Over the past decade, I have changed jobs seven times, with the unfortunate side effect of having to change health insurance -- and doctors -- nearly as often. There's been little continuity in my care, which might be why, 15 years after experiencing pain in my upper abdomen, I still haven't managed to get rid of it. Every doctor has a different theory. I've had an ultrasound to rule out ovarian cysts and undergone a CAT scan "just in case" (insurance companies love that). When the theory didn't pan out, the doctor was stumped.

By the time the magazine I work for switched health-care policies earlier this year, I had an overwhelming urge to chuck the random bits of advice I'd collected -- none of which had helped.

But then a friend in Los Angeles recommended I see a naturopathic doctor. I did some preliminary research and found that both the philosophy and approach appealed to me immediately. Naturopaths believe that the body, like nature, is capable of self-healing, and they use nutrition, herbs, homeopathy, lifestyle interventions, and naturopathic physical medicine (which includes techniques shared with chiropractors and physical therapists) as treatment. The practice began in the United States about 100 years ago, but it was nearly wiped out in the mid-20th century due to the increasing presence of drugs and surgery. Recently, it's made a comeback, thanks in part to fed-up patients like me who have a hard time getting an appointment with a general practitioner -- and then a hard time getting help once they do.

Whole-Person Medicine
I made an appointment with Shiva Barton, N.D., former president of the Massachusetts Society of Naturopathic Doctors. He led me through a detailed questionnaire, covering everything from my family health history to what I ate in a typical day to what I did for fun. "Too many people forget about fun," he told me. "You wouldn't believe how many people can't think of anything to say." I could think of plenty, but recently my late nights at the office weren't allowing for much in the way of fun. His philosophy, that work should balance play and that decompression should balance stress, was an appealing notion.

Many of Barton's patients come for help with chronic conditions such as insomnia, pain, fatigue, and digestive issues. Some have hard-to-treat conditions, and others want to avoid the side effects associated with conventional treatments. For patients seeking general care, he discusses diet, advocating a balance of whole, unprocessed foods, as well as how you're sleeping, how you handle stress, the quality of your sex life, and any physical concerns. For serious conditions, like cancer or diabetes, he often refers patients to an M.D. if they're not already seeing one. "Naturopaths aren't isolationists," he said. "We believe there is a place for conventional treatments when appropriate."

After our talk, I hopped onto the table fully clothed, and Barton pressed around my abdomen. He noted some swelling at the end of my large intestine, which he suggested was likely responsible for the pain. There were two initial possible causes: slow digestion and food allergy. Through our earlier discussions, he knew I avoided dairy and most meat, two common culprits for digestive issues. But unlike any other practitioner, he recommended a food-allergy blood test.

Since Massachusetts is among the many states that don't license naturopaths, Barton can't administer blood tests in his office. This led to the only unpleasant aspect of my experience: a take-home test kit. Besides the scary lancet and my less-than-sterile bathroom, I'm evidently "not a bleeder," and it took me three kits to collect a blood sample. The American Association of Naturopathic Physicians is lobbying state governments to license naturopaths, which would allow them to diagnose and order lab tests, while ensuring standard N.D. qualifications. As for insurance, even in licensed states most policies don't cover naturopathy. (Fees will vary; Barton, for example, charges $175 for initial visits.)

All-Natural Tool Kit
I thought I might leave Barton's office with a bag full of vitamins, but he was conservative. "For most healthy people, it's more important to focus on diet, nutrition, stress levels, and exercise than to take supplements," he said. He did recommend magnesium (for regularity) and fish oil (to heal dry skin and for general well-being), and suggested I see a chiropractor to rule out any structural issues that could be contributing to my stomach pain. He also suggested implementing an "hourly chime" into my day to remind myself to stop and breathe.

Three weeks later, I'm more digestively regular, but the pain remains. My test results recently came back, and apparently I'm sensitive to just about everything, including wheat, gluten, eggs, sugar, dairy, and pineapples. Barton has recommended that I eliminate these foods for a month to determine whether the pain in my side is related to what I'm eating -- so I'm preparing to endure 30 days of brown rice, green veggies, gluten-free cereal, and berries. The chime is a work in progress; it's quite effective, but I don't always remember to use it.

Throughout, Barton has seemed genuinely concerned about my well-being, and sincerely invested in my progress. In fact, Barton is so even-keeled, patient, and funny, these have been the most relaxing medical appointments I've ever had. Every so often, he emails to check in. If the food restrictions and supplements don't seem to make a difference, we'll try something else -- and keep trying until we figure it out. It feels like a partnership, and for that I'm grateful.

Text by Alyssa Giacobbe