Complementary Therapies

For many, special diets are part of a healing program. We will guide you in getting started on these and point you in the direction of helpful resources. Also, specialized laboratory tests are available and may provide information to aid in the selection of nutritional interventions.

When diet is optimal, nutritional supplements can be minimized. We generally suggest natural sources of nutrients whenever possible.

Herbal Medicine

Herbal medicines are a nice complement to homeopathic treatment. When a whole plant or combination of plants is used medicinally (as opposed to a synthetic drug), the various components are present in balance, as nature intended. Thus, side effects are minimized and efficacy is optimal. Of course, herbs can have side effects too and it's best to work with someone who's knowledgeable. Dr. Baker's two-year training program in herbal medicine gave her familiarity with herbs from a variety of traditions including European, Native American, Traditional Chinese Medicine and Ayurvedic. She can guide you in selecting herbs for a particular purpose and/or work with you to create an individualized combination herbal formula to address your needs.

Craniosacral Therapy

Craniosacral therapy is a very gentle and safe hands-on treatment which is helpful for variety of conditions including headaches, chronic ear infections, sinus infections, learning problems, ADD and ADHD and Autism Spectrum Diseases. Craniosacral Therapy can be helpful for newborn babies, addressing problems such as colic and gastro-esophageal reflux as well as preventing future health problems by returning the structures of the head and pelvis to their normal alignment after the physical stresses of birth.

Defeat Autism Now! Approach

Dr. Baker attends Defeat Autism Now! Conferences and Physicians' training seminars and completed a preceptorship with Dr. Elizabeth Mumper, medical director of Defeat Autism Now! For those who are not familiar with the history and approach of this organization, largely based on functional medicine, we suggest a look at their website. Dr. Baker's approach to children on the autistic spectrum includes evaluation and treatments based on the Defeat Autism Now! approach and also integrates homeopathic, herbal and craniosacral therapies.

Functional Medicine

"Functional medicine is a dynamic approach to assessing, preventing, and treating chronic disease Functional medicine helps clinicians identify and ameliorate dysfunctions in the physiology and biochemistry of the human body as a primary method of improving patient health. Functional medicine acknowledges that chronic disease is almost always preceded by a lengthy period of declining function in one or more of the body's systems. Returning patients to health requires reversing (or substantially improving) the specific dysfunctions that have contributed to the disease state. Those dysfunctions are, for each of us, the result of lifelong interactions among our environment, our lifestyle, and our genetic predispositions. Each patient, therefore, represents a unique, complex, and interwoven set of influences on intrinsic functionality that have set the stage for the development of disease or the maintenance of health." The Textbook of Functional Medicine, David S. Jones, MD, editor.

Conventional Medicine

Sometimes, prescription drugs and other conventional treatments are the best option for a child at that point in time. Dr. Baker has years of experience and training in pediatric medicines and can guide parents in their safe use.