Dr. Andy Swanson graduated in 2005 from the National College of Naturopathic Medicine in Portland, Oregon. There he completed requirements for licensure as a Naturopathic physician and Classical Chinese doctor. Following school, he completed a 2-year residency. Throughout his studies and doctoring he has explored first hand how other cultures perceive medicine and the human body. His current practice weaves these global perspectives into a medical model grounded in a complete understanding of anatomy, physiology, and the diagnosis and treatment of disease. This includes the use of diagnostic labs and imaging when necessary. 

He brings a deep understanding of the Chinese culture, enhanced through travel in China and seven years of study in the ancient Chinese tradition of Qi Gong. Similar to Tai Chi, the movements of Qi Gong are designed to balance the body, mind, and spirit to increase energy and compassion for life. While a typical visit with Dr. Swanson will often involve acupuncture and naturopathic medical techniques, it is not uncommon for a patient to leave a visit with a Qi Gong move to assist in the healing process.

In addition to energetic modalities, Dr. Swanson offers a unique specialty in intravenous vitamin and mineral infusions (IV therapy). IV therapy allows the practitioner to transport nutrients into the body that would otherwise be hindered by malabsorption, poor digestion, and other maladies. Through this creative process, nutrient deficiencies are instantly corrected and patients often experience relatively quick turnarounds with otherwise hard-to-treat conditions, such as chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, irritable bowel syndrome, Crohn’s disease, and ulcerative colitis. It is also a wonderful supportive therapy for those suffering from cancer, multiple sclerosis, autoimmune disease, hepatitis, anxiety, and depression. Each IV is formulated using traditional recipes designed for specific conditions, modifying nutrients to meet the needs of the patient.

Dr. Swanson has devoted years to refining his treatment and understanding of the brain and nervous system. Born out of his personal battle with a nervous system disorder at age 23, he has developed practical ways to heal conditions such as depression, TBI, stroke, anxiety, insomnia, migraines, and other nervous system related disorders. He integrates cutting edge theories of the brain with traditional Naturopathic and Chinese medical approaches designed to heal the nervous system. In his 2005 thesis, Recovery from Mild Traumatic Brain Injury: Restoring Relationships Between Body, Mind, Self and Environment, he explores naturopathic modalities such as nutrition, Qi Gong, and biofeedback that can be used to restore proper nerve connections and re-pattern the brain.

To add to Dr. Swanson’s multicultural approach, he is familiar with the traditions of Yaqui herbal medicine, which he learned during his apprenticeship with a native American elder in Mexico. He honors his relationship with medicinal plants and their important role in the healing process. His fluency in Spanish makes him our first bilingual doctor at Urban Wellness Group.