In 1971, at the age of 24, Mel McDonald suffered from illnesses such as adrenal exhaustion, pancreatitis, hypoglycemia, multiple nutritional deficiencies and severe allergies.   After trying conventional medical treatments and becoming disillusioned with them, he sought help from a physician in Washington, D.C., Dr. Pappara Nicholson, MD.  Dr. Nicholson was different in that she practiced alternative healthcare modalities. Within months, Mel started seeing amazing results and positive changes in his "dis-eases."  These changes in his own health sparked his interest in nutrition, physical fitness and his life long study of alternative healthcare and biological medicine.

 Dr. Mel McDonald has been in clinical practice at NEWS since 1998, where he practices Integrative Medicine with Drs. Elizabeth Schultz, DO and Kirk Melville, MD.  

He specializes in Oriental Internal Medicine & Acupuncture; acute & chronic pain management, stress disorders and Naturopathic Internal Medicine.  Also included in the focus of his practice, are gastrointestinal, immune and adrenal disorders.

Dr. McDonald’s combined education in Oriental and Naturopathic medicine total over 11 years.  His Oriental medical education consisted of a four-year Masters degree from East West College of Natural Medicine and a one-year postgraduate internship with Dr. David Cohen, DO, FABMA (Fellow of the American Board of Medical Acupuncture).  His postgraduate specialty with Dr. Cohen was done in French Energetic & Electro-Acupuncture, which is unparalleled for acute and chronic pain syndromes.  Prior to his Oriental medical education, Mel spent six years earning two doctoral degrees (Doctor of Naturopathy-distance learning and Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine-residential).  His Naturopathic medical education is over and above the usual four-year education at most residential naturopathic schools and was combined with a three-year externship at NEWS, which totaled over 3,000 clinical hours alone.

Mel McDonald is a licensed Doctor of Oriental Medicine ( DOM ) in the State of Arkansas; a licensed Acupuncture Physician (AP) in the State of Florida; and a Licensed Acupuncturist (LAc) in Georgia.  He is a Federally Registered Naturopath in Washington , DC .  Dr. McDonald is Board Certified (NCCAOM) in Oriental Medicine (Dipl. OM) and Acupuncture (Dipl. Ac), and he is also a Board Certified Naturopathic Physician (ANMCAB/ANMA).   

Languages Spoken: English
Schools Attended: 

Degrees Mastered: 

Services Provided by Dr. McDonald
We will be glad to schedule you an appointment by calling 706.769.0720.