sluggishness. Turns out, after some lengthy conversation and blood/saliva tests that my thyroid function was off — way off. A few tweaks to the medicine I was taking and I no longer felt like I had to go to bed every day at about 3pm. (I even tried to do it once and couldn’t’ even fall asleep!) I had other tests run to check for food allergies and adrenal function (results pending) and felt that all my concerns were not only heard, but dealt with in a way that offered up hope for change instead of the “same old, same old.”

Dr. Johnston says she loves this work; “I love helping people find their light again. I love watching people feel alive. So many people don’t walk around feeling vibrant; stress is a culprit, in many cases our food choices are horrific, or people become overly or improperly medicated. Naturopathy gets to the root of all these issues.”

People who come to see Dr. Johnston should be prepared to talk. An intake meeting is often an hour or more and covers the gamut from prior illnesses and current medicines to how you see the world and your place in it. She’s a great listener and asks great questions. What I liked most was the level of pure presence she brought to our initial meeting; I felt like she was really “there.”

After the initial consult, an individualized treatment plan is created and the client may have any of the following done:

Diagnostic Imaging
Food allergy/intolerance test
Blood work
Saliva test
Thyroid testing
Heavy metal testing
Gastrointestinal Panels
Cranial Sacral

Dr. Johnston says many of these diagnostic tools are overlooked by typical Western medicine. And yes, meditation, yoga, and Qi gong may also be prescribed. Her work pulls from multiple healing philosophies include Chinese medicine, Ayurveda, homeopathic remedies, and botanical medicine herbs. “My tool box is vast,” she says with a smile.

Dr. Johnston’s main message is that she doesn’t think we have to settle for feeling less than optimal health. “Symptoms are just symptoms, “she emphasizes. “We need to get to the root.”

If your health needs a good jump-start, try a visit to Dr. Johnston. She may be just what the doctor ordered.

Dr. Holcomb Johnston, N.D.
Sweetgrass Natural Medicine
585-9113
438 East Mendenhall

Liz Harrison is an alternative health and wellness junkie who lives in Bozeman. This column explores the many alternative wellness offerings and practitioners in the Gallatin Valley. Suggestions, raves and rants may be sent to wellnessepicurean@gmail.com