Our bodies have a powerful, innate instinct for self-healing

By finding and removing the obstacles to this self-healing power, such as poor diet, toxicity, stress, or unhealthy habits, Dr. Natalie can help you nurture your own self-healing process with nature-based remedies.

Reasons to work
with Dr. Natalie

HOLISTIC GYNECOLOGY

ABNORMAL PAP's
& HPV

MENSTRUAL IRREGULARITIES

MENTAL & EMOTIONAL WELL~BEING

Getting Started

Schedule an Introductory Consultation

In this 30 minute virtual meeting, we'll discuss your health goals and interests, integration support needs, review what I can and can't offer, and assess the next steps in supporting your journey, which may include scheduling a longer appointment. While no medical diagnosis or treatment is given in this introductory consultation, I may make referrals and simple recommendations to support your health goals and your well-being.

Work with Dr. Natalie to reach your health goals

In our initial visit we will discuss your health goals and concerns, your personal and family medical history, complete any pertinent physical exams, and make any appropriate referrals. We are unique beings and each patient receives an individualized treatment plan based on their specific goals and needs. It is my intention to partner with you on your wellness journey and to develop a relationship of trust and accountability so that your medical care has the impact that you're looking for.

Receive ongoing support & care

Schedule a 30 minute follow up for acute medical needs, or a brief check-in regarding your established treatment plan. Schedule a 1 hour follow up for a comprehensive review of your progress and treatment plan, and to explore continued care aligned with your goals.

Get started with your

First Remote or In-person Session

Schedule time with Dr. Natalie

Areas of Specialization

Optimizing Digestive Wellness & Nutrition

Proper dietary choices, adequate intake, digestion, and assimilation of nutrients, as well as elimination of wastes, is the foundation of health. Gaining an understanding of a healthy diet, optimal digestive function, microbial balance, and elimination can help to set this foundation.

I work closely with patients to develop therapeutic diets and use specific nutritional supplements and herbs to optimize digestive function. I have had success with patients who struggled with chronic diarrhea and constipation, dysbiosis, acid reflux, IBS, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis and parasitic infections.

Supporting Mental & Emotional Well-being

Many people experience variations in their mood over the course of their lifetime. I commonly work with people who are experiencing depression, anxiety and other shifts in mood which affect their well-being. It is normal to experience fluctuations in mood, especially at different points in our hormonal cycles, yet it can be overwhelming to experience these shifts with extremes in intensity.

I work with individuals to get an understanding of where the shifts in mood come from, whether that is a hormonal or neurochemical imbalance, dietary choice or lifestyle habit, stress, insomnia, trauma, limiting beliefs, or other psychological constructs.

Holistic Lifestyle Counseling

Naturopathic Doctors are trained to educate their patients in holistic lifestyle counseling including exercise, sleep, diet, environmental considerations, and stress management. I empower patients to take responsibility for their own health, and offer many tools to assist you in doing so.

HPV Testing & Treatment (for people of all genders)

HPV is the most commonly transmitted sexual infection and it is estimated that 50% of all sexually active people will be exposed to the virus at least once in their lifetime. Although the FDA has not approved HPV tests for male-bodied folx, I work with a lab that provides HPV testing for people of all genders using effective PCR based technology that allows for genotyping of the virus if detected. Genotyping determines the strain of the virus and can help to assess the risk of developing disease, as some viruses are more pathogenic than others.

People of all genders can be tested for HPV with a simple swab of the external and/or internal genitalia, and treated for HPV with systemic immune support, and topical herbal applications.

Treatment for Abnormal PAP Tests & HPV

An abnormal Pap test indicates the presence of precancerous cells on the face of the cervix, referred to as cervical dysplasia. If left untreated, cervical dysplasia can progress to cancer. The Naturopathic approach to treatment combines systemic nutritional support with local treatment, to support the body in eliminating HPV and precancerous cells. The local treatment is called “escharotic” because it refers to the exfoliating effect of natural medicines on the abnormal tissue. In less advanced cases of cervical dysplasia and HPV, this treatment involves the use of vaginal suppositories and systemic herbal and nutritional support. In more advanced cases, a series of 8-16 in-office escharotic treatments is administered, alongside the systemic support. This treatment is a safe and effective option for management of most abnormal PAPs and HPV, providing an alternative to sprocedures such as the LEEP, conization and cryotherapy.

Due to variability in Dr. Natalie's in-person availability, please contact us before booking a new patient appointment if you are specifically seeking escharotic treatment.

Learn more about Dr Natalie's background

Dr. Natalie Metz, ND has a Doctorate of Naturopathic Medicine from Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine, a Master of Arts in Philosophy, Cosmology & Consciousness and a Certificate in Psychedelic Therapies & Research from California Institute of Integral Studies, as well as a BA in Chemistry from Elon University. Her education has included specialized training in Women's Health, Herbal Medicine, Shamanism and Integration of Beyond-Ordinary Life Experiences.

