From this background, Dr. Sexton has developed a keen interest in patients, the biochemical causation of “dis-ease” and the natural pharmacy that can aid their recovery. Part of what she incorporates into her healing practice is story-telling as medicine. The patient’s body can be a symbol of the mythology of their life. Each has a story to tell both with physical symptoms and personal narrative. Appointments will focus on close listening to hear the underlying biologic and psychic themes in the patient’s life. In this sense, the imperative of “treating the whole person” starts on a basic level of assisting the patient in creating a new script for their life story.
Dr. Sexton’s primary interest is in naturopathic complementary care of patients with neurological disease. This has been the topic of research she focused on while studying at Bastyr and in her work at the University of Washington. She is prepared to support patients with chronic neurologic problems, many of which have no “cure” in conventional medicine. She has experience in the management of Parkinson Disease, Multiple Sclerosis, ALS, ADD/ADHD, neurological viral sequelae, depression and vitamin and mineral deficiencies.
Dr. Sexton’s original passion was women’s health, as it was her first love as a caregiver. Her personal experience includes giving birth to five of her own children, nurturing four teenage daughters, (and one son) and personal experience with ‘peri-menopause’. She has now lived most of the spectrum of reproductive life, which gives her a unique, credible and authentic approach to women’s health. She has completed a review article on “Phytoestrogens and Women’s Health” and through 200 hours of clinical experience with Dr. Nancy Welliver and Jane Guiltinan (NDs at Bastyr Center for Natural Health) is prepared to meet the varied challenges that the continuum of women’s health brings to her female patients. Care provided includes well-woman gynecologic care, hormone balancing, treating PMS, PMDD, insomnia, mood imbalances, and irregularities in the menstrual cycle.
In her clinical training at Bastyr University, Dr. Sexton had the opportunity to validate that her hands are the most sensitive diagnostic tools. The importance of both physical exam and the therapeutic benefit of touch is a fundamental principle of care. From excellent instruction she easily mastered manipulation techniques, neuromuscular therapy and hydrotherapy techniques for treating both chronic and acute musculoskeletal pain. Her grandfather, Dr. Ewell Hunt, was a General Practitioner (MD) and the first thing he ever did in the room with a patient was to touch them, both as a way of gaining information about and establishing a connection with his patients. Dr. Sexton hopes to emulate this aspect of the art of medicine.
Why would anyone want to have nutrients injected into a vein, when they can just eat a healthy diet or take vitamins?
There are many factors that affect our nutrient uptake. Absorption and transport of nutrients in the gut is a primary factor, one that decreases with age, stress, and/or illness. There are many essential micronutrients for proper functioning of the 55,000 enzymes at work in the human body. Among these are metal ions such as magnesium, selenium, calcium, iron, manganese, molybdenum, and vitamins like B12, B6, B2, B1, folic acid, niacin and Vitamin C. Getting these nutrients to target tissues can be challenging for those with chronic inflammatory bowel disease, chronic viral infections or patients being treated with chemotherapy. IV micronutrient therapy supplies a therapeutic or pharmacologic dose of ordinary nutrients in high concentration. These necessary elements are needed for normal metabolism, in particular for resolution of acute or chronic illness. The choice of what might be included in an IV infusion is based on history of the present illness, clinical symptoms of nutrient deficiency and laboratory testing.
health-care plans or individual appointments:
Dr. Sexton was a primary care provider and sole proprietor of Fruit of the Womb Midwifery Care in Texas for ten years. She provided prenatal, labor and delivery, postpartum, newborn and well-woman gynecologic care. During this time she attended over 100 births and gave very personalized, continuous care to women, including ordering and interpreting labwork, nutritional counseling, newborn exams, follow-up care. She worked in concert with local MD providers, Health Departments, and labor and delivery/NICU units. Prior to private practice She also taught childbirth education classes at University Medical Center in Lubbock Texas where she was a patient advocate and assisted doctors and nurses in labor and delivery.
Prior to medical school, Dr. Sexton completed correspondence study with Sage Mountain Herbal Center, Rosemary Gladstar, instructor. Completion of this course earned me a Certificate in Herbology. Her midwifery practice was infused with the use of herbal therapies. Botanical medicine is a strong foundation of Dr. Sexton’s therapeutic approach.