Dr. Teresa Richter, ND
General Practitioner
634 7th Ave Kirkland WA, 98033About
Dr. Richter has a Doctorate of Naturopathic Medicine (ND), and a Bachelor’s degree in Herbal Sciences from Bastyr University, the leading institution in Natural Medicine. Dr. Richter is currently the Vice President for the Washington Association of Naturopathic Physicians, formerly the Treasurer, and sits as the chair of the continuing education committee.
I guide those seeking optimal health and holistic approaches to health concerns through patient centered care, treating the whole person, not just a set a symptoms. With empathy, unconditional positive regard, innovative personalized treatment plans and cutting edge Naturopathic methods, I partner with you to look and feel your best.
My treatments give you the best of integrative medicine. Naturopathic doctors are functional medicine specialists. I utilize Naturopathic treatment modalities such as Botanical Medicine, Supplements, Craniosacral Therapy, Homeopathic Remedies, Hydrotherapy, and pharmaceutical prescribing when appropriate.
Providing both individual and family care, the most common ailments treated are allergies, chronic pain, digestive issues, obesity, heart disease, fertility, menopause, cancer and chronic fatigue syndrome. Naturopathic Physicians place a strong emphasis on natural remedies that add to the broad spectrum of remedies available.
Her determination with her own health issues inspires her to help others and helps her better understand her patients. She works to constantly improve her own skills as a doctor to help her patients enjoy better health.
In addition to the required coursework, Dr. Richter also did elective study in: Craniosacral therapy, Homeopathy,
Ayurvedic Medicine, Aromatherapy, Pain management, IV Therapy.
Dr. Richter's clinical rotations included primary care, physical medicine, homeopathy, IV therapy, Counseling, HIV/Immune Wellness, Women's Health and off-site at the Carolyn Downs Clinic providing care to under-served populations.
Education and Training
Bastyr University ND 2011
Bastyr University B.S. Herbal Sciences 2005
Provider Details
Dr. Teresa Richter, ND's Expert Contributions
Are You Hot Even Though It's Cold?
By Teresa Richter, NDIt’s cold outside, yet, here you are in a tank top with the window open, sweating, sleeping fitfully, waking up drenched in sweat, only to start to shiver while having to get up to change your bedclothes. Or maybe, you are in a meeting at work and your face turns red and you...
Tips for Managing Blood Sugar
Cut Back On CarbohydratesTry to limit carbohydrate intake to 100 grams per day. Opt for lean meats, healthy fats, vegetables, and whole grains. Eliminate sugar, processed foods, and simple carbohydrates.ExerciseExercise is extremely important in controlling blood sugar. Try to aim for 150 minutes...
Psoriasis
Most of us have all heard of psoriasis, however, many of us may not understand what psoriasis is. What is psoriasis?Psoriasis is a condition of the skin in which red, scaly patches appear on the skin. Commonly patches are whitish to silver and develop into thick red patches. How do I get...
Plastics and Your Health
Plastics and Our HealthFor our modern society, plastic is one of the most useful and versatile inventions. Practically everything we touch, eat, or drink involves some sort of plastic on a daily basis. We buy our food in plastic bags and containers, we buy drinks and water in plastic jugs and...
Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome
by Teresa Richter, NDMany women have irregular cycles, ovarian pain, and problems with fertility. Some of these issues have been linked to PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome). What is PCOS you may be thinking? PCOS is a group of clinical presentations characterized by ovarian cysts present on both...
Migraines
by Teresa Richter, NDA migraine is a very painful headache. Migraines are complex in nature exhibiting many more symptoms than an everyday headache. Migraines are 20-30% more common in women than men. There are a few different types of migraine headaches and all arise from a variety of...
The Silent Signs of Stress and How it's Affecting Your Health
by Teresa Richter, NDStress. Stress is everywhere, all the time. Even if you don’t realize it, it is there. Have you been having some new health issues coming up lately? Is your body not quite acting right? There is a really good chance that it is due to stress. These past seven months have...
Erectile Dysfunction
What every man should know…by Teresa Richter, NDWhat is Erectile Dysfunction (ED)? ED is a common condition that affects many men. It’s the inability to get or keep an erection firm enough to have sex. While it may be embarrassing when this situation arises, it is important to not ignore it. It...
Vaginal Dryness
Vaginal Dryness… Have you noticed something is different? Has sex become uncomfortable or painful? If so, you could be 1 of the millions of women affected by vaginal dryness which is an uncomfortable, common condition. You do not have to be menopausal to experience vaginal dryness since it...
Low Dose Naltrexone and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Chronic fatigue is a serious issue that affects millions of people around the world daily. There are different theories as to what causes Chronic Fatigue Syndrome or Myalgic Encephalomyelitis, but there are no specific treatments at this time. For many, it is a daily uphill battle against their...
What is the Difference Between A Cold and A Flu?
By Teresa Richter, NDIt is that time of year again where we are trying our hardest to fight off the latest virus. When you are around others who are sick or have caught something yourself, it can sometimes be confusing as to what you have contracted. Knowing the difference between the symptoms can...
Should I Stifle a Fever?
