Dr. Heather M. Veronesi: Canton’s Own Naturopathic Physician

Canton’s medical community may be small but for the past year and a half has included a licensed Naturopathic Physician.

After six years at Northwest Holistic Health Center in Torrington, Dr. Heather M. Veronesi opened Mobile Medical on Route 44.

“I just wanted to come out this way,” she said. “It’s a better place to practice.”

As one might expect, Veronesi is not your typical physician but the differences don’t always match stereotypes.

Striking is her office, which lacks a desk and provides patients with a comfortable, relaxing space. Veronesi said she doesn’t want to place any barriers between her and a patient.

“I feel like you have that personal connection,” she said, adding that she only somewhat reluctantly gone to computerized files which sometimes necessitates having a screen there.

Veronesi, who earned her doctorate at the University of Bridgeport College of Naturopathic Medicine, said the training is the same except for a residency. N.D.s don't prescribe medicines but rather rely on techniques such as Vitamins, minerals, diet, lifestyle, acupuncture and homeopathy. 

“It’s only my treatment that’s going to be different,” Veronesi said.

Veronesi especially believes in lifestyle, saying that no treatment can fully make up for consistently bad choices.

“If you’re going to eat fast food three times a day supplements aren’t going to help you,” she said.

In other cases, such as with children, a diet with MSG can cause an over-stimulation, she said.

There are other choices as well, according to Veronesi.

But Veronesi does not always rule out "traditional" medicine and ocassionally refers people to an M.D. She also she realizes people need to make their own choices.

“It’s not about what I feel is best,” she said. “It’s about your individual goals as a patient.”

In some cases, her patients choose a mix of the “conventional” and natural.

She, for example, helps several cancer patients going through radiation or chemotherapy with ways to minimize the side effects.

With Lyme disease, the treament sometimes calls for a mixed approach. 

"When Lyme disease is caught in its acute phase antibiotics should always be a part of the consideration because of the aggressiveness," Veronesi wrote to Patch. "Herbs and nutritional therapies are more effective in chronic Lyme or when used in conjunction with antibiotics for acute Lyme. These therapies address more of the underlying immune system problems as well as working to address the infection itself."

Veronesi said her business is somewhat in transition.

“It’s growing,” she said. “The business is changing a little bit.”

Her business name hints at that change. More and more, Veronesi is working on offering businesses daily clinics, such as providing on-site physicals for its employees.

But whether it’s a local business or someone in the office Veronesi has enjoyed working in the community. Her 2 and a half-year old son Antonio keeps her quite busy but she’s managed to make some time for out-of-work connections, such as with members of the Canton Chamber of Commerce, which she’s belonged to for about a year.

Veronesi is located at 191 Albany Turnpike, Suite 309. To make an appointment or inquire about a mobile visit or seminar, call 860-601-1318

More about Veronesi and her medical philosophy can be found on her facebook page.