DR. RACHEL STRICKER, a naturopathic physician, recently joined the Battle Ground Healing Arts offices in Old Town Battle Ground. Stricker’s holistic practice emphasizes the whole person, including a patient’s physical, mental and emotional well-being.
It’s the credo of every doctor: First, do no harm.
But for naturopathic physicians like Dr. Rachel Stricker, who recently joined the Battle Ground Healing Arts practice in Old Town Battle Ground, “doing no harm” is just the beginning of a long, empowering process meant to heal a person’s physical, emotional and spiritual self.
“In our culture we are always in a hurry, always looking for that quick fix,” Stricker says. “But with naturopathic medicine, healing is work. The patient has to be active in their treatment. True healing takes time and effort.”
When it comes to health care, most of us are used to the allopathic model, which goes something like this: Go to a medical doctor (MD), get a diagnosis, take a prescription, see a specialist, have surgery, take another prescription. This model focuses on the symptoms associated with an ailment instead of the root cause. By comparison, naturopathic doctors (NDs) rely on symptoms as a sort of road map to the real disease inside the body.
Often, the root cause of an ailment is far-removed from the symptom itself. For instance, Stricker says, if a patient presents with digestion problems, she might look at hormonal imbalance as a root cause.
In its rawest form, naturopathic medicine is about respecting the body’s ability to heal itself. When diagnosing the root cause of an ailment, NDs take every aspect of an individual’s makeup — physical, emotional and spiritual — into account. For people used to the allopathic medicine model, a first visit to an ND might seem extraordinary.
“It’s definitely different,” Stricker says of her intake process versus a visit to an MD. “You can expect to be with me for 90 minutes to two hours during that first visit,” Stricker says. “The intake process is very, very thorough. I want to look at everything to get to that root cause.”
Because naturopathy emphasizes things like nutritional medicine — the addition or elimination of certain foods from the diet — and stress relieving exercises such as meditation and yoga, patients must take an active part in their own healing.
“My style of practice is about empowering and educating patients and creating something I like to call sustainable wellness,” Stricker says. “My (patients) take an active part in their health and in feeling their best.”
From A to W: Doctor leaves Arizona practice, forges new path in Washington
Originally set on becoming a clinical psychiatrist, Stricker, 29, has always had a passion for healing others. She earned her bachelor of science degrees in psychology and gender and diversity studies and became a massage therapist, nutritionist and registered yoga teacher.
In 2013, Stricker earned her medical degree from the Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine and become the wellness director at a chronic pain clinic in Tempe, Ariz. Equipped with a battery of holistic healing methods, Stricker helped patients at the chronic pain clinic – many of whom had been taking high doses of opioids on a daily basis – use natural means to control their pain and recover from the side effects associated with taking addictive pharmaceuticals.
The work was rewarding, but Stricker, a native of rural Ohio, longed to get away from the dry desert. When she discovered that Dr. Jill Stansbury, a respected naturopath and teacher, was looking for a doctor to join her Battle Ground Healing Arts practice, Stricker made the move.
Stricker and her husband, Robert, along with the couple’s 2-year-old son, Solomon, moved to Beaverton, OR., in early November. Stricker splits her time between the Battle Ground clinic, which offers a full range of family medicine services, and the Aspen Grove Wellness clinic in Beaverton.
She sees mainly adult patients at the Battle Ground clinic, is able to treat chronic conditions such as diabetes or autoimmune disorders, as well as acute or urgent conditions like colds and flus. At the Beaverton practice, she switches gears and works with pediatric patients.
“I like the variety,” Stricker says. “And I like the rural, small-town feel of Battle Ground. It reminds me of my hometown. My husband and I are outdoorsy, so this is a great area for us.”
January Jumpstart: Stricker focuses on community education and outreach
Even though she’s been practicing in Battle Ground for just a few weeks, Stricker has already reached out to the Battle Ground Community Education program and planned low-cost, high-benefit community classes for the month of January.
“To me, this (being a doctor) is about meeting and serving the community’s needs,” Stricker says. “I think community education is so important.”
The doctor, in conjunction with Battle Ground Community Education, a department of the Battle Ground Public Schools District, will offer a variety of community education classes in January, including:
Yoga for Veterans and First Responders – This series of four yoga classes is designed to help veterans and first responders cope with the daily stress and possibly post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) associated with their careers. Stricker comes from a long line of veterans and first responders, so this is a group that’s near and dear to her heart.
Yoga for Teens – Another four-class series, this class will cater to teens’ specific needs and stress levels. Yoga, in addition to the sort of group therapy that occurs in these types of “specialized” classes can help teens learn how to cope with stress and tune into their own bodies and minds.
Mindfulness Training – This one-day seminar opens participants to the many emotional, physical and spiritual benefits of practicing mindfulness, which is defined as “the intentional, accepting and nonjudgmental focus of one’s attention on the emotions, thoughts and sensations occurring in the present moment.” Instead of obsessing about the past or worrying about the future – things that can contribute to depression and anxiety, Stricker says – mindfulness teaches people to find the peacefulness and calm that comes from “being in the moment.”
Anti-aging & Longevity – Who doesn’t want to age gracefully and live the best life possible for as long as possible? This one-day seminar is geared toward women in their late 40s and older and focuses on holistic ways to look and feel great throughout life’s second half.
DIY Home Cleaning Products – A one-day seminar, this class teaches participants how to avoid toxins in everyday cleaning products – toxins that Stricker says can seriously disrupt a person’s endocrine system – and make their own, natural, inexpensive cleaning products using a variety of easy-to-find ingredients.
For specific dates, times, locations and prices for these classes and seminars, visit the Battle Ground Community Education site at bgce.battlegroundps.org, click on “Courses” on the left side of the homepage and then on “Health/Wellness” under the Enrichment header.
Stricker also hopes to help area residents “jumpstart” their health and wellness in the new year. She is offering “January Jumpstart” packages throughout the first month of 2015 that include a full physical exam and various healing therapies at a reduced rate.
“This is the time of year that people think about making changes,” Stricker says. “Maybe that means losing weight or just feeling better.”
The January Jumpstart packages are individualized according to each patient’s health needs and goals, and will cost $100 to $500 depending on the number and type of therapies – massage, nutritional supplements, private yoga sessions, immune therapies, etc. – a patient selects.
The DIY Natural Home class will be held from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m., Sat. Jan. 31 at Battle Ground Healing Arts. The Mindfulness and Meditation class will be held from 6:30 to 8 p.m., Mon. Jan. 12, also at Battle Ground Healing Arts. There is a $10 suggested donation for the Mindfulness and Meditation classes.
For more information about Stricker, visit www.illuminationwellness.com. To make an appointment or find out more about Stricker’s January Jumpstart packages, email her at drrachel@illuminationwellness.com or call (503) 707-3309. The doctor practices at her Battle Ground location, Battle Ground Healing Arts, 480 E. Main St., on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays each week. She is currently accepting new patients.
