Dr. Nathan McVeigh

My own journey

Before graduating from the National College of Naturopathic Medicine (NCNM) in 2011, I earned Bachelor of Arts degrees in Psychology and in Ancient Greek and Roman Studies and a Bachelor of Science degree in Biochemistry premed at Portland State University. After graduating from NCNM, I completed their one-year residency program while co-creating a multi-practitioner naturopathic medical clinic and birth center in the western hills of Portland. I found that naturopathic medicine practioners, being so unique in the philosophy of patient care compared to western conventional medicine, need different ways of serving the community than maximizing the amount of people coming in for office visits. This approach inevitably leads to treatment plans becoming less personalized and less effective and more formatted to fit the time-consuming demand of a high volume of patients.

My own wellness journey began as I left the Portland hills to move in with my grandmother in Seattle to take over her care in her home. While caring for her, my background in understanding nutritional science earned me a position as director of a cooking school in the Queen Anne neighborhood, teaching cooking with whole foods to the community. I also helped run a facility out of a large private home that was designated for people with multiple chemical sensitivities and allergies who were visiting Seattle for various medical treatments; the facility was maintained to be as hypoallergenic and chemical-free as possible at all times. I was referred to a family in Tacoma seeking advance home care in order to keep one of the family members out of hospitals and out of a care facility. My experience working with this family can best be described as holistic home-centered wellness, or home-based concierge medicine. The focus of my fulltime work was only devoted to the healthcare and wellness needs of a small number of individuals who got instant direct access to me as their physician at all times during business hours when I would be in their home. I colloborated their home care with their MD primary care physician, who greatly reduced the medications he prescibed, as the clear results of diet and comprehensive lifestyle changes made these pharmaceuticals no longer necessary in his view.

After six years of working with this family, I returned to Portland in 2024 to be closer to my own family who lives around the Oregon City area. I am excited to bring to patients the knowledge I have gained in my own quest for a better way to inspire health and wellness to individuals in my community.

Brutus, a hypoallergenic miniature schnauzer, often joins patient visits

Naturopathic Primary Care

In Oregon, naturopathic physicians are recognized as licensed primary care providers, which means I have the authority to deliver comprehensive healthcare services to patients. Naturopathic physicians complete extensive education, earning a Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine (ND) degree from an accredited naturopathic medical school, and they also undergo rigorous clinical training. As a licensed provider, I have the ability to prescribe medications the same as medical doctors (MDs). This includes a range of pharmaceuticals that can be crucial in managing various health conditions. Additionally, I am authorized to order laboratory tests and diagnostic imaging, enabling myself to assess patients' health comprehensively and to develop tailored treatment plans. Naturopathic physicians can even perform minor surgery, such as suturing up wounds and taking skin biopsies. My scope of practice emphasizes a holistic approach to healthcare, integrating both conventional and alternative therapies, such as herbal medicines and neutriceuticals. I focus on preventative care and finding the root causes of health issues, which aligns with my training in natural medicine practices. Being licensed as a primary care provider allows me to be a valuable resource for individuals seeking a more integrative approach to their health and wellness.

Holistic Mental Health & Wellness

Holistic mental health is an approach to mental well-being that considers the whole person – mind, body, and spirit – in the treatment and prevention of mental health issues. It emphasizes the interconnectedness of various aspects of a person's life, including physical, emotional, social, and environmental factors, in understanding and addressing mental health concerns.

Practitioners of holistic mental health focus on treating the individual as a whole, rather than just targeting symptoms or specific mental health disorders. This approach often involves a combination of conventional and complementary therapies to promote mental wellness and balance. Techniques such as mindfulness, meditation, yoga, nutrition, exercise, psychotherapy, and stress management are commonly used in holistic mental health care.

Holistic mental health practitioners work with clients to identify underlying causes of mental health challenges, address imbalances in various areas of life, and develop personalized treatment plans that support mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being. By taking a comprehensive and integrative approach to mental health, holistic practices aim to empower individuals to achieve greater overall health and vitality.

LENS Neurofeedback [now available!]

LENS Neurofeedback: LENS (Low Energy Neurofeedback System) Neurofeedback is a form of neurofeedback therapy that uses low-energy electromagnetic signals to provide feedback to the brain and help regulate brainwave activity. LENS Neurofeedback is a non-invasive and passive treatment approach that aims to optimize brain function and promote mental well-being.

In the context of mental health and wellness, LENS Neurofeedback can be used to address a wide range of issues, including anxiety, depression, ADHD, PTSD, and other mental health conditions. By detecting and correcting irregular patterns of brainwave activity, LENS Neurofeedback helps the brain self-regulate and function more efficiently, leading to improvements in mood, cognition, and emotional stability.

During a LENS Neurofeedback session, sensors are placed on the individual's scalp to measure brainwave activity, while the LENS device sends low-energy electromagnetic signals to the brain. These signals help reset and optimize neural pathways, promoting better brain function and overall mental wellness. Over the course of multiple sessions, clients may experience reduced symptoms, enhanced focus, improved cognitive performance, and a greater sense of calm and well-being.