Alternative Natural Health Solutions, LLC

06/01/2026

Hello Everyone,

It’s Dr. Krystal Shelmire ND, CTT and I am excited to inform everyone that the community has nominated my business, Alternative Natural Health Solutions, LLC for the third year in a row in 2026 Acadiana’s Choice Contest partnered with The Acadiana Advocate! Please show your support by voting daily. We are nominated in three categories:

Health and Beauty: Medical Practice
Health and Beauty: Alternative Therapies
Services : Black-Owned Business

Daily voting runs from June 1st until June 19th.
All voting will be done online at: https://www.voteacadiana.com

The results are tabulated - naming a Gold, Silver, and Bronze winner for each category. All winners receive a free listing in the exclusive Winners’ Magazine as well as an ongoing digital presence on the winners’ website published on September 30, 2026!

Vote once per day from June 1 through June 19.

05/08/2026

🌿No two patients are the same. So why should their treatment plans be?

Individualized care isn't a new concept for naturopathic doctors: It's been central to how they practice from the very beginning. When you see an ND, your appointment isn't built around a checklist or a standard protocol. It's built around you.

That means your ND is taking into account the full picture:

💚 Your physical symptoms and health history
💚 Your emotional and mental well-being
💚 Your environment and lifestyle
💚 Your genetic predispositions
💚 Your personal health goals and preferences

The result is a treatment plan designed specifically for where you are right now and where you want to be. Not a one-size-fits-all prescription, but a personalized roadmap to lasting wellness.

At your first visit, you'll spend an hour or more with your ND because truly understanding a person takes time. That investment at the start is what makes everything that follows more effective.

Healthcare that sees the whole you, and treats you accordingly. That's naturopathic medicine.

🌿Learn more: https://bit.ly/4s49CKZ

05/08/2026

What if your treatment plan actually got you better instead of just managing your symptoms indefinitely? 🌿

That's standard at the heart of naturopathic medicine. Rather than layering treatments onto symptoms, NDs dig deeper to find what's actually driving your health challenges. Think lifestyle habits, environmental exposures, genetic factors, or something that's gone unidentified for years.

Consider something as common as high cholesterol or type 2 diabetes. Conventional approaches often result in prescriptions that patients take for the rest of their lives. But when the root cause is poor diet or lack of exercise, addressing those factors directly can reduce or even eliminate the need for long-term medication, saving patients money, side effects, and the cycle of repeated treatments that never quite solve the problem.

NDs call this principle "treat the cause," and it shapes everything about how they practice. By removing the obstacles standing between you and real health, the body can do what it's remarkably good at: healing itself.

The result isn't just symptom relief. It's lasting recovery, a deeper understanding of your own body, and the confidence to stay well. 🌿

When you know the why behind your health challenges, you have real power to change them. Learn more: https://bit.ly/4sJJO6T

05/08/2026

When you're looking for a naturopathic doctor, one word makes all the difference: licensed. 🌿

Currently, 26 U.S. jurisdictions have laws regulating the practice of naturopathic medicine and efforts to expand licensure to more states are ongoing. That's important, because licensure isn't just a formality. It's a meaningful safeguard for patients.

Here's something many people don't know: the titles "naturopathic doctor" and "naturopath" are sometimes used interchangeably but they are not the same thing.

A licensed naturopathic doctor (ND):

✅ Graduated from an accredited, four-year, in-residence naturopathic medical school
✅ Completed a minimum of 4,100 hours of class and clinical training
✅ Passed the NPLEX, a rigorous two-part national board exam
✅ Is regulated by a state licensing board
✅ Carries malpractice insurance and fulfills continuing education requirements
✅ Can order blood tests, X-rays, MRIs, and in many states, prescribe medications and perform minor procedures

An unlicensed naturopath, by contrast, may have widely varying levels of education, often through online or correspondence programs that are not accredited and do not qualify for the NPLEX or state licensure.

Knowing the difference helps you find the most qualified provider for your care, and that's something we're committed to making easier.

Expanding licensure. Raising standards. Connecting patients with the right doctors. That's what Naturopathic Medicine Week is all about. 🌿

Learn more: https://bit.ly/4sEoCPt

05/06/2026

At the heart of naturopathic medicine are six guiding principles that serve as a foundation of how NDs practice and care for every patient.

🌿 Healing Power of Nature: Your body has an innate ability to heal. NDs work with that intelligence, not against it.

🌿 Identify & Treat the Cause: Symptoms are signals. NDs dig deeper to find and address the root issue.

🌿 First, Do No Harm: The gentlest effective approach, always.

🌿 Doctor as Teacher: Empowering patients with knowledge to take charge of their own health.

🌿 Treat the Whole Person: Body, mind, emotions, environment — all of it matters.

🌿 Prevention: Because the best treatment is the one you never need.

These principles shape every appointment, every treatment plan, every patient relationship. That's what makes naturopathic care different.

Learn more: https://bit.ly/4dlXe4p

05/06/2026

Ever wonder what it actually takes to become a naturopathic doctor? 🎓🌿

The path to becoming an ND is a demanding one. It starts with a bachelor's degree and pre-med coursework, followed by a four-year, in-residence medical program with a minimum of 4,100 hours of classroom and clinical training. Online degrees aren't accepted, because hands-on experience isn't optional.

