 |  |  |  | What are your qualifications?- You must have a Bachelor’s degree to apply to Naturopathic Medical School, and complete the same pre-requisite classes that are required to apply to conventional medical school.
- We undergo 4 years of rigorous medical school, including Basic and Clinical Sciences. Our classroom time includes training in anatomy, physiology, pathology, pharmacology etc. just as the training in conventional medical school does.
- We also have additional training in naturopathic therapies, such as botanical medicine, homeopathy, hydrotherapy, nutrition, acupuncture, manipulation, and detoxification.
- We spend at least 2 years receiving clinical training, seeing and treating patients under the supervision of a physician.
- I have completed an additional Residency program in Family Practice. At this time Residencies for naturopaths are optional, and are very competitive to obtain.
- We must take and pass Board Examinations in order to be licensed, and once licensed, we must complete 30 hours of continuing medical education each year.
|  |  |  |  | | | | | | How is an NMD different from an MD or a DO?- The only difference in training is that we have additional classroom time and clinical training in thetherapies that are specific to naturopathic medicine.
- What is the most important difference is the philosophy that we practice under – find the root cause, treat the whole person, respect the body’s own ability to heal, and empower the patient with education.
- We are MUCH less likely to prescribe you a medication for your condition, and are MORE likely to spend real time (not just 5 minutes), to really get down to the bottom of things.
- Our training is largely identical, it is simply the philosophy and therapeutics that differ.
| | | | | | | | | | Why is it so important to see a licensed naturopath?- In several states we still do not have licensure legislation for naturopathic physicians. Licensure is extremely important to the public because it lets you know who has been to medical school and passed Board exams, and who has taken an internet correspondence course. Just because something is natural does not mean that it is safe, and naturopathic physicians are extensively trained in interactions, and how to safely and effectively use both conventional and alternative therapies.
| | | | | | | | | | What can you treat?- Any condition. Our training is in Primary Care, and this is truly where we excel – naturopathic medicine should be a /“first-line defense/” before harsh chemicals and drugs are used.
- Some of the most common conditions we see are: Cold/Flu, Diabetes, Asthma, Allergies, Back and Joint Pain, Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue, Multiple Chemical Sensitivity, Headaches, Insomnia, PMS, Uterine Fibroids, Menopausal Symptoms, Acne, Digestive Disturbances, Auto-Immune Disorders, Weight Loss, Smoking Cessation, Anti-Aging, Pregnancy Preparation/Fertility, Chronic Sinusitis, Fatigue, Hypertension, Atherosclerosis, Heart Disease, High Cholesterol, Anxiety, Depression, ADD/ADHD, etc.
| | | | | | | | | | Do you accept insurance?- I will provide my patients with a HCFA form and all necessary codes and pieces of information, which they may then submit to their insurance company. The degree of reimbursement varies between different insurance companies, but most patients are reimbursed for my services. I do not accept insurance at this time for a number of different reasons, the main reason being that it allows me to deliver better care. If I am contracted with insurance companies I will be allowed to spend only a small amount of time with each person. By accepting cash, the amount of time I spend with each person, and the kinds of therapies I offer are decided only by myself and the patient – not by the insurance companies.
| | | | | | | | | | What is your fee schedule?- Office Visit fees are based on time spent:
- 15 minutes: $30
- 30 minutes: $60
- 1 hour: $120
- Therapy Fees depend on the therapy involved:
- Prolotherapy (depends on the number and complexity of joints/areas involved): $60-120 per treatment
- Trigger point injections: $20 per trigger point
- Nutrient IV: $50-$75 depending on condition/ingredients
- Hydrotherapy: $50 per treatment
- Acupuncture: $30 per treatment
| | | | | | | | | | What can I expect on the first visit?- If you are only being seen for a simple cold or flu, your first visit can be as short as 15 minutes.
- However, if you have more involved and long-standing concerns that you would like addressed (such as allergies, highblood pressure, fibromyalgia, etc), expect to have a comprehensive intake followed by a complete physical. The naturopathic intake is a bit longer than a conventional intake because we cover all aspects of your health and lifestyle (as they are all pertinent to your wellness!).
- We will send you forms (by fax, email, or mail) ahead of time to gather as much information as possible in advance – this allows to spend more time talking about the important pieces, and less time asking routine medical questions.
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| | | | | | | | | Can I buy supplements from you?- I keep a supply of supplements, herbs, and homeopathic remedies in the office, and sell them at suggested retail. You are under no obligation to buy from me, however, I prefer that patients buy their first bottles from me for a few important reasons. Currently, the supplement industry is not very closely regulated, and that unfortunately means that there are some unscrupulous companies making false claims about the contents of their products. The supplements that I keep on hand are physician-grade quality, and come from companies who are very diligent in their manufacturing processes and have independent 3rd-party testing done on their product.
- It is extremely important to me that the products you are using are of the highest purity, contain substances that the body can actually absorb and use, and that they are safe. The products that I carry are just that. Once you have a bottle, you can use that to make sure that what you are buying is the same brand/quality. If you would like to look online or in other places for a better deal, please do so! I just want to make sure that you aren’t “flushing your money down the drain”.
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