Today I want to talk about the power of words — especially when they come from people we see as authority figures: doctors, scientists, financial advisors, politicians and the like.
This piece was inspired by two conversations I’ve recently had with patients.
Patient #1
She was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis and soon after underwent surgery to remove a part of her colon. She felt rushed into the decision and recalls being told it was “absurd” to think that diet or lifestyle could have any influence on a “serious condition” like ulcerative colitis.
No one offered her other options or even space to process what was happening.
She told me that she regretted the surgery almost immediately but felt overwhelmed, confused, and powerless. Later, she was placed indefinitely on immunosuppressant medication.
Patient #2
Over two decades ago, as a young woman, she was prescribed blood pressure medication. Her doctor told her, “This is genetic — there’s nothing we can do besides giving you medication.”
No one mentioned nutrition, stress management, movement, or even basic daily habits that could make a difference for her.
Today, she’s on three different medications, yet her blood pressure remains inconsistent.
Both of these women followed their doctors’ instructions exactly — as we’re told we should.
And both shared that, even back then, a quiet voice inside them wondered: Is this really my only option?
But they overrode that voice — their intuition — because they trusted the “expert” in front of them more than themselves.
In an ideal world, you should be able to fully trust your doctor’s recommendations.
But we don’t live in an ideal world.
In conventional medicine, there’s often only one standard of care — a one-size-fits-all approach that leaves little room for individuality or intuition.
And yes, I am a doctor. But I want to challenge that notion!
I want to invite you to start trusting your quiet yes and your quiet no.
Of course, seek professional guidance — but consulting an expert is not the same as surrendering your agency.
When receiving guidance, ask yourself:
Is this person empowering me, or disempowering me?
Because the therapeutic relationship (between doctor and patient) plays a direct role in patient outcome.
Empowering care looks like this:
Disempowering care looks like this:
In my practice, I remind my patients daily:
Your body is infinitely wise and you have everything you need to heal.
And our work together is simply to remove what’s standing in the way — not to add more noise, fear, or dependency.
This is what naturopathic medicine is all about.