A Naturopathic Perspective on Health: A Gentle Approach to Wellbeing and Healing
The Science of Self-Healing Hosted by
Dr. Sharon Stills With Chip Halverson
About Chip Halverson, ND
Dr. Chip Halverson is a licensed naturopathic physician in the state of Oregon, Washington and Montana where he regularly lectures on environmental health and its connection to human health. He has assisted the EPA, National Education Association and other organizations on issues surrounding Indoor Environmental Quality and its impact on learning and teaching.
Dr. Halverson grew up in Montana and later attended Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota where he graduated with honors in 1991 and as a student athlete also received NCAA Athletic and Academic All-American honors. After graduation he began a successful teaching career in Montana and Washington state.
Once teaching he became heavily involved researching the issues surrounding children who had both learning and behavior difficulties. The latter led him to complete a master’s degree focused on ADD/ADHD. He also completed school administration requirements focused on Indoor Environmental Quality and its relationship to occupational health and academic achievement.
From a young age he had an interest in natural approaches to health issues which was encouraged by his grandfathers battle with cancer in the 1980’s and subsequent integration of alternative and conventional medicine. It was not until the mid-90’s that he experienced his own health crisis that he discovered naturopathic medicine. Shortly thereafter, he decided to return to school and start a 3 year pre-med program. He then completed an additional 5-year medical degree graduating with honors in research from National College of Natural Medicine in Portland, Oregon.
During medical school he focused on researching physiological detoxification pathways at Helfgott Research Institute as well as serving as the student body president. Dr. Halverson’s interest in environmental health comes from over two decades as a school volunteer, mentor, speaker, teacher and administrator. Now as a naturopathic physician his interest has expanded to the importance chronic illness prevention and optimal wellness. Dr. Halverson has a passion for assisting his patients in understanding there is a difference in just feeling well and truly being well at the cellular level.
Dr. Halverson is both a researcher and clinician with experience in treating patients with some of the most difficult of health conditions. Both patients and doctors often consult him for his expertise in environmental illnesses and treatment protocols. He is a primary care physician trained to treat both acute and chronic health issues. He has special interest in managing patients with chronic illnesses, including autoimmune disease, endocrine disorders, neurological conditions, integrative cancer support and environmental illnesses, including heavy metals, PCBs and other legacy toxins. Additionally, Dr. Halverson’s educational background lends itself to working with school employees, ADD/ADHD, optimizing academic potential in students, working with both high achievers and students struggling. His therapies focus on optimal lifestyle choices for each specific condition and include recommendations on diet, sleep, exercise, supplementation, herbal medicines, hydrotherapy, physical medicine, and a European form of homeopathy called bio-therapeutic drainage.
Twice a year Dr. Chip also leads EuroMed tours that explores the roots of natural medicine while traveling in Europe. For more information about EuroMed contact Selah Natural Medicine at info@selahnaturalmedicine.com.
Education:
Doctorate in Naturopathic Medicine, National College of Natural Medicine, Portland, Oregon
Associations:
Member-American Association of Naturopathic Physicians
Member-Oregon Association of Naturopathic Physicians
Member-Montana Association of Naturopathic Physicians
Member-Washington Association of Naturopathic Physicians
Resources Mentioned:
Episode Highlights with Dr. Chip Halverson
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Chip Halverson is a primary care physician with a special interest in managing patients with chronic illnesses, including autoimmune disease, allergies, integrative cancer support, toxic exposures, etc. He is also the trip coordinator for the EuroMed tour, which has given him extensive experience traveling and coordinating educational tours in the United States, Canada, and Europe.
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Naturopathic medicine focuses on the fundamentals such as nutrition and health, and includes therapies such as acupuncture, chiropractic care, massage, exercise, hydration, and so much more.
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Chip got very sick when he was traveling in Germany with a Group of students called, Up With People. His host mother sent him to the family doctor who treated his respiratory infection with herbal medicine instead of antibiotics. Chip was better the next day. This experience is what got Chip interested in becoming a naturopathic physician.
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Chip got very involved on the national level and the state level in improving air quality and getting rid of toxins in schools.
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Germany has been using mistletoe viscum album for over a hundred years, which is currently being used as an adjunct or support for cancer.
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Chip attended a four day conference on a biodynamic farm along with about 200 doctors from 30 different countries.
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Chip was asked to do a lecture at the medical school about his experiences. While encouraging the audience to explore beyond the parameters of their institution, a young woman in his audience asked him when we would be visiting Europe again. EuroMed (a group of students and doctors who traveled to clinics in Europe)was born from this interaction and has been an ongoing program since 2017.
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Chip believes that the greatest thing we can do is invest in our health.
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Naturopathic medicine involves the emunctories (organs of elimination), the lymphatic system, and other body systems which are often overlooked by conventional medicine.
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Naturopathic doctors are thorough. They are guides, leaders, and coaches for their patients.
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Europeans have been practicing natural medicine for hundreds and hundreds of years and it works really well - we can learn from that. We have to remember our medicine came from Europe.