Maui Integrative Medicine | Kihei, HI | Teri Jackson Naturopathic Physician

Meet Dr. Jackson

Naturopathic and Integrative Medicine Specialist

Dr. Teri Jackson is a formally trained Naturopathic Physician licensed to practice medicine in the state of Hawaii. She graduated from Bastyr University in Seattle, Washington with a doctorate degree in Naturopathic Medicine where she trained with the most influential experts and pioneers of evidence-based natural medicine. She received her undergraduate degree in Anthropology and Northwest Coast Archaeology from Portland State University and worked as a field archaeologist in SW Washington and NW Oregon during the 1990’s. As an interesting and unexpected segue into the world of alternative health care, it was this experience of studying the diet and herbal traditions of native Northwest Coast tribes that led Dr. Jackson’s

passion for natural medicine.

Dr. Jackson’s philosophy of medicine is deeply rooted in the traditional healing systems of North America and Europe, where Naturopathic Medicine developed and began its evolution more than 200 years ago. She is skilled at integrating natural medical principles with modern, evidence-based therapies. She utilizes therapeutic modalities such as botanical medicine, homeopathic remedies, nutritional supplements, individualized diets, body work and pharmaceutical medications to promote physical, mental, and emotional well-being.

Dr. Jackson also has advanced training in integrative oncology by the Metabolic Terrain Institute of Health (MTIH), and practices using the Metabolic Approach to Cancer as taught by Dr. Nasha Winters, ND, FABNO. While Dr. Jackson is not a board-certified oncologist and does not claim to treat cancer directly, she does work with cancer patients to support their overall resilience so that they may thrive in the context of their illness. She takes a whole-person approach as opposed to a tumor-centric approach, helping individuals regain their health in the face of what can be a terrifying diagnosis.

With a targeted approach that applies a combination of Functional Medicine and Naturopathic principles, she addresses hormone balance, detoxification, optimal digestion, and immune function. Skilled in working with patients suffering from chronic illness, many find that they can discontinue their medications while working with Dr. Jackson because their health improves so dramatically!

In her free time, Dr. Jackson takes advantage of the natural beauty and outdoor activities of Maui, such as swimming, snorkeling, paddling, and hiking. While relaxing at home, she enjoys gardening and preparing gourmet meals from the amazing local ingredients Maui has to offer and making herbal medicines from plants that she grows herself.

Why Naturopathy

The Metabolic and Terrain-Centered Approach to Health and Wellness

The metabolic approach to cancer is a field of research that focuses on understanding the unique metabolic characteristics of cancer cells and exploiting them for therapeutic purposes. It recognizes that cancer cells have altered metabolism compared to normal cells, and targeting these metabolic abnormalities may provide new strategies for cancer treatment.

One of the hallmark features of cancer cells is their ability to reprogram their metabolism to support rapid growth and proliferation. Cancer cells often rely on increased glucose uptake and fermentation of glucose to lactate, even in the presence of oxygen (known as the Warburg effect). This altered metabolism allows cancer cells to generate energy and biomass necessary for their uncontrolled growth.

The metabolic approach to cancer aims to identify and target the specific metabolic vulnerabilities of cancer cells while sparing normal cells. This can be achieved through various strategies, including:

1. Inhibiting key metabolic enzymes: Researchers are exploring compounds that selectively inhibit enzymes involved in cancer cell metabolism, such as glucose transporters or enzymes in the glycolysis pathway. By disrupting these metabolic pathways, it may be possible to selectively kill cancer cells.

2. Targeting nutrient availability: Cancer cells have increased demand for nutrients, including glucose, amino acids, and lipids. Limiting the availability of these nutrients or altering their metabolism can potentially hinder cancer cell growth and survival.

3. Exploiting metabolic dependencies: Cancer cells may become dependent on certain metabolic pathways for survival. Identifying and targeting these dependencies can lead to the development of specific therapies that selectively kill cancer cells.

4. Immunometabolism: The interaction between cancer cells and the immune system is influenced by metabolic processes. Modulating the metabolic pathways in immune cells or targeting cancer cell metabolism can potentially enhance anti-tumor immune responses.

The metabolic approach to cancer is an exciting and rapidly evolving field of research. While still in its early stages, it holds promise for the development of innovative cancer treatments that exploit the metabolic vulnerabilities of cancer cells. However, it is important to note that more research is needed to fully understand the complexities of cancer metabolism and its therapeutic implications.