Charlotte Naturopath Thrives on Difficult to Cure Conditions
Whole Health News – July 1999
by Aleks Strande, N.D., Ph.D.

When Polish born Dr. Aleksander Strande worked as a microbiologist in Australia, his Norwegian wife became very sick and no one seemed to be able to find out what was wrong with her. Blood tests proved to be inconclusive as did subsequent visits to various specialists. She finally visited a Naturopath who indicated a possibility of celiac disease. Herbal treatment was prescribed and a suitable diet was introduced. Two months later most of the symptoms ceased.

Dr. Strande, a medical scientist and obedient follower of mainstream medicine, suddenly had doubts about traditional medicine. He was so impressed with his wife’s results using naturopathic treatment that he was inspired to study naturopathic medicine. He found it very rewarding.

“You get results in most cases when people follow the naturopathic regime, and even the most degenerative conditions respond very well” said Dr. Strande, who opened his Charlotte, North Carolina practice in January 1999.

Naturopathic medicine, according to the TIME/LIFE Book The Medical Advisor, provides holistic, or whole body, healthcare by taking advantage of resources drawn from numerous traditional healing systems. Dating back to the early part of the 20th century, naturopathy is organized around three fundamental principles: The physician should strive to aid the body’s natural healing abilities; the root cause of an illness should be addressed rather than its’ symptoms; and above all, only therapies that cause no harm should be used (which means that toxic drugs and surgery should be avoided whenever possible). As a naturopath, Dr. Strande says he does not treat the disease, but helps nourish the whole body. He motivates the patient to assume responsibility for her or his own health.

A naturopathic doctor, or ND, may pay considerable attention to a patient’s lifestyle, since naturopathic theory hold that physical, psychological, and even spiritual elements can all contribute to disease.

“Naturopathy is about making healthful changes,” said Dr. Strande, who has a Ph.D. degree in advanced Naturopathic Medicine from Hamilton University in Wyoming (the topic of his dissertation is Effective Naturopathic Treatment in Post-Viral Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.) “We do things to our bodies that are not compatible with it; we abuse it. I often tell my patients no change – no recovery. I basically guide them to better health.”

Dr. Strande helps to address the physical and emotional complaints of patients by nourishing the body system with herbs, minerals, amino acids, vitamins, improved diet and lifestyle changes. He imports his herbs and other nutrients from Australia where the environment is less polluted than in the United States.”

Reiki Healing is also practiced by Dr. Strande, who is a sixth generation practitioner (from Dr. Usui in 19th Century Japan) of this healing technique.

“Reiki treatments remove obstructions, relaxes and oxygenates the body and mind,” says Dr. Strande. “The effect of this approach to health is that people feel so much better overall rather than in one or two aspects of symptoms.

“Various Charlotte doctors have asked me about my approach to achieving cessation of difficult cases such as chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, and other degenerative conditions,” said Dr. Strande. “My standard answer is ‘by not treating the disease.’” There is not one single person with PMS, stomach ulcers, lupus, or cancer, that get an identical protocol to another person with the same disease.

“Seemingly identical cases of osteoarthritis, MS, or depression will almost always receive different herbs and nutrients,” said Dr. Strande. “Everyone is different with different reasons or triggers involved in the onset of a disease. You always have to address what’s behind the problem. I thrive on difficult to cure conditions.”

Alex Strande, N.D., Ph.D., is a naturopath and a microbiologist. His office is in Santa Monica, California. He can be contacted for questions and appointments at
310-907-4424.