The curriculum covers the same biomedical sciences you'd expect from any medical program: Anatomy, biochemistry, diagnostic sciences, evidence-based medicine, plus four years of specialized training in:

💚 Clinical nutrition
💚 Botanical medicine
💚 Acupuncture
💚 Homeopathic medicine
💚 Physical medicine
💚 Counseling

By their third and fourth years, ND students are already diagnosing and treating patients in clinical settings and many schools are now introducing that hands-on experience even earlier.

After graduation, NDs must pass the NPLEX, a rigorous two-part licensing exam, before they can practice. Licensure is currently available in 26 U.S. jurisdictions — with more states working toward it.

NDs can also specialize in areas like oncology, pediatrics, gastroenterology, endocrinology, and psychiatry, bringing whole-person care to focused areas of medicine.

Thoroughly trained. Comprehensively prepared. 🌿Learn more: https://bit.ly/NDedu26

05/04/2026

Naturopathic Medicine Week kicks off today and we're diving in! 🌿

Naturopathic medicine goes beyond treating isolated symptoms. NDs look at the whole you: Your physical health, your mental and emotional well-being, your lifestyle, and everything in between — to find what's really driving your health challenges.

And the people who seek out this kind of care? They're dealing with some of the most common health concerns out there:

💚 Gastrointestinal disorders
💚 Women's health
💚 Fatigue
💚 Hormone imbalances
💚 Mental health
💚 Chronic pain

Sound familiar? You're not alone and you don't have to keep managing symptoms without real answers.

All week, we'll be exploring what naturopathic medicine has to offer: The training behind the practice, the issues shaping the field, and how to find the most qualified ND for your care.

Follow along. This week is for you.

🌿Learn more: https://bit.ly/3NnCQ8y

05/04/2026

Ever wonder if a naturopathic doctor is right for you? Here are some signs the answer might be yes. 🌿

✅ You're tired of being treated like a diagnosis instead of a person
✅ You want an individualized treatment plan built around your life, not a generic protocol
✅ You have nagging symptoms like trouble sleeping, chronic pain, skin issues, digestive problems, etc., and nobody has found the cause
✅ You want to be an active partner in your own health, not just a passive patient
✅ You've tried conventional options and still don't have answers

Naturopathic doctors spend up to an hour or more with you at your first visit. They listen to your full health picture, run comprehensive labs, and build a plan that addresses the root cause, not just the symptoms.

From allergies and hormonal imbalances to chronic fatigue and digestive issues, NDs treat a wide range of conditions and even work alongside your existing medical team.

Next week, we're celebrating what's possible when your doctor truly listens. 💚

05/04/2026

Next week is Naturopathic Medicine Week, and across the United States and Canada, naturopathic doctors and their patients will be celebrating a form of healthcare that's been quietly transforming lives.

Maybe you've heard of naturopathic medicine but aren't quite sure what it means. Maybe you're curious whether it could help you. Either way, we're glad you're here because that's exactly what this week is for.

This year's theme is Healthcare that Listens. Medicine that Looks Deeper captures something essential about how naturopathic doctors (NDs) practice: they take the time to hear your whole story, then look beyond your symptoms to find and treat the root cause of what's going on.

NDs see the body as an interconnected system: one with an extraordinary, inherent ability to heal. Their approach draws on a broad toolkit: nutritional counseling, botanical medicine, lifestyle modifications, and physical medicine. What makes this unique is that NDs are trained in both traditional diagnostics and natural therapies from day one, bringing together the best of modern science and time-tested healing methods.

All next week, May 3–9, we'll be unpacking what naturopathic medicine really looks like in practice: the philosophy, the methods, and the difference it can make for your health.
Follow along. Ask questions. Come curious. 🌿

04/23/2026

We’re excited to share that our bill for licensure of Naturopathic Doctors in Louisiana will move to committee next week.

This effort has been a collaborative one with many advocates of medical freedom, with a clear goal: to pursue licensure without disrupting or restricting others in the natural health community.
The bill has been amended and will no longer create a standalone regulating board. Instead, it proposes that Naturopathic Doctors be overseen as a committee within the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners.

Importantly, this bill does not restrict or change the services of:
* Traditional naturopaths
* Herbalists
* Life or health coaches
* Nutrition coaches
* Other natural healers

The bill clearly protects these professions in Section 3742 by stating that those who are not licensed under this chapter may continue to provide non-medical wellness services, education, coaching, nutritional guidance, homeopathy, herbal remedies, and other therapies within their training and scope of practice — as long as they do not use protected licensed titles or imply state licensure as a naturopathic doctor.
It also allows individuals to continue using the terms “traditional naturopath” or “naturopath,” provided they follow the disclosure requirements and do not imply licensure.

This bill does not change or alter existing Louisiana law, including RS 37:1742.1, which presently protects the work of traditional naturopaths and other natural health practitioners. That protective law is found here: https://www.legis.la.gov/legis/Law.aspx?p=y&d=321645

The only meaningful change for traditional naturopaths is clear title distinction between two different professions. This distinction is necessary to identify who has completed accredited medical training, earned a doctoral degree, and is therefore eligible for state medical licensure.

That clarity is what ultimately protects traditional naturopaths and preserves their ability to continue practicing as they always have under current law, without being monitored or assessed by the medical board.