Understanding Naturopathic Medicine

Naturopathic Medicine is a unique, holistic healthcare system that promotes a proactive, preventive approach to health and wellness, blending the science of modern medicine with the ancient wisdom of the natural healing arts. It's guided by six principles and a philosophy which honors and supports the innate healing wisdom of the body.

First, Do No Harm

Naturopathic Doctors are trained to ensure their patients' safety with these precepts in mind:

Use low-risk procedures and healing compounds such as diet and lifestyle counseling, nutritional supplements, herbal extracts and homeopathy, with few or no side effects.
When possible, do not suppress symptoms, which are the body's efforts to self-heal.
Customize each diagnosis and treatment plan to fit each patient.

Honor The Healing Power of Nature

Our bodies have a powerful, innate instinct for self-healing. This instinct is referred to as the "Vis" in Naturopathic Medicine and is akin to the concepts of qi, chi, prana, life force, etc. By finding and removing the obstacles to this self-healing power, I support the stimulatation of your self-healing process with nature-based remedies such as food, herbs, vitamins, aromatherapy, sunshine, kindness, and more.

Identify and Treat Causes

I understand that symptoms are the body's expressive attempt to bring itself into balance, and that symptoms may persist, worsen, and/or return unless the root of the illness is addressed. Rather than palliate and/or suppress symptoms, I seek to find and treat the cause of these symptoms.

Treat the Whole Person

We each have a unique physical, mental, emotional, social, sexual, and spiritual constitution. I understand that all of these factors affect our health, and therefore I develop a holistic diagnosis and treatment plan, individualized to your unique needs, taking all of these factors into consideration.

Doctor as Teacher

Naturopathic medicine advocates that doctors must be educators, as well as clinicians. I teach patients how to eat, exercise, relax, and nurture themselves on all levels, while empowering you and encouraging self-responsibility. I also serve as faculty for a variety of institutions.

Prevention is the best medicine

"An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure"
Proactive, preventive medicine saves time, money, energy, and lives.
I evaluate risk factors, heredity, and vulnerability to disease. By supporting you to optimize your health and wellness now, you are less likely to need treatment for future illness.

Naturopathic Treatment Modalities

Clinical Nutrition

Naturopathic doctors receive extensive training in clinical nutrition, including detailed study of foods, vitamins, minerals, therapeutic diets, nutritional needs, and metabolic processes which direct an individual’s nutritional status. Proper nutrition is the foundation of health, and the use of specific diets, supplements, herbs and other natural remedies can safely address many acute and chronic diseases. I also educate patients about nutrition to support them in selecting healthy dietary choices as a means of optimizing their health and happiness.

Physical Medicine:
Structural Bodywork & Healing Touch

Dr. John Bastyr, a grandfather of Naturopathic Medicine, has been attributed with saying that Physical Medicine is a Naturopathic Doctor’s most therapeutic remedy, because it involves putting one’s hands on the patient, and that touch in its purest essence is healing. ND’s are trained in orthopedic assessment of the body, manual soft tissue therapies, and skeletal manipulation. I have pursued additional training in Healing Touch, an energy medicine practice. These modalities are effective for helping the body to maintain proper alignment and function, structurally and energetically.

Botanical Medicine & Herbalism

Plants have been used medicinally for thousands of years by all humans around the world for their healing properties, both physiological and energetic. Naturopathic Doctors are educated in the use of over 250 plant medicines in various forms, such as teas, tinctures, poultices, powders, salves, essential oils and more. The use of plant medicines is directly in alignment with the principle “The Healing Power of Nature,” as they are both nutritive and medicinal to the human body. Many plant medicines can be consumed as daily tonics for health and well-being, while others are prescribed for their selectivity and potency in a particular condition. Properly prescribed plant medicines are extremely safe and effective, often without the unpleasant side effects associated with many pharmaceutical drugs

Hydrotherapy

Hydrotherapy is the therapeutic use of water for healing. Evidence of hydrotherapy exists in all human cultures around the world and is perhaps most famous in the traditions of therapeutic bathing in warm mineral springs. Water can be applied to the body in hot, cold, or neutral forms, locally or body-wide, for short or long periods of time. Constitutional hydrotherapy is a Naturopathic treatment that includes the application of hot and cold towels to the torso and back in a specific sequence for a prescribed amount of time, and is an effective therapy for many conditions. It boosts immunity, stimulates relaxation, and promotes mental and emotional well-being.

Homeopathy

Homeopathy is an effective, inexpensive, energetic form of medicine based on the principle that like cures like…essentially that a patient’s total symptom picture can be treated by a minute amount of a substance that produces similar symptoms. Homeopathy has served as a primary system of medicine throughout Europe and India for hundreds of years. Homeopathic remedies are made from animal, mineral and vegetable substances diluted to the point that the original substance is often undetectable in the finished product, yet the energetic imprint of this substance remains. This energetic imprint is matched with a patient’s complete symptom picture and stimulates the body to heal itself. Homeopathic remedies often help conditions that have not responded well to other therapies, and are safe and effective for children.

