Natalie Wiggins, ND : Avante Medical Center in Anchorage, Alaska

Naturopathic Medicine

"Naturopathic doctors practice as primary care providers. They make a conventional Western diagnosis using standard diagnostic procedures such as physical examination, laboratory tests, and radiology. However, they also make a pathophysiologic diagnosis using physical and laboratory procedures to assess nutritional status, metabolic function and toxic load. In addition, a considerable amount of time is spent assessing the patient's mental, emotional, social and spiritual status.

Therapeutically, NDs use virtually every known natural therapy: dietetics, therapeutic nutrition, botanical medicine, physical therapy, naturopathic manipulative therapy, lifestyle counseling, exercise therapy, homeopathy, psychological and family counseling and hydrotherapy.

Naturopathic medicine concentrates on whole-patient. Wellness, the medicine, is tailored to the patient and emphasizes prevention and self-care. Naturopathic medicine attempts to find the underlying cause of the patient's condition rather than focusing solely on symptomatic treatment. Naturopathic doctors cooperate with all other branches of medical science referring patients to other practitioners for diagnosis or treatment when appropriate."

Natalie Wiggins, ND

Natalie Wiggins, ND received her undergraduate degree at Northern Arizona University, and her doctorate at the Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine in Tempe, Arizona, with an emphasis on pediatrics, women's health, and environmental medicine.

As a primary care Naturopathic Doctor, Dr. Wiggins approaches each patient as an individual in order to address his or her specific needs. She incorporates principals unique to Naturopathic Medicine into the treatment of each patient. These include: Primum no nocere or "first, do no harm"and Vis medicatrix naturae "the healing power of nature" where emphasis is placed on carefully choosing modalities of treatments that are effective, and gentle; Tolle causam and Tolle totum, respectively, "identify and treat the cause; and treat the whole person" which involves using appropriate diagnostics to identify the origin of symptoms and treat accordingly. Dr. Wiggins chooses modalities to encourage and support the patient's inherent ability to heal. Lastly, she embraces the idea of Docere, or "Doctor as teacher." Dr. Wiggins stated, "I really enjoy working with patients to help them understand their health concerns and coordinating a plan of treatment that works best for the individual. I encourage them to use tools that will be beneficial for a lifetime of health."

Dr. Wiggins particularly enjoys working with the pediatric population and women. This stems from her training and previous work as a certified labor, delivery, and postpartum Doula. Her passion for pregnancy carries into her current practice in alternative treatments for infertility, supportive and nutritional care in pregnancy, and caring for pediatric patients from birth through adolescence. "There has been no greater joy in my life than Motherhood. It is wonderful to be a part of the care of Mothers and their most precious gift-their children."

In addition to routine wellness support and exams in the pediatric and adult populations, Dr. Wiggins treats a myriad of different disease processes including, but not limited to: acute illness, pregnancy-related nausea, infant colic, eczema, all digestive disorders, food sensitivities and allergies, environmental allergies, high blood pressure, thyroid disorders, detoxification, and weight loss.

Dr. Wiggins and her husband, Dr. Markian Babij, have three sons ranging in age from 3 to 12. As a mother, she has first-hand knowledge of the joys and trials that come with parenthood. In their free time, she and her family enjoy hiking, camping, biking, backpacking, participating in local winter sports, and just spending time together.