Dr. Diaa Osman, Naturopath and Integrative/Alternative Health Leader
Dr. Osman is a valued instructor at Normandale Community College for the Continuing Education Department and is an active member of the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians, American Holistic Medical Association, American Public Health Association, and the Oncology Association of Naturopathic Physicians. He is currently serving as the Treasurer and board member of the Minnesota Association of Naturopathic Physicians. He owns and operates a natural health center in Crystal, MN, where he specializes in naturopathic medicine.
Q: What role do you play in the "Continuing Health Education and Integrative Health & Healing" program at Normandale Community College?
A: I know that educating individuals about relevant health practices and issues is very important to our own health and also for our communities and healthcare providers. Normandale is a leader in providing education opportunities to learn about not only traditional health and wellness practices but also in integrative health and healing which is a passion of mine. I teach three continuing education classes offered at Normandale Community College: Introduction to Complementary and Alternative Medicine, Food as Medicine, Herb-Drug Interactions.
Q: How and when did you become interested in health and wellness, more specifically, naturopathic medicine?
A: I have always wanted to pursue a career in medicine. I completed my undergraduate degree with a pre-medicine major from the University of Minnesota, Morris. However, I decided to pursue a career in naturopathic medicine after getting into a car accident that resulted in limiting my range of motion and mobility. I was treated through limited conventional pain killers that only offered symptomatic pain relief. Naturopathic medicine offered me the opportunity to be treated holistically, regain my muscle strength and tone through nutrition, herbal medicines, exercise, and soft-tissue manipulation.
Q: What is naturopathic medicine?
A: Naturopathic medicine is a distinct medical profession that is defined by its holistic philosophy. A naturopathic physician works with the body's natural healing abilities and focuses on the prevention of disease and promotion of health. Each patient is treated individually and the underlying cause of their disease is investigated through conventional diagnostics such as laboratory testing, X-rays, CT scans, etc., and treated instead of drugs and surgery through natural medicines such as therapeutic nutrition, diet, lifestyle counseling, botanical medicines, acupuncture, mind/body medicine, exercise, and other natural modalities. Naturopathic physicians are trained similar to allopathic and osteopathic physicians who practice primary care medicine in the core basic and clinical sciences from accredited post-graduate four-year naturopathic medical schools. ND's must pass rigorous licensing board examinations similar to other physicians to practice naturopathic medicine. Naturopathic medicine is only regulated in sixteen states, not including Minnesota. To find a naturopathic physician in Minnesota who is a graduate of one of the six accredited naturopathic medical schools, visit www.mnanp.org. To further learn about naturopathic physicians visit the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians web site at www.naturopathic.org.
Q: What impact has naturopathic medicine had on your life?
A: Besides its role in helping me gain my ability to walk and function again, naturopathic medicine has become a way of life. Through the diet and lifestyle choices I make for myself and my family, my use of the conventional health care system has been minimal. I work very hard on my health to prevent against diseases that I have a high risk for because of my family history. As a naturopathic physician, I have enjoyed facilitating changes for many patients who look for alternatives to conventional care and need a physician-trained provider that can be part of their health care team and collaborate and complement the care they are receiving with other health care providers. I look forward to continue to learn and serve my family, community, and patients' health care needs.
Q: What is your teaching philosophy and style?
A: My teaching philosophy is highly interactive and adopts the adult-learning model which takes into account that each student is unique and brings their own knowledge to the classroom that can also be shared in a respectful and academic manner. Most of my students at Normandale Community College and the College of St. Catherine are professionals in the health care professions, so I like to engage and challenge them to think outside their comfort zone to further increase their interest and understanding of holistic medicine. I aim that every student leaves my class feeling that they have learned something that they can utilize immediately. I encourage questions throughout the class and often repeat important points. My background in public health policy allows me to combine public health principles to the clinical knowledge that I incorporate into the class.
Q: What are the healing benefits of naturopathic medicine?
A: The healing benefits of naturopathic medicine are numerous. The main healing benefit will be the confidence a patient might have in understanding comprehensively what is happening to their body when they experience an illness and having a physician-level trained provider educate them on how to work with their body and understand the body's natural healing functions. Naturopathic medicine will add a foundation of diet and emphasize a more holistic approach to health for you and your family. Furthermore, working with a ND will allow a patient to learn how to incorporate and personalize the abundant and mostly confusing information available about natural medicines and how to use such therapies effectively and safely, especially if a patient is using prescription medications at the same time.
Q: How can the average person incorporate naturopathic medicine into his/her daily life to improve his/her health and wellness?
A: Many of the modalities of naturopathic medicine are time tested lifestyle recommendations that have been around for thousands of years. The use of diet and herbal medicines are shared by many Eastern and Western philosophies such as European and Chinese medical philosophies. Incorporating healthy, diet, exercise, and stress management practices are all common recommendations by ND's that everyone should utilize to minimize their risks for all types of diseases. Growing plants and eating from your own garden is both therapeutic and psychologically rewarding. Incorporating natural medicines whether it was through the use of supplements or other natural treatments can and have been proven to be excellent alternatives to many conventional treatments. For example, the use of botanicals and homeopathic medicines in the treatment of the flu/colds and ear infections in children are very effective alternatives to currently available conventional treatments.
Q: What is your vision for the future of Integrative and Alternative Medicine?
A: Integrative medicine is the future of our health care system. The combination of the knowledge and collaboration of medical providers across disciplines will allow the creation of a patient-centered model of health that is proactive against disease and will promote healthier individuals, communities and eventually a society. Furthermore, an integrative health care system may provide us with the ability to help ourselves and to help others to heal, physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually.
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