Dr. Dawna Sweeney

Your Journey With Me:
If you have found Naturopathic Medicine, then it is likely that you have done your research.  In fact, you have probably done so much research that everything seems to contradict everything else: keto is the way to go, but a high-fat diet is dangerous; should you suppress or stimulate the immune system for autoimmune disease?  Add in recommendations from well-meaning family and friends, social media, podcasts, and advertising, and you have a perfect recipe for analysis paralysis.

I understand the confusion.  I have trained for 4 years at a Naturopathic Medical School to understand how the body is supposed to function, how things can go wrong, and how to work with the body’s natural processes to set them right.  All of the recommendations work for some of the people some of the time, and that is why everything seems so contradictory.  It is my job to help you understand what is going to work for you, in your unique situation, with your unique preferences, to help you resolve chronic health complaints and experience your best life.

 

Dr. Sweeney specializes in:

• Digestive Disorders (IBS, Constipation, Gas/Bloating, Food Intolerance)
• Mood Dysfunction (Depression, Anxiety)
• Hormone Balancing (PMS, Heavy Bleeding, Irregular Cycles)
• Thyroid and Adrenal Disorders
• Autoimmune Disease
• Detoxification
• Immune Support
• Chronic/Recurrent UTI
• Chronic Illness (Diabetes, Cardiovascular Disease, Metabolic Syndrome)
• Primary Care

Dr. Dawna Sweeney Education:
I am a licensed Naturopathic Doctor in the State of California.  I began my educational journey at UCSD studying Molecular Biology.  I received a BS, then attended CSUEB, and earned a Master of Science in Molecular Biology.  After working in research for a year, I found naturopathic medicine and resonated so much with the philosophy that I quit research and earned my Doctorate in Naturopathic Medicine at Bastyr University, San Diego.  I completed one year of residency at Bastyr, where I gained experience in primary care, hormone balance, autoimmune disease, environmental medicine, and more.

 

Dr. Dawna Sweeney Professional Associations:

• Naturopathic Medicine Institute (NMI)
• American Association of Naturopathic Physicians (AANP)
• Gastroenterology Association of Naturopathic Physicians (GastroANP)
• International College of Applied Kinesiology (ICAK)

 

 

How I Got Here:
Born and raised in small mountain towns, I used to play in the woods and wonder about all of the plants, especially their medicinal properties.  My father taught me a lot about the plants and how the Natives used them, but then he would say “Thank goodness we have real medicine now.”  He was referring to pharmaceuticals, as he was a medical doctor.  I always aspired to be a doctor, so I studied Cellular and Molecular Biology in college and declared myself pre-med.  When it came time to apply to medical schools, I chose traditional medical schools, because they were teaching the practice of “real medicine,” or so I thought.  However, my essays betrayed my love and respect for nature and the natural order of things, and I was not welcomed at any of the traditional schools.  When I found Bastyr, I knew why I wasn’t accepted: because this was my path.  I was meant to learn how to support the body’s natural healing processes, not merely suppress symptoms with high-powered drugs. I have great respect for traditional medicine and surgery, as it surely has a place in healthcare and referrals are sometimes necessary.  However, it never ceases to amaze me how much the body can do by itself when provided with the right conditions.  I now have the honor of helping others provide the right conditions for their bodies to heal.   I learned to practice Real Medicine.

 

 

Availability:

• Monday 8-12 (Virtual or In Person)
• Tuesday 8-12 (Virtual or In Person)
• Wednesday 9-6 (Virtual or In Person)
• Thursday 8-12 (Virtual or In Person)
• Thursday 1-5 (Virtual)