Naturopath at Natural Health Center

Dr. Birgit Lenger is a naturopathic physician in general family practice and welcomes patients of all backgrounds. As a naturopath, she enjoys caring for people in all stages of life, from infancy and adolescence through advanced age. She helps patients and families overcome obstacles to health, thrive and achieve lasting wellness.

Power of naturopathic medicine
While a premed undergraduate student, Dr. Lenger discovered naturopathic medicine and knew immediately that this was the style of medicine she wanted to practice. She appreciated the time that naturopaths spent with their patients using a whole-person approach to medicine versus a disease-centered model.

Dr. Lenger obtained her Bachelor of Science degree in biopsychology from the University of British Columbia and went on to graduate from Bastyr University in 2001 with a doctorate in naturopathic medicine. She joined Natural Health Center in 2001 and enjoys collaborating with her wonderful integrative medicine colleagues there. She continues to be inspired daily by the power of naturopathic medicine to transform peoples’ lives.

Management for a variety of conditions
Dr. Lenger has helped patients manage a variety of conditions including:

• Diabetes

• Allergies

• Asthma

• Skin conditions

• Digestive disorders

• Cancer

• Gynecological conditions

• Thyroid and hormone imbalances

• Autoimmune disease

• Heart-related issues.

She focuses on finding the root cause of illness and supporting the body to heal itself rather than just treating symptoms. She is interested in epigenetics and exploring the multitude of factors that influence health. When appropriate, she orders conventional lab testing in addition to using a functional medicine approach to identify areas that require correction. She utilizes nutritional therapies, botanicals, detoxification therapy, homeopathy and counseling to prevent illness and restore vitality.

An emphasis on prevention
Naturopathic medicine emphasizes prevention and, to that end, Dr. Lenger spends a good amount of time with her patients on education about healthy lifestyle choices. She finds this collaboration helps people to be successful in taking charge of their health.

She works together with patients to create an individualized holistic treatment plan to meet specific needs, whether for an acute or chronic illness. She explores all aspects of health, including physical, mental and emotional health. The interplay between digestive health and its effect on neurotransmitters, cognitive function and mood is one example of the interconnectedness of human body systems. A holistic approach therefore may incorporate supporting the gut microbiome to reach optimal health. Other times the key to wellness may be identifying a nutritional deficiency to open the door to better sleep and energy.

Dr. Lenger often sees patients with complex histories and multiple health conditions, and enjoys the detective work required to undercover the underlying cause of illness and ultimately a path towards healing. She strives for her patients to feel that they have been heard and have a partner on their journey to better health. She very much values the deep connections and relationship she shares with her patients.

About Dr. Lenger, naturopath
Dr. Lenger is a board member of the Alaska Association of Naturopathic Physicians and a member of the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians. She acted as co-chair on the board for Alaska Community Action on Toxics for many years. She has lectured about the effects of toxic materials on human health at various conferences over the years and continues to promote clean, safe and healthy living environments.

She enjoys spending time with her family and friends in the great Alaskan outdoors exploring, foraging for edibles, hiking, biking kayaking, and skiing. She is a strong believer in the healing power of nature.

Contact us today to learn more or schedule your appointment with Dr. Lenger.