Naturopathic Primary Care Tacoma, WA

We are different from conventional primary care clinics because we offer longer face-to-face time with doctors, honor patients’ concerns and values, and offer more holistic treatment plans. Also, we differ from other naturopathic clinics in the area because we practice full-spectrum primary care for publicly and privately insured patients – including evidence-based screening and prevention care.

Naturopathic physicians (ND) are a growing part of the primary care workforce in several US states, including Oregon and Washington [1-3]. Research shows that naturopathic physicians are effective at treating some of the most common conditions seen by primary care providers, including cardiovascular disease [4], mental health [5,6], diabetes [7], urinary tract infection [8], and back pain [9]. Furthermore, complementary and integrative health is popular in the Pacific Northwest but is mostly self-administered rather than delivered by trained professionals [10].

NDs are trained in holistic primary care through a standardized four-year graduate curriculum similar to conventional physicians (MD/DO). Naturopathic medicine emphasizes the Whole Person and the Therapeutic Order, an approach to patient care that aims to maximize benefit while reducing side effects and secondary harm. Naturopathic medicine prioritizes non-drug methods such as lifestyle, stress management, diet, and natural substances, but also includes medication, minor surgery, and referrals for specialty care when needed.

Naturopathic medical students learn evidence-based medicine and critical appraisal of the scientific evidence for conventional and non-conventional treatment modalities [11,12]. Teaching clinic networks attached to the naturopathic schools in Oregon and Washington provide primary and complementary care to patients on Medicaid and uninsured patients with a high level of satisfaction [13].

Meet Our Team

We love our community and our patients. Our support team goes the extra mile to create a safe and welcoming space for all types of people. Schedule with one of our providers today.
More About Our Team
  • Dr. Noryang Yeshi

    Doctor

  • Dr. Matt Brignall

    Doctor

  • Dr. Gena Poling

    Doctor

Understanding Your Symptoms

Let’s start by understanding what brought you here. Maybe you’ve been dealing with unexplained symptoms and unsuccessful treatments, or maybe you’re just ready to make healthy lifestyle changes to achieve a state of optimal health. Whatever it may be, we take the time to understand you, your goals and your symptoms in order to determine what needs healing first.

  • Gastrointestinal Issues

    Common Symptoms:

    Bloating, Gas, Constipation, Diarrhea, Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), Celiac, Acid Reflux, Gastroenteritis, Food Intolerances and Sensitivities, Gallbladder Issues.

    man has a stomach ache on orange background
  • Autoimmune Disease

    Common Symptoms:

    Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis, Celiac, Lupus, Type 1 Diabetes, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Psoriasis, Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Scleroderma, Multiple Sclerosis, and more.

  • Hormone and Thyroid Health

    Common Symptoms:

    Hair Loss, PMS, Low Libido, Brain Fog, Irregular Cycle, Acne, Weight Change, Insomnia, Extreme Thirst or Hunger.

  • All Symptoms

    How to Get Started

    We love our local community and the patients who work with us. Our staff goes the extra mile to create a safe and welcoming space for all types of people. If you’re ready to work with doctors and staff caring about you, here’s how to get started.
    1. Step

      Schedule An Appointment

    2. Step

      Meet With One of Our Providers

    3. Step

      Get The Healthcare You Deserve

    Contact Us

    Our featured services

    By choosing Health Clinic, you are choosing to take ownership of your health and become the best version of yourself through our comprehensive and individualized approach to functional medicine. We offer many paths to help you achieve your health goals and provide as much support and guidance you need to live a healthy and sustainable lifestyle.

    • Pediatric Primary Care

      We offer well-child exams, sports physicals, Autism and ADHD evaluations, and Immunizations for children.

    • Adult Primary Care

      Work with doctors who value you as a Whole Person and provide you with the support you need on your health journey in non-rushed encounters.

    • Health At Every Size

      We offer longer face-to-face time with our doctors and prioritize your health concerns to create a holistic treatment plan based on a Whole Body approach.

    • Gender Affirming Care

      Link Community Clinic is an ally to the LGBTQ+ community and offers an affirming space for patients of all sexual orientations and gender expressions.

    • Acute and Chronic Medical Conditions

      Our providers take an approach that sees the Whole Person. That is why we can sort out symptoms and get to the root cause of your acute and chronic conditions.

    • Same-Day Visits

      Call us when you are sick or have an urgent medical concern that needs to be addressed and our on-call doctor will help you.

    Testimonials

      Dr. G is the best!

      Rasta

      Love you guys!! The community is so lucky to have you!!

      R. B.

      Non transactional and it felt that I was truly being heard. Link really does a deep dive on your person to figure out what you need

      Kelvin P.

      So great having a natralpath accepting all insurance great practitioners friendly staff!

      Marissa S.

      Dr. Yeshi is amazing! I’m so grateful for her help. Highly recommend this clinic!!

