Hidden Gems: Meet Anne Shaw of Cascade Natural Medicine

Today we’d like to introduce you to Anne Shaw.

Hi Anne, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
When my kids were little, I got frustrated at the conventional system’s inability to help me figure out the root cause of their medical issues and help me address them in a gentle and functional, healing way. So I went to medical school! I specialize in medicine that is designed to help the body heal, whether using plant medicines, changing food patterns, offering homeopathic or pharmaceutical prescriptions. Addressing the causes of pain and dysfunction and supporting the body’s own healing process is an amazing approach — I love it so much and it works so well!!

This medicine changed our lives, and it was my mission to bring it to my own community here in Surprise. I used to drive up and down Reems Road taking my kids to the doctor, so now here I am offering naturopathic medicine on Reems and Bell right in the same area. Hopefully it will be easier for people to find us, and they won’t have to search as hard as I did for a doctor trained in this wonderful approach to medicine.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Medical school usually isn’t described as a “smooth road”, for sure! However I have no regrets. I had four kids ages 2-10 when I started the 4 year medical school program. I then did a 10-month internship with an established physician in Tempe. Those days (and the commute!) were extraordinarily hard. I am so thankful for our family and community support. Once I was licensed, I was committed to opening an office in Surprise, so I started in one small room rented in a medical suite. Now we have a multipractitioner office, wonderful support staff, and several specialty modalities that we offer. We have grown fast because we care about our patients immensely, and because this way of doing medicine works so well. It makes sense, is gentle yet effective, and customized for what each patient needs.

We’ve been impressed with Cascade Natural Medicine, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
My own experiences as a patient and mom deeply shaped the mission behind Cascade Natural Medicine. When I founded the clinic, my goal was to create a place where people feel empowered in their health and receive truly individualized, gentle, and holistic care.

We are licensed physicians able to to diagnose and treat medical conditions, but our approach is often quite different from what patients have experienced elsewhere. Because our visits are so long, we have the time to listen and understand the whole picture, and we are able to address health concerns in a meaningful, holistic way.

Our treatment plans commonly include nutritional guidance, plant medicines, lifestyle recommendations, digestive support, sleep optimization, and therapies for joint and structural pain. However, we’re especially known for our expertise in treating hormone imbalances—including thyroid issues, Hashimoto’s, PMS, and menopause. We often use nutrition and plants because they are so gentle and healing in their action, then we can add a little hormones — it’s like magic! Of course we always do bioidentical and safe delivery forms in hormones – we teach our patients a lot about the options. In fact, education is a part of all our visits – “Docere” or doctor as “teacher” is one of our core principles.

I am most proud that our patients love our office staff and our doctors, and know that they will be well cared for here.

Are there any books, apps, podcasts or blogs that help you do your best?
I love getting recommendations for books and podcasts! My favorite resource right now is the book “French Kids Eat Everything” by Karen Le Billon. It’s such a great reminder for American parents raising littles that we probably grew up with very skewed attitudes toward food and portion sizes and what ‘healthy’ eating looks like. It’s insightful to see what other countries consider normal regarding eating patterns. “Hunt, Gather, Parent” by Dr. Michaeleen Doucleff is another great parenting book.

For weight loss and balancing insulin levels, a great resource is “Fast Like a Girl” by Dr. Mindy Pelz. I often recommend intermittent fasting for my patients, and this is a helpful tool for them.

I also love any work by Brené Brown or Martha Beck and I’m obsessed with the Hidden Brain podcasts. I find the psychology of behavior and unconscious patterns so fascinating.

Pricing:

• Office visit – vary
• Nutrient or Iron infusions; $199-299
• Vitamin shots $30
• Regenerative therapy (PRP/prolo/ozone) $500

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.cascademedicine.com
• Instagram: @cascadenaturalmedicine
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cascadenaturalmedicine
• Other: https://tiktok.com/@cascadenaturalmedicine