Biography
Dr. Curtis' Clinic Website
I am Dr. Shannon Curtis, a registered naturopathic doctor (ND). I was raised with Western medicine, taking ibuprofen for every headache and antibiotics or cough suppressants every time I was sick. As a teenager, I went on the birth control pill to manage heavy and irregular menses, and shortly thereafter experienced the tumultuous side effects of depression, anxiety, severe acne, and weight gain amongst many other physical ailments. Conventional medicine didn’t seem to have an answer for this. I tried pharmaceutical after pharmaceutical for my mood, only to suffer from each drug’s side effects without experiencing any true relief. For years, I felt disconnected from life itself and deeply flawed as a human being. My depression and anxiety were not just side effects. The birth control pill was a powerful catalyst that revealed an underlying imbalance within my body and mind—an imbalance ultimately rooted in living out of alignment with nature.
And then something shifted. It started as a gentle nudge from the natural world—gradually opening my eyes to the beauty of the Earth and the medicine found in plants—until I realized with deep understanding that nature has all the tools that I could ever need to heal myself, and that as a human being intricately woven into the fabric of the natural world, this meant that I had the power to heal myself. This realization was incredibly empowering: I had never before known that there were any other options besides conventional medications. With the help of naturopathic medicine, I got off of my pharmaceuticals, and I learned to trust in myself and the intrinsic wisdom of my body. Over time, all of my symptoms improved with natural therapies (and were not just “managed”), my skin was clear, and I had significantly more energy, experienced more joy, and felt more engaged with my life.
While I recognize the value of all medical approaches and the important role that conventional medicine plays in our healthcare system, I believe we too often utilize invasive or suppressive therapies when more gentle treatments would be effective, especially in the realm of chronic disease. As a naturopathic doctor, I have witnessed the importance of supporting the body’s self-healing capabilities rather than suppressing its attempts to communicate when it is imbalanced. My goal is to help you reawaken to your wholeness and vibrancy by using natural therapies to restore your health, as you deserve to be happy and joyful, feel vital and healthy, and create a meaningful and fulfilling life.
I’d love to hear your story and work together on your path to health and well-being.
My Approach
While I was trained and practiced previously as a primary care doctor in the state of Oregon, I am dedicated to a truly holistic approach to naturopathic healthcare by focusing on treating the whole person (body, mind, and spirit) with an emphasis on uncovering the root cause. Our bodies use symptoms to communicate what systems are out of balance, and as a naturopathic doctor, I listen fully to your story and use your symptoms as clues to help guide my approach to restoring your health. I believe that the body, like the rest of nature, is wise and will heal itself given the right conditions. My role as a naturopathic doctor is to support your body while it does the healing. I use natural, gentle therapies that stimulate the body’s innate self-healing mechanisms, including nutritional and lifestyle modifications, botanical medicine, homeopathy, bodywork (including Maya abdominal massage, pelvic floor therapy, and craniosacral), and other holistic therapies. I work with you to find therapies that will not only effectively address your individual symptom picture, but that also resonate with your lifestyle and personal needs, as medicine only works when you are willing and able to use and engage with it.