By Teresa Richter, NDWe’ve all been there, stuck in bed, sniffling, sneezing, coughing, body aches, shivering, feeling like death warmed over. Your first inclination may be to take something to bring your fever down. We have all been taught since childhood, if you have a fever, take something to...
PSA Level?
I would agree if his PSA stays above 4.0 ng/ml to have a biopsy done. Typically an infection and antibiotics would not cause a PSA elevation unless the infection was near the prostate such as in the bladder or caused a prostatitis. Since the infection was in his arm, If the infection made it to his blood stream or was able to travel to the prostate then possibly,. The stress on his body from having the infection and being in the hospital could have caused an increase in PSA, however, the blood in his sperm is concerning. READ MORE
What's wrong with me?
The last 6 months have been incredibly stressful and most likely it is catching up with you. This can also affect our insulin and blood sugar levels which could be contributing to the thirst, appetite and feeling sleepy. However, it could all be just due to stress. Stress causes our hormones to imbalance, how our body utilizes nutrients, electrolytes, water, dampens our immune system, robs our muscle tissue of needed energy, breaks down muscle tissue causing weakness, sleep disturbances, fatigue. Some good adrenal support herbs include astragalus, rhodiola and holy basil. Taking some time out of each day to reduce stress such as meditation, yoga, walking, taking time for things you enjoy. You may see a doctor to check your hormone balance, blood sugar levels, and stress response. READ MORE
Can a pinched nerve affect the whole body?
Depending on where your nerve is pinched, it could affect your whole body. Otherwise, the stress from pain of having a pinched nerve can affect your whole body. READ MORE
Bladder infection
Typically it is more common for an infection to move from the urinary tract/bladder up to the kidney if untreated. Kidney stones do not usually cause an infection, but will cause pain and sometimes a little bit of blood in the urine. A blockage from a kidney stone is a very painful and possibly life-threatening condition, but not usually an infection. Kidney stones are separate and pass through into the urine and are very painful. Infections are caused by bacteria in the urinary tract or kidney and also can cause pain and urinary symptoms. If you are having symptoms and are unsure what may be going on, it is always a good idea to see a doctor for a urinalysis and an examination to determine what may be going on. READ MORE
Drug adverse effects?
Unfortunately, most antibiotics are not great to take with liver issues, however, out of the options to treat a UTI, Cipro is probably least toxic on your liver. When taking antibiotics, probiotics can help with any GI side effects such as diarrhea, and cramping. Make sure to drink lots of water while taking this medication as well. READ MORE
What causes knots in your muscles?
I often find there are a few reasons for muscle knots that are persistent. Dehydration, lack of nutrients such as magnesium, potassium, or calcium, repetitive motion activities, stress, posture, lack of exercise, or lack of muscle strengthening can all contribute to persistent muscle knots, spasms, or adhesions. READ MORE
Is it ok to walk on a sprained ankle?
Yes, it is ok to walk on a sprained ankle. The more you walk on it the less swollen and painful it may be. If you cannot put weight on it yet, just take it easy and slowly little by little start to put weight on it. You can keep it wrapped up with a compression bandage such as an ACE wrap or other type of brace for sprained ankles to provide extra support while walking on it. When not walking on it, elevating it, and icing it will also help. READ MORE
Vertigo?
This does not exactly sound like vertigo, but hard to know without more information. Vertigo is when it feels like the world is spinning around you and is most often brought on by a change in position. Depending on how you are sneezing, it could stimulate an episode of vertigo if you are sneezing very forcefully or changing head position while doing so. Most vertigo is benign and occurs when crystals in our inner ear are out of position. You could be feeling a little dizzy due to the pressure caused while sneezing, or if you are having a lot of allergies and fluid is collecting in your ears. If it continues, I would recommend getting it checked out. READ MORE
Is my problem urgent?
Most of the time it is not urgent. You can try to shrink the hemorrhoid with witch hazel and a hemorrhoid ointment such as preparation H. This should decrease the size of the hemorrhoid. I would say it is a good sign that it is not bleeding or painful. READ MORE
Menopause possibly?
Without a uterus, you should have no bleeding coming from the vaginal area. It is possible that you could have had some vaginal bleeding due to other factors such as vaginal atrophy that could have produced a blood clot that happened to come out at the same time. You would want to make sure the bleeding or blood clot was actually from the vagina, and not from the rectum or anus. It sounds like you have had clear stool tests. My concern would be a rectovaginal fistula in where there is a connection between the rectum and the vaginal area and that it was not actually a blood clot but some stool. If this happens again or you see anything else that looks like blood coming from the vaginal area, I would highly recommend getting it checked out right away. READ MORE
Palpitations?
It is possible that you could be experiencing an increased level of stress especially with what has been happening in the world the past 6 months. There are many silent signs of stress that can lead to anxiety that could cause a sensation like that. If you have any difficulty swallowing, or other heart fluttering symptoms, I would be examined by a doctor right away. Otherwise, try doing some breathing exercises, I like the 10 minute breathing meditations on the Calm app, or even some B-vitamins or magnesium could be helpful. READ MORE
Can a urinary infection cause testicle pain?