Cervical Escharotic Treatment

The term “escharotic” refers to the sclerosing and exfoliating effect of an application of medicine to abnormal tissue. In less advanced cases of cervical dysplasia and HPV, this treatment involves the use of vaginal suppositories and systemic herbal and nutritional support.

In more advanced cases, a series of 8-16 in-office escharotic treatments is administered, starting with the application of bromelain to the face of the cervix, an enzyme derived from pineapple, which serves to break down the walls of abnormal cells. This is followed by the application of Sanguinaria canadensis or Bloodroot, a plant that grows in the Appalachian mountains, mixed with a solution of Zinc Chloride. The innate intelligence of the plants used in this treatment yields escharotic specificity for only the abnormal cells- they dry up and exfoliate, and the normal cells of the cervix are unaffected. This treatment is a safe, effective, and affordable option for management of most abnormal PAPs and HPV. Conventional medical procedures such as cryosurgery and LEEP can cause prolonged bleeding during recovery, as well as scarring and permanent damage to the cervix, potentially complicating menstrual cycles, conception, and childbirth. Cervical escharotic treatment does not carry these risks.

Due to variability in Dr. Natalie's in-person availability, please schedule a consultation before booking a new patient appointment if you are specifically seeking escharotic treatment.

Commonly asked questions

Is “Naturopathic Medicine” the same as “Naturopathy”?

No. In the state of California, and most unlicensed states, anyone can call themselves a “Naturopath” or say that they practice “Naturopathy." In states that regulate Naturopathic Doctors, only a graduate from an accredited medical institution who has passed the NPLEX and is licensed can legally call themselves a “Naturopathic Doctor”.

What is a Licensed Naturopathic Doctor’s training?

Licensed Naturopathic Doctors (ND’s/NMD's) are graduates of a rigorous four-year post-graduate medical program at an accredited institution, have passed the Naturopathic Physicians Licensing Examination (NPLEX), and are licensed in one or more states, many of which designate Naturopathic Doctors as primary care providers.

During the first two years of the program, naturopathic medical students are trained in the same basic and clinical sciences that all medical students are educated in, including Anatomy, Physiology, Biochemistry, Pathology, Physical and Laboratory Exam and Diagnosis, Immunology, Pharmacology, Minor Surgery and more.

After passing the biomedical science portion of the Naturopathic Physicians Licensing Examination (NPLEX), they progress through the second two years of the program, focusing on clinical sciences and natural therapeutics such as Botanical/Herbal Medicine, Clinical Nutrition, Physical Medicine, Homeopathy, Traditional Chinese Medicine, Counseling and more. In addition to this didactic training, ND students complete intern rotations in community clinics and private practices during this time.

Naturopathic medical training includes over 1200 hours of clinical rotations and 700+ documented patient contacts under the supervision of Licensed Naturopathic Doctors, Medical Doctors, Chiropractic Doctors, Osteopathic Doctors and Acupuncturists. Students are require to demonstrate and document clinical competencies such as performing physical exams, administering IV’s and injections, suturing minor wounds, formulating herbal tinctures, prescribing natural remedies, and more.

In order to obtain a professional license, students must pass the clinical science portion of the NPLEX boards after graduating from their accredited Naturopathic Medical school. This exam includes several days of rigorous testing in Physical and Laboratory Diagnosis, Minor Surgery, Pharmacology, and all Naturopathic Treatment Modalities. A graduate must pass all of these exams, in addition to state Jurisprudence exams to be considered for licensure.

Students of online programs or mail-order organizations are not eligible to sit for these exams, and are therefore unable to seek licensure as a Naturopathic Doctor. The standard of the NPLEX examination and licensing process ensures that those who claim the title of Naturopathic Doctor in licensed states have met the highest standards of training.

Dr. Natalie is a Licensed Naturopathic Doctor and a Primary Care Provider in the State of California. She does not bill insurance directly for her services, yet she can provide you with a superbill you can submit to your insurance company for reimbursement.

Many insurance companies provide reimbursement for Naturopathic medical services, and most HSA and FSA plans can be used to pay for services and supplements directly with a debit card. Dr. Natalie can bill most PPO insurance policies directly for bloodwork, urinalysis and some other specialty lab tests, however, you are responsible for making sure your policy will cover the desired tests. Dr. Natalie accepts cash, check and credit cards and full payment is due at the time of service. Dr. Natalie requires full payment ahead of time for brand new patient appointments, and a deposit which is equal to the cancellation fee for all other established patient appointments. You will be prompted to make your deposit or payment when scheduling here. Naturopathic Doctors are in the process of expanding their scope of practice in California, and scope expansion will help to make Naturopathic medical care more accessible for all. Please consider writing to your legislators in support of this effort by clicking here. The California Naturopathic Doctors Association has published useful information for utilizing your insurance for Naturopathic Medicine here.