Today we’d like to introduce you to Dr. Farzam Afshar.
Hi Dr. Afshar, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I am a Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine, a mental health expert, and I have focused on passionately blending my education and training in naturopathic medicine, environmental health, and clinical mental health together in a holistic and harmonious way!
Let me tell you a little about myself! I have completed degrees in Leadership, Environmental Health, and Clinical Mental Health with honors, a post-graduate diploma in Clinical Hypnotherapy with honors and licensed as a Clinical Hypnotherapist in Washington state, and I’m also a licensed Physician in the states of Arizona and Washington state.
YOU ARE THE ARCHITECT OF YOUR LIFE!
As a child, I was always drawn to nature and had a deep appreciation for its interconnectedness. I found comfort and peace playing in the woods or walking down to the creek behind the house.
Sadly, I grew up in a suburb where refineries encapsulated the town. All you could see was smokestacks of burned-off chemicals in the air, only to see it rain back down onto the land and water.
It seemed like it was daily that I heard someone was sick, was diagnosed with cancer, or had passed away. I knew the toxic environment had a huge impact on my community’s health.
The impact this had was not only physical or isolated to the person affected, but it impacted the person’s loved ones mentally, emotionally, physically, and spiritually.
I always tried to help console the people impacted which not only helped them but made me feel good inside knowing that I was being of service to them during a difficult time.
I was consistently told that I had a healing spirit and that I should become a doctor. They were not too far off because I always felt my heart and soul were destined to become a healer, too. I just did not know which route I would take and what type of healer I would become.
As the years passed and I grew a bit older, I, too, developed some serious health concerns that altered the course of my entire life.
I relied on medications to manage my symptoms, and over time, more medications were added to manage the side effects of the prior medications I was already using!
This frustration went on for years as the root cause of my health issues were never addressed but were only managed.
This led to the development of anxiety and, with it, times of depression, which seemed to never go away.
I saw the deterioration in my health over time and saw how each health deterioration led to the next and so on. I had a deep feeling inside that I had to take charge and become an expert in my field to be able to help my community regain its health.
I went on to study Leadership and Environmental Health, hoping I would be able to make an impact in my community at a Public Health level.
I was active in giving speeches, consulting, advocating, and working tirelessly in community development projects to better the environment so that my community would be a clean and healthy place.
During this time, I struggled with my own health, and with each pharmaceutical given, my hopes in the conventional model dwindled; at that point, I decided that I needed to recenter myself and my life and decided to go on a self-exploration and self-discovery journey to figure out how to regain my health.
I went to California for a short time and then ended up in Hawaii. One day, while walking down the beach in Hawaii, enjoying the smell of the Sakura blossoms from the homes nearby, and listening to the waves pummeling the shore, and looking up into the stars, I realized since leaving my community and being in a cleaner environment in Hawaii, my health had improved mentally, emotionally, physically, and spiritually!
It hit me harder than the waves hitting the shore; I realized my mind and body are not just a vessel to become sick or get ill, but that my body’s external and internal environments were not optimal and had provided a great opportunity for illness to take root. What a life-changing epiphany!
It was then and there that I decided I wanted to pursue my dreams of becoming a healer, and so my journey into the healing sciences began, but I knew that if I wanted to help future clients heal, I had to focus on healing myself first!
I started to see a Naturopathic Physician who started asking me about where I grew up, if I meditated or prayed, how much sleep I was getting, what my family structure and social support looked like, and what I ate!
I was shocked and intrigued! The baffling part was that my doctors had never asked me about nutrition, and the nutritionists I saw were relying on research that was often outdated. It was a huge shock but also a wake-up call because I realized my dietary choices were an underlying cause of my health issues.
Once I started Naturopathic Medical School and schooling in Clinical Mental Health and progressed through, my inner scientist bloomed, and I started experimenting until I found the foods which were causing many of my issues.
I continued this process with my friends and family with the same amazing results. This was coupled with my education in Naturopathic Medical School on how nutrition is correlated with cellular health and how cellular health is the cornerstone in reversing pathological states, while my education in Clinical Mental Health helped me see the link between proper nutrition and optimal mental health!
I finally realized the KEY to regaining health rather than patching up a disease. As I gained more education and training in my Naturopathic Medical Education, Mental Health Education, and career, I realized the importance of striving for optimal health at a functional level and how this could help the ill regain their life back!
I also started to mesh my previous education in Environmental Health with my Naturopathic Medical Education and realized the importance of aiding the body in detoxification through the organs of elimination for optimal health and how to optimize external and internal environments to lead to optimal health!
My greatest epiphany took me back to that beach in Hawaii, where I realized that health is not just about the absence of disease but is about achieving optimal health and wellness holistically!
After spending years just patching up the disease, I healed through natural therapeutics, mental health therapeutics, diet, lifestyle changes, and environmental optimization, which led me to regain my health and life back. I eventually came off the medications and reversed my health conditions by addressing the root causes!
With the idea that it is never too late to heal oneself and armed with the knowledge and training in the many modalities of Naturopathic Medicine, Clinical Mental Health, Clinical Hypnotherapy, and Environmental Health, I have harmoniously blended what I have learned throughout my education and training into a truly holistic practice and have dedicated my life to empowering, recommending, and equipping my clients with the most up-to-date evidence-informed practices so that they too can reach optimal health and wellness!
Sakura, which thrives in Hawaii, means cherry blossom and often represents the fleeting nature and sweetness of life, renewal, friendship, peace, love, and hope!
I hope that I can bring and share Sakura, with all of its beautiful representations into each session with clients.
I continue to remain excited, motivated, and always looking forward to helping clients become the healthiest version of themselves!