      Meadow H.

      Super happy to have found this clinic, super happy with Dr. Yeshi, as my primary care doctor, she’s an excellent doctor, who truly cares, she takes time to address all my health concerns at every appointment. I super appreciate her.

      Colleen Johnson

      I am SO GRATEFUL for Link Community Clinic. I have been wanting to find a doctor that I feel sees me, cares about my health goals, is available and attentive. I have multiple members of my family that go to the clinic, and it’s a breath of FRESH AIR to finally have a space in Tacoma where I feel like my whole personhood is tended to.

      Micaela C.

      Very happy with the experience here. It has taken a while to find a Naturopath doctor that takes my Molina Marketplace insurance so this was exactly what I was searching for!

      Allani P.

      I have a medically complex child with multiple disabilities who sees a large number of specialists. I was looking for someone who could tie all this information together and treat my family Holistically. We found Dr. Garofalo to be an excellent fit! I always feel like I have been deeply listened too, that he takes enough time to work collaboratively with me and makes complex medical issues easily accessible. We’ve had nothing but a wonderful experience at link community clinic. HIGHLY recommended!

      Katie G.

      Dr. Brignal is amazing! He is caring, knowledgeable, and patient. Very respectful. The entire staff has been wonderful. Thank you!!

      D. J.

    [1] Bellas A, Lafferty WE, Lind B, Tyree PT. Frequency, predictors, and expenditures for pediatric insurance claims for complementary and alternative medical professionals in Washington State. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2005 Apr;159(4):367-72. doi: 10.1001/archpedi.159.4.367.

    [2] Lafferty WE, Tyree PT, Bellas AS, Watts CA, Lind BK, Sherman KJ, Cherkin DC, Grembowski DE. Insurance coverage and subsequent utilization of complementary and alternative medicine providers. Am J Manag Care. 2006 Jul;12(7):397-404.

    [3] Bradley R, Walter B. Opioid Prescribing Patterns by Naturopathic Physicians in Oregon. Pain Med. 2019 Feb 1;20(2):414-415. doi: 10.1093/pm/pny235.

    [4] Seely D, Szczurko O, Cooley K, Fritz H, Aberdour S, Herrington C, Herman P, Rouchotas P, Lescheid D, Bradley R, Gignac T, Bernhardt B, Zhou Q, Guyatt G. Naturopathic medicine for the prevention of cardiovascular disease: a randomized clinical trial. Canadian Medical Association Journal. 2013; 185(9): E409-16. doi: 10.1503/cmaj.120567.

    [5] Breed C, Bereznay C. Treatment of Depression and Anxiety by Naturopathic Physicians: An Observational Study of Naturopathic Medicine. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. 2017; 23(5): 348-354. doi: 10.1089/acm.2016.0232.

    [6] Cooley K, Szczurko O, Perri D, et al. Naturopathic care for anxiety: a randomized controlled trial ISRCTN78958974. PLoS One. 2009; 4(8): e6628. Published 2009 Aug 31. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0006628.

    [7] Bradley R, Sherman KJ, Catz S, Calabrese C, Oberg EB, Jordan L, Grothaus L, Cherkin D. Adjunctive naturopathic care for type 2 diabetes: patient-reported and clinical outcomes after one year. BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 2012; 12: 44. doi: 10.1186/1472-6882-12-44.

    [8] Garofalo L, Zwickey H, Bradley R, Hanes D. Naturopathic Management of Urinary Tract Infections: A Retrospective Chart Review. J Altern Complement Med. 2021 Aug 23. doi: 10.1089/acm.2021.0163.

    [9] Szczurko O, Cooley K, Busse JW, et al. Naturopathic care for chronic low back pain: A randomized trial. PLoS One. 2007; 2(9). doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0000919.

    [10] Wardle J, Lui CW, Adams J. Complementary and alternative medicine in rural communities: current research and future directions. J Rural Health. 2012 Jan;28(1):101-12. doi: 10.1111/j.1748-0361.2010.00348.x.

    [11] Zwickey H, Schiffke H, Fleishman S, et al. Teaching Evidence-Based Medicine at Complementary and Alternative Medicine Institutions. Journal of Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 2014; 00(0): 1-7. doi: 10.1089/acm.2014.0087.

    [12] Council on Naturopathic Medical Accreditation. Handbook of Accreditation for Naturopathic Medicine Programs. Great Barrington, MA; January 2017. Available at https://cnme.org/wpcontent/uploads/2017/09/2017_cnme_handbook_of_ accreditation.pdf. Accessed November 19, 2019.

    [13] Washington Health Alliance. Your Voice Matters: Patient Experience with Primary Care Providers in the Puget Sound Region. 2004. Available at https://wahealthalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/WHA-Patient-Experience-2014.pdf. Accessed on September 24, 2019.

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