Natural medicine takes on the Establishment

(as published in The Virginia Pilot
by Alexandria Berger - April 2000)

This is the first in a six-part series on alternative therapies.
Part I: Natural Medicine vs. the Establishment

Jonathan Wright is alternative medicine's folk hero. Internationally known for prescribing natural therapies that work, Wright is seen as a godlike figure in Japan, a sought-after speaker in Europe and a sometime annoyance to U.S. government regulators.

As the ground swell for natural medicines has emerged, the 55-year old physician knows this was a long time coming. A University of Michigan Medical School graduate with an additional doctor in naturopathic medicine and certification in clinical nutrition, Wright has spent more than 25 years combining conventional and holistic medicine.

When it wasn't cool, Wright challenged the medical community, questioned the efficacy of using toxic drugs. In the process, he created today's standard in the practice of preventive medicine.

Searching for answers, he read Adele Davis's book "Let's Eat Right to Keep Fit" and was hooked.

In 1973, he founded the now famous Tahoma Clinic. From his plant-filled office in Kent, Washington, a short drive from Seattle, Wright presides over 12 specialists. Three days a week he sees patients. The wait is six months.

"When I first opened the clinic, nobody came," Wright remarks.

In time, his innovations became legendary.

The first in this country to clinically advocate the use of folate to prevent birth defects, Wright hammered its importance in his 1984 book, "Healing with Nutrition." A grant from the General Nutrition Centers allowed him to study mothers lacking in folic acid. He theorized safe higher doses of folate would prevent other birth defects as well. No one paid much attention.

In the 1980s, Wright began promoting DHEA use as an autoimmune regulator before it was available in the United States. He recognized DHEA levels decreased with age and were abnormally low in many conditions like Lupus. By 1997, a clinical study proved his theories correct. DHEA is now sold over the counter.

In recent years, Wright has become expert on natural hormones for the treatment of hormonal deficiencies in both men and women. He's developed a natural triple estrogen cream that is simply rubbed into the skin.

Wright carefully makes no claim to any discovery. He prefers to give credit to those who write the thousands of papers and journals he reviews continuously. He defines natural medicine as "the medicinal use of diet, nutritional supplements, natural hormones, herbs and other naturally occurring substances" for the treatment of illness.

Wright has battled detractors who see all-natural medicine as quackery.

Yet, Wright has a record of successfully treating or improving food and chemical allergies, asthma, diseases of aging, complex multifaceted chronic conditions and disabilities like macular degeneration, neuromuscular and mental illnesses.

Wright also contends that many people have undetected digestive difficulties from insufficient stomach acid, making it hard to absorb nutrients and medicine. He is working on a new book, tentatively entitled "Death by Antacids."

For biased practitioners, Wright has never encouraged patients to stop or discontinue any conventional treatment. "It doesn't matter whether you were hit by a whole grain bread truck or a white bread truck, you're still going to need a surgeon.

"The goal of health care is the safe treatment and prevention of illness and premature death." Wright notes.

As a soft rain falls outside his office window, there is no lack of patients now, only a lack of time. Natural medicine has gone mainstream. Out in the reception area, it's standing room only.

Next week: Part II - Step into the Tahoma Clinic

Write to Alexandria Berger, c/o The Virginia-Pilot,
150 W. Brambleton Avenue, Norfolk, Va., 23510

E-mail her at alex@imperfectnavigator.com