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Obstacles and Challenges for Naturopathic Doctors:
1. Regulatory and Legal Hurdles: Naturopathic medicine faces varying degrees of recognition and regulation across different jurisdictions. In some places, naturopathic doctors may encounter legal restrictions on their scope of practice, limiting their ability to provide certain treatments or therapies. Even with limited scope in certain jurisdictions, naturopathic medicine has a range of modalities that can be used to help patients in their healing journey. We have helped thousands of patients and their families in full scope jurisdictions and also in jurisdictions with severe scope limitations. It has been an honor to be able to help patients no matter where they are and what the regulatory or legal issues may be.
2. Integration with Conventional Medicine: Integrating naturopathic practices into conventional healthcare systems can be challenging due to differences in philosophical approaches, diagnostic methods, and treatment modalities. Collaboration between naturopathic doctors and other healthcare professionals may require overcoming skepticism and resistance from traditional medical establishments. This is something we have navigated successfully through informed consent and sharing of research and evidence-based scientific articles and journals and more to help our patient base since 2007!
3. Public Perception and Misconceptions: Naturopathic medicine is sometimes perceived as “unscientific” or “lacking in evidence-based practices” by skeptics. Naturopathic doctors must navigate public misconceptions and educate the public and patients about the principles and efficacy of their approach to healthcare. We take a scientific and evidence-based approach and provide our patients and the community with medical research at the time of consultations. We utilize counseling approaches to dispel myths.
4. Limited Insurance Coverage: Many insurance plans do not cover naturopathic treatments at this time, which can pose a financial barrier for patients seeking alternative healthcare options. This can create difficulties for patients who are unable to afford out-of-pocket expenses for services. We work with our patient base to find ways to provide consultations that fit their monetary situation which is why we have been able to help thousands of patients since 2007!
5. Continuing Education and Credentialing: Maintaining licensure and staying abreast of advancements in both conventional and alternative medicine requires ongoing education and professional development. It is however a privilege to be able to stay abreast of both forms of medicine and allows for amazing collaborations on both sides. We have been able to successfully work with our fellow medical colleagues who are MDs and DOs as well as alternative practitioners like Chiropractors, Acupuncturists, and Ayurvedic practitioners due to our vast knowledge of both the conventional and alternative models!
Obstacles and Challenges for Naturopathic Patients:
1. Limited Accessibility and Affordability: Naturopathic treatments and consultations may not be readily available or covered by insurance, making them inaccessible to individuals with limited financial resources. The cost of supplements, herbal remedies, and alternative therapies can also pose a barrier to consistent naturopathic care. At our clinic, we work with our patients and their families in finding ways to support their health without creating financial difficulties!
2. Navigating Treatment Options: Naturopathic patients often have to sift through a myriad of treatment options and modalities, ranging from herbal medicine and acupuncture to dietary changes and lifestyle interventions. Choosing the most appropriate and effective course of treatment requires careful consideration of individual health needs and goals. We support our patients and provide informed consent on all the options and often discuss the conventional, alternative, or combined options so that they can best decide what fits their wants and needs in healing!
3. Integration with Conventional Care: Coordinating naturopathic treatments with conventional medical care can be challenging, particularly if healthcare providers hold divergent views on the efficacy of complementary and alternative therapies. Patients may need to advocate for themselves and communicate effectively with their healthcare team to ensure seamless integration of treatments. At our clinic, we advocate alongside our patients and have been successful at doing so since 2007! During that time, we have also been able to build bridges with healthcare providers who may start off holding divergent views, but as we work together and provide the research and dispel myths, we end up becoming collaborative colleagues!
4. Evaluating Efficacy and Safety: Naturopathic patients must critically evaluate the efficacy and safety of alternative treatments, as well as the qualifications and credentials of practitioners offering these services. Navigating conflicting information and anecdotal evidence can be confusing, requiring patients to rely on trusted sources and evidence-based research. We are very open, honest, and forthcoming with our educational backgrounds at our clinic! We are trained Naturopathic Physicians who have gone through accredited Naturopathic Medical Schools! We hang our degrees and our licenses on the wall for patients and the public to see!
5. Addressing Underlying Causes: Naturopathic medicine emphasizes the importance of addressing underlying causes of illness rather than simply treating symptoms. However, uncovering and addressing root causes of health issues can be complex and time-consuming, requiring patience and perseverance on the part of the patient. We help support the patient during this time and coach them through the stages of healing. During those stages, we take advantage of the opportunity to help the patient learn about their body and the healing stages so that they can become empowered in their health journey!
6. Cultural and Social Stigma: Naturopathic patients may encounter skepticism or disapproval from friends, family members, or healthcare providers who hold different beliefs about healthcare and healing. Overcoming cultural and social stigma associated with alternative medicine may require assertiveness and confidence in one’s healthcare choices. We support our patients with research and evidence-based handouts to not only allow them to learn but to dispel myths, fears, and any skepticism.
7. Both naturopathic doctors and patients face unique obstacles and challenges in navigating the complexities of alternative healthcare. Overcoming these challenges requires collaboration, education, and a commitment to holistic health and wellness. The basis of all of our efforts is firmly embedded in research and evidence-based practices!
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Our mission at Sakura Natural Health, since 2007, is to support wellness, share information on health topics, offer health consultations, offer the highest quality natural supplements, vitamins, health products, and provide top-notch customer support.
What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
Naturopathic Physicians have attended accredited Naturopathic Medical Schools and have passed rigorous Naturopathic Medical Board Examinations to be able to be licensed medical professionals. They must be open-minded, scientific-oriented, inquisitive, focused, driven, organized, caring, and compassionate.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.sakuranaturalhealth.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sakuranaturalhealth/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SakuraNaturalHealth
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sakuranaturalhealth/
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/sakura-natural-health-austin
Image Credits
Regus Air
Austin Air
