potrero view

October 2009

There’s a Naturopathic Doctor in the Neighborhood

By Sarah Marloff

In August Carl Hangee-Bauer and his wife Michele celebrated San Francisco Natural Medicine’s 20th anniversary.  The business was originally called Soma Acupuncture and Natural Health Clinic, and for nine years was located on Folsom Street. In 1998 Hangee-Bauer was walking his dog down the block from his house and noticed the “practice closing” sign in the window of 1615 20th Street. He and his wife, who serves as the clinic’s office manager, soon met with the landlords and signed a 15-year lease.

Hangee-Bauer decided to pursue a career in naturopathic medicine after completing his four years as an officer in the Army Medical Service Corps, stationed at Fort Lewis, Washington. “I got interested in running and natural foods and getting more fit. Some of my friends in Seattle had gone on to become naturopathic doctors. It’s common sense medicine, with a lot of first steps people have to make in order to take care or themselves. And then it hit me.” He graduated with an degree in Naturopathic Medicine from Bastyr University in 1984. After completing a year of residency at Bastyr, he and Michele decided to move south for “better weather.”

Unlike Washington, natural medicine wasn’t licensed in California.  Hangee-Bauer decided to enroll in the San Francisco College of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine, since acupuncture and naturopathic medicine share similar ideologies. “I really like acupuncture. It gets good results and people like it. If it didn’t work it would have gone out of fashion years ago.” Today, Hangee-Bauer uses acupuncture to enhance the naturopathic process.  For example, according to Hangee-Bauer acupuncture is a good way to begin to address allergies, enabling patients to make progress while dietary changes and herbal remedies take root. “Eventually [the patient] will need the acupuncture less and less.”

Hangee-Bauer was one of 15 founders of the California Naturopathic Association.  After several legislative attempts, natural medicine was licensed by the state in 2003.  Two years later Hangee-Bauer was the second practitioner in California to be licensed.  The clinic quickly broadened its treatment modalities, employing herbal medicines, focusing on dietary changes, and acupuncture.  Today, San Francisco Natural Medicine has two other naturopathic doctors, as well as a massage therapist and other health care providers. “Think of the family doctor. That’s who we are except we use natural medicine. We don’t just cover up symptoms, we look for the cause; and if someone needs to see a doctor we have a great relationship with Dr. Justin Davis.” Dr. Davis, who practices western medicine, also lives and works on Potrero Hill.

The Hangee-Bauers’ originally intended to move to Monterey as soon as Carl finished acupuncture school, but the couple “fell in love with Potrero Hill, so we bought a house here and just stayed. We’ve lived on the Hill for 24 years now.  Michele has been an officer of the Potrero Association of Merchants and Business. We have deep roots on Potrero Hill.”  Many of the clinic’s patients live in the neighborhood. “We feel kind of like a community clinic, but we see a lot of people from all over. Some patients come from San Jose and Sacramento, they seek out [naturopathic medicine].”

 Dr Hangee-Bauer was recently elected president of the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians, with a term that extends to 2012. “I’ve been involved with naturopathic politics for years. Working to bring it to more people and give them choices other than just which HMO to join…The word ‘doctor’ means to teach, as in to teach people how to take care of themselves. They need you for a while and then they can figure it out on their own. I’m really glad I stumbled into this. I’ve met a lot of nice people and I feel like I walk lightly on this earth. If I wanted to get rich I would have become a plastic surgeon.”


 
 

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