ABOUT

Dr. Sara Rodgers, NMD/ND, C.Ac

Since 2011,  I have owned and operated Idaho Naturopathic Medicine.  I hold licenses in Oregon for naturopathic medicine and Idaho for acupuncture.

I believe in listening to my patients and providing patient centered care.

Why I became a naturopathic physician

My journey to becoming a naturopathic physician probably started when I was 5 years old. My father had just bought a new car. A Renault 20 was an odd choice, but as kids we were super excited.

Unfortunately, that excitement didn’t last very long. As soon as I got into the car, I realized that I was going to be sick every time I got into it.

I didn’t know it at the time, but my detoxification system is slow, meaning I can’t break down volatile organic compounds very quickly. Today, we use the term chemical sensitivity to describe this condition. What my 5-year old self did know is that the new car smell made me feel sick. I didn’t just feel nauseous, I felt sick in my whole body. I knew this car and me were not going to be friends.

That experience and others that followed, including achieving a mouth full of silver dental fillings (e.g., mercury amalgams), made me very prone to feeling awful when exposed to chemicals. A hyper vigilance of toxic exposure led me to learning about environmental science as a masters student in environmental toxicology and environmental medicine as a naturopathic medical student.

Since graduating from naturopathic school in 2004, I have learned how to recognize and treat individual intolerances that lead to inflammation, imbalanced blood sugars, nutritional deficiencies, mood disorders, autoimmune disorders, and more.  As a naturopathic physician, my personal experience provides a basis for empathy that each of us can suffer in invisible ways.  I am excited that I chose a profession that allows me to provide the individualized care that combines traditional healing remedies with modern, evidence-based treatments. I believe that both worlds are needed to heal us all.

Education:

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  • BS, Biology. Oregon State University.
  • MS, Environmental Science (toxicology thesis). Western Washington University.
  • ND Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine and Health Sciences (SCNM).
  • Family Practice Residency.

Current Licenses

  • Oregon: Naturopathic Physician
  • Idaho: Naturopathic Medical Doctor, Acupuncture