Hawthorn Healing Arts is pleased to welcome Dr. Cameron Craw, ND, LAc, whose approach to naturopathic medicine brings together primary care, functional gastroenterology, sports medicine, chronic pain management, acupuncture, and regenerative therapies.
Dr. Craw’s professional path has taken him through military service, contemplative psychology, yoga training in Indonesia, naturopathic medical education, and advanced clinical training in gastroenterology, orthopedics, and pain management. While his areas of expertise are diverse, they are connected by a common philosophy: helping people understand their health more fully and giving them practical, individualized tools to support healing.
Looking Beyond the Symptom
Dr. Craw believes that effective healthcare begins by looking at the whole person rather than focusing exclusively on the symptom that brought someone into the office. His approach recognizes the interconnectedness of the body, mind, and heart, while considering the physical, behavioral, and lifestyle factors that may influence a person’s health. Rather than simply asking how to make a symptom go away, he is interested in understanding what may be contributing to it in the first place. This means that treatment can take many forms, depending on the individual. Dr. Craw draws from both evidence-based Western medicine and traditional Eastern approaches to develop care plans that reflect each patient’s circumstances, goals, and needs.
A Lifelong Interest in Natural Healing
Dr. Craw’s interest in this broader view of health began during childhood. Growing up largely outdoors in Montana and Idaho, he developed a deep appreciation for the natural world. His mother’s interest in folk medicine also introduced him early to traditional approaches to health and healing. Those experiences eventually led him toward naturopathic medicine and acupuncture, but his education has extended well beyond conventional naturopathic training.
Before entering medical school, Dr. Craw earned a bachelor’s degree in Contemplative Psychology, with an emphasis on mindfulness-based psychotherapy and embodiment practices. He also spent time in Indonesia pursuing extensive yoga training. His experience serving in the United States Navy, including a leadership role in physical fitness, added another dimension to his understanding of movement, physical health, and human performance.
He ultimately pursued graduate education at the National University of Natural Medicine (NUNM), where he studied naturopathic medicine and East Asian medicine.
From Gastroenterology to Sports Medicine and Pain Care
Dr. Craw’s postgraduate training has allowed him to develop expertise in several areas that frequently overlap in everyday healthcare. He completed advanced training in functional gastroenterology under the guidance of Steven Sandberg-Lewis, ND, and a two-year residency focused on primary care, orthopedics, and chronic pain management under Margaret Beeson, ND. This combination of training gives him a particular interest in helping people who may be dealing with persistent pain, musculoskeletal problems, digestive concerns, or health issues that don’t fit neatly into a single category.
His clinical interests include primary care, sports medicine and orthopedics, chronic pain management, and functional gastroenterology, along with acupuncture and East Asian medicine.
An Integrative Toolkit for Individualized Care
Because no two people experience illness or injury in exactly the same way, Dr. Craw draws from a broad range of therapeutic approaches. Depending on the individual and the goals of treatment, these may include:
- Acupuncture and East Asian medicine
- Herbal medicine
- Lifestyle and behavioral medicine
- Craniosacral therapy
- Functional gastroenterology
- Regenerative injection therapies
- Prolotherapy
- Platelet-rich plasma (PRP)
These therapies aren’t viewed as a one-size-fits-all menu. Instead, Dr. Craw’s goal is to determine which combination of approaches may best support a particular person’s health, function, and quality of life.
Helping Patients Feel More at Home in Their Bodies
Perhaps the most consistent theme running through Dr. Craw’s diverse education and experience is his interest in helping people become active participants in their own healing. He wants patients to feel heard, appreciated, and empowered—and to leave their visits with a better understanding of what may be happening in their bodies and what they can do to support their health.
For Dr. Craw, the practice of medicine is ultimately about more than treating disease or managing symptoms. It is about helping people develop a deeper understanding of themselves and their health while finding approaches that allow them to move, function, and feel more comfortably in their own bodies. To make an appointment with Dr. Craw call 541-330-0334 or feel free to use our online appointment form.