Get to know Aidanne MacDonald-Milewski, a Naturopathic Doctor with an integrative practice in South Minneapolis.
Tell us about your business. What do you do?
As a naturopathic doctor, I provide health care that addresses patient wellness through health promotion, disease prevention, and management of underlying causes of a patient’s health concern. My philosophy is to educate and empower my patients to achieve sustainable, optimal health and wellness that suits their individual needs.
How do you approach your area of expertise (what makes you different?)
I commonly use botanical medicines, nutritional supplements, counseling, and hydrotherapy as I’ve found these treatments to be most effective. I also engage all of my patients in discussions on how to harness food as medicine, and believe that substantial healing comes from how we choose to fuel our bodies.
What drew you to this work?
Starting at a very young age, I knew I wanted to become a doctor. During my childhood, I was fortunate to have very close relationships with my grandparents and also visited a lot of nursing homes with my mom who represented seniors needs as guardian ad litem. Those experiences allowed me to see how polypharmacy and chronic disease can impact both individuals and their families. Witnessing these health struggles at a young age sparked my interest in medicine. It wasn’t until I was in undergraduate school that I became aware of naturopathic medicine and found that the fundamental principles of this approach resonated with what I aimed to achieve in practice.
“Many people who have heard of a naturopathic approach believe it to be an “alternative” to conventional medicine. This is not the case, as the principles and practices of naturopathic medicine are complimentary to conventional medicine and excel in chronic disease management.”
Aidanne MacDonald-Milewski, ND
What do you love about your job?
I love educating and inspiring those that I partner with to take their health into their own hands. I also love seeing the quality of life and health improvements that they experience as a result of changing how they eat or care for themselves. It is one of the most fulfilling experiences to see people feel better.
Describe the person that is best fit for you and your services.
My practice is family based, so I work with those of all ages. I partner with a lot of people living with GI concerns such as heartburn, IBS, constipation, diarrhea and bloating after meals. Children with GI concerns or skin conditions such as eczema often respond well to my approach. I also work with women and men to address hormone balance, thyroid concerns, sleep disturbances, and graceful aging (i.e. arthritis, osteoporosis, cognitive function, etc.). A particular clinical passion of mine is supporting those living with cardiovascular disease and risk factors such as high blood pressure, cholesterol, and diabetes.
What results can people see when they work with you? What’s possible?
It depends on the health concerns that you are looking to work on! For example, I have seen success in helping those with:
- IBS symptoms such as loose stool, bloating, or constipation that are not responding to conventional treatments
- Heartburn unrelieved by Prilosec
- Eczema or acne that does not improve with topical creams
- Borderline cholesterol, blood pressure or pre-diabetes and want to prevent the need for taking medication
- Arthritis and are looking for pain management outside of taking NSAIDs
- Headaches after they eat meals
If you are interested in learning more about what Naturopathic medicine can provide you, I offer complimentary 10-minute discovery calls to all prospective new patients. You can schedule your call using the following link: https://www.draidannemm.com/services
What do you wish more people understood about what you do?
Although my profession is growing, I wish more people knew about naturopathic medicine in general. Many people who have heard of a naturopathic approach believe it to be an “alternative” to conventional medicine. This is not the case, as the principles and practices of naturopathic medicine are complimentary to conventional medicine and excel in chronic disease management.
What’s fascinating you right now?
Currently, I am working to develop a Grocery Education consultation for my patients. The goal of this is to make the fundamentals of nutrition more tangible through guidance on how to choose which foods come home with you!
In what ways do you find yourself working alongside other health + wellness professionals?
A current mission of mine is to connect with other local health providers in my area to learn about their practices and build my referral network. I refer to and collaborate with other members of my patient’s care team where appropriate, as no one provider can address all concerns. While at Wellness Minneapolis, I was one of a group of holistic health care providers including acupuncturists, massage therapists, physical therapists and other naturopathic doctors serving our local community.
What does self care look like to you right now?
To me, self-care is a fluid thing that changes depending on the season or my life circumstances at the time. Some days, it’s having a warm cup of tea while I read and crochet. Other times, it’s enjoying a meal while out with friends. The most consistent staples of self-care for me include engaging in physical activity (ie. biking, walking, yoga, sailing, etc.), connecting with others, and eating well. I love to cook! I think the most important piece to self-care is carving time out of my busy schedule to tune into whatever needs I have that day. Although it seems like something that should come with ease, self-care is a practice that takes effort. I’m still working on it!
What do you love about living and working in the Twin Cities?
Last year, my husband and I relocated from Milwaukee to the Twin Cities. After a year of living here, I absolutely love having access to beautiful parks, lakes, and a convenient transit infrastructure. I enjoy biking so for me it’s fun to get on the Greenway or Parkway and explore while being physically active.
Favorite local restaurants?
As I’m based in south Minneapolis, some of my favorite local restaurants include:
Other favorite local businesses in the Twin Cities?
It’s hard to choose, but I know that I lose a lot of time in Mother Earth Gardens and Tare Market. Also, I enjoy seeing new releases with my husband at the Riverview Theater.
What’s your favorite social media platform, and where can people connect with you on social media?
Most of the content that I share on social media can be found on Instagram and Facebook.
How can people work with you?
I am still accepting new patients, and offer both in-person and virtual visits. If you are interested in connecting, please either call my office at (612)643-9387 or schedule a complimentary 10-minute discovery call online to see if your health goals are a good fit for my practice: https://www.draidannemm.com/services. It would be a pleasure to work with you!