It is possible, however, urinary tract infections are less common in men than women and you should see a doctor to get a proper diagnosis, rule out testicular cancer, or any sexually transmitted diseases. Sometimes you can develop a swelling in the epididymis of other areas of the testicle that can be extremely painful and sensitive. In any case, it should be properly examined by a doctor to make sure something more serious isn't happening. READ MORE
Spider bite?
It appears there is some sort of bump or bite there. WIth the swelling, discoloration and numbness, you should go to the emergency room or urgent care right away before something more serious happens. You could have cellulitis that could develop into a life threatening condition very quickly. READ MORE
Do I have herpes?
It is possible that you could be having a herpes out break on your face. Every 2 weeks is very frequent. I would try managing your stress levels, try some L-Lysine up to 6 grams daily during an outbreak and 2 grams a day when not having the bumps. If they do not improve, you should see a doctor to get properly diagnosed and to possible get the right medication to prevent further outbreaks such as valacyclovir. READ MORE
I have a staph infection and it itches bad can I put ice on it?
Yes, you can put ice on it. You can also put an anti-histamine cream on it that may help to lessen the itching or hydrocortisone 1% cream may also help to lessen intense itching. READ MORE
Can diabetics have low blood sugar?
Diabetics can have low blood sugar especially if you are using medications to lower blood sugar. It is very important to not let you blood sugar go too low or too high. I highly recommended continuous glucose monitors to see if your sugar is going to high or too low and to see where problems may be arising. Keeping close watch on that can be important. You may need to either adjust what and when you are eating or medications you are taking. READ MORE
Tonsil problems?
You should see your doctor to make sure you don’t have streptococcal pharyngitis, otherwise known as strep throat. Burning throat pain, white exudate on tonsils, and headaches could be symptoms of a strep infection. If strep is negative, could be some other viral infection or even allergies leading to the tonsil swelling and stones. READ MORE
Areas of expertise and specialization
Faculty Titles & Positions
- Affiliate Clinic Faculty of the School of Naturopathic Medicine Bastyr University 2015 - Present
Awards
- Best of Kirkland Naturopathic/Holistic 2018 Kirkland Award Program
- Best of Kirkland Naturopathic/Holistic 2019 Kirkland Award Program
- Women in Medicine 2020 2020 Find A Top Doc
Professional Memberships
- The American Association of Naturopathic Physicians
- Washington Association of Naturopathic Physicians
Professional Society Memberships
- Washington Association of Naturopathic Physicians, American Association of Naturopathic Physicians
Teaching and speaking
- Professional Teaching Assistant-Bastyr University-Clinical Laboratory Diagnosis Laboratory.Affiliate Clinical Faculty of the School of Naturopathic Medicine-Bastyr University
Dr. Teresa Richter, ND's Practice location
Kirkland Natural Medicine
634 7th Ave -Kirkland, WA 98033Get Direction
Dr. Teresa Richter, ND's reviews
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Media Releases
Get to know Naturopathic Physician, Dr. Teresa Richter, who serves patients in Kirkland, Washington.
Treating the whole person and not just a set of symptoms, Dr. Richter is a naturopathic physician who guides those seeking optimal health and holistic approaches to health concerns through patient-centered care. With empathy, unconditional positive regard, innovative personalized treatment plans and cutting-edge naturopathic methods, she partners with patients to help them look and feel their best.
At her private practice in Kirkland, Washington, Dr. Richter utilizes naturopathic treatment modalities such as botanical medicine, supplements, craniosacral therapy, homeopathic remedies, hydrotherapy, and pharmaceutical prescribing when appropriate. Providing both individual and family care, the most common ailments she treats are allergies, chronic pain, digestive issues, obesity, heart disease, fertility, menopause, cancer, and chronic fatigue syndrome.
Academically, Dr. Richter holds a Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine degree and a Bachelor of Science degree in Herbal Sciences from Bastyr University, the leading institution in natural medicine. Her clinical rotations included primary care, physical medicine, homeopathy, IV therapy, counseling, HIV/immune wellness, women’s health, and off-site at the Carolyn Downs Clinic, providing care to an underserved population. In addition to the required coursework, she did elective study in craniosacral therapy, homeopathy, ayurvedic medicine, aromatherapy, pain management, and IV therapy.
Currently serving as the Vice President of the Washington Association of Naturopathic Physicians, Dr. Richter sits as the Chair of the Education Committee. She is also an active member of the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians and a volunteer doctor for Girl Scouts of America. Since 2015, she has been serving on the Affiliate Clinic Faculty of the School of Naturopathic Medicine at Bastyr University.
Placing a strong emphasis on natural remedies, her determination with her own health issues inspires her to help others and helps her to better understand her patients. She constantly works to improve her own skills as a doctor so that she can help her patients enjoy better health.
The practice of naturopathic medicine includes modern and traditional, scientific, and empirical methods. Naturopathic medicine is a distinct primary health care profession, emphasizing prevention, treatment, and optimal health through the use of therapeutic methods and substances that encourage individuals’ inherent self-healing process. Naturopathic physicians diagnose, prevent, and treat acute and chronic illnesses to restore and establish optimal health.
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