Today we’d like to introduce you to Thor Conner.
Thor, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I have always been drawn to be a healer. From a young age, I learned the healing power of touch and that I had a knack for comforting people who were suffering. I started formalizing my learning with an apprenticeship in Reiki, then massage school. Massage school sparked my interest in natural medicine, which I explored while working at a health food store and running the supplement department. Eventually, my interest led me to become a naturopathic doctor, which I have found to be a good fit for my many eclectic skills. I have continued my education with a certification as a Nutrition Specialist. I find that combining my physical medicine skills, my intuition & counseling acumen, and my encyclopedic knowledge of natural therapies together, allows me to find a unique mix that works for each individual.
Has it been a smooth road?
There have been, of course, some bumps on the road. I had a late start with my formal medical training, giving up my career in retail to enter school at the age of 40. But I came to my education with a dedication that only life experience can provide. Having had health obstacles of my own, I have a deeper understanding of, and appreciation for, the quest for health. A final difficulty is the lack of awareness of naturopathic medicine itself. Although many want to use natural medicine, few know that there are doctors like myself who are experts in natural health. This includes the state of Illinois, where naturopathic medicine is not yet regulated.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the World Tree Natural Medicine story. Tell us more about the business.
In 2014, my wife and I opened our practice, World Tree Natural Medicine in Oakbrook Terrace.
We are both naturopathic doctors with slightly different approaches to treatment. I focus on physical and spiritual medicine, as well as Western botanicals and nutrition. My wife Kristina uses Chinese medicine, acupuncture, and Asian botanicals in addition to her naturopathic medicine skills. Our complementary approaches give us the ability to address most types of chronic conditions, although we find best results with long-term pain, hormonal imbalances, GI problems, and stress-related ailments. We are pleased that our small practice allows us to individualize treatment options while getting positive results and remaining affordable to patients.
How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
Interest in natural medicine is growing, and naturopathic doctors are poised to lead this trend with rational, evidenced-based use of natural therapies. Our science-based education and respect for traditional medicine allows us to integrate into the rest of the healthcare system well, and complement all types of conventional and alternative medical care. Where we integrate naturopathic medicine with other forms of care, we find encouraging results that not only help prevent & manage disease, but help improve patient’s quality of living. As healthcare becomes increasingly more challenging to provide, naturopathic doctors are ready to do our part in the prevention of illness.
Contact Info:
- Address: World Tree Natural Medicine
17W703-F Butterfield Road,
Oakbrook Terrace, IL 60181 - Website: www.thehealingpowerofnature.com, www.worldtreenaturalmedicine.com
- Phone: 630-359-5522
- Email: worldtree@comcast.net
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/worldtreenaturalmedicine
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/mightydrthor
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/world-tree-natural-medicine-oakbrook-terrace
- Other: https://worldtreenaturalmedicine.wordpress.com/
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