APPOINTMENTS GENERAL INFO

Are In-office appointments available?

No, all appointments are VIRTUAL only.

Do I have to live in Georgia to use your services?

No. This office provides services to clients all across the United States.

Do I still need a Primary Care Physician when I start using your services?

Yes. We do not serve in the role of a primary care provider.

Additionally, We do not provide acute or urgent care services and we do not replace the services that your current medical team provides.

We do not have a 24-hour answering service and do not take calls on weekends. For urgent needs or emergencies, visit an ER or urgent care center.

We offer Comprehensive Naturopathic Holistic Care Services that focuses on chronic conditions by addressing the underlying causes of symptoms, prevention, and long term health transformation.

Do you offer weekend appointments?

Yes, We offer limited weekend appointments on a case-by-case basis.  Inquire within.

What if I experience technical difficulties during my videoconferencing call?

To be considerate of your time reserved for the appointment, if technical difficulties persist and are not quickly resolved the appointment will continue over the phone.

Do you take insurance for your services?

No, insurance is NOT ACCEPTED. However, for your convenience you can use your Health Savings Account (HSA) and Flexible Spending Account (FSA) cards for your services.

What is the investment cost for Naturopathic Doctors Services?

COMPREHENSIVE ASSESSMENT ONLY – $425

COMPREHENSIVE WELLNESS PACKAGE – $625 (BEST VALUE)

FOLLOW-UP APPOINTMENTS $140-$160

*Functional lab tests and supplements are an additional cost.  Because they are all individualized, the cost can greatly vary.

Average ranges to budget for:

Supplements $100 – $350

Lab estimates $500-$1000

When are payments for services due?

What if I need to cancel my appointment?

You can cancel your appointment at any time up to 48 hrs. prior to existing scheduled time and reschedule it for another time that is more convenient for you without incurring any penalties.  Late cancellations and no-shows will be charged full appointment amount for follow-ups.  Comprehensive Assessments will lose their deposit. Exceptions are made in the event of a documented emergency.  Please be respectful of that block of time being free for others to schedule if you decide not to use it.

Is there a refund on appointments?

Yes, pre-paid A-la-carte appointments are refundable as long as  a cancellation is made at least 48 hours or more before scheduled appointment. Pre-paid funds can also be applied to future appointments.

How soon do I have to submit my comprehensive assessment intake form?

Form should be completed ASAP but must be submitted 48 hours prior to your appointment. Any appointments made after the 48 hours deadline is required to submit form within 4 hours of scheduling, otherwise your appointment is subjected to being automatically rescheduled. Please DO NOT wait until the last minute to complete this form because technical issues can arise.

How long does it take to complete the comprehensive assessment client intake form?

Allot 60-75 minutes to complete the form in its entirety.

Can I submit questions about my wellness plan via email?

Yes, established patients are welcome to correspond with doctor via email for general questions only. Doctor reserves the right to ask clients to schedule an appointment for questions or concerns requiring more in depth answers.

How long does it take to obtain an emailed response?

Emails will be responded to within 24-48 hours M-F.

What do I do in case of a medical emergency?

Call 9-1-1

Is the information I share on this website secure?

We will never disclose your personal information to other parties not affiliated with this practice.

Do you order Blood work or should I use my PCP?

Yes, we order blood work for you, similar to other health care providers.

Lab work helps to guide us towards more personalized recommendations that are specific to your unique circumstances.

We are very thorough in our approach to lab assessments, unlike conventional doctors that don’t go deep enough with their lab evaluation. We use optimal lab reference ranges when appropriate as a measure for maintaining wellness, rather than conventional ranges which are designed to diagnose disease. This method helps determine underlying causes BEFORE a disease state develops.

Some of the bloodwork that we recommend may not be viewed as “medically necessary” by your insurance company when ordering through your PCP, therefore they may not pay for it.  It is for this reason that we suggest our services at a low introductory cost (when purchased in our Comprehensive Wellness Package Plan) to keep your out-of-pocket expenses lower.  Feel free to consult with your PCP and insurance provider for the most cost- effective strategy that works best for you.

Where do I go for my lab collections?

All blood work ordered from this office will be drawn at a local lab near your location.  There is also the option (for an additional fee) for a mobile phlebotomist to come to your home or office at your convenience. You will obtain more info about these options during your appointment.  Functional lab testing kits are mailed to your home with complete directions on how to collect the specimen at home (when possible).

What are functional lab tests? How much should I budget for these tests?

In many cases we commonly recommend deeper Functional Medicine specialty labs to identify the underlying root causes and obstacles to you getting better.

The specific tests ordered will be personalized to your health conditions/concerns based on your initial evaluation and may include blood, saliva, urine, or stool testing.

Most are done at home with a kit and clear instructions to collect a specimen sample that can include urine, feces, or saliva. Others test may require bloodwork collected at a local lab or mobile phlebotomist that can meet you at your home or office.

On average, we recommend you budget between $500-$1000 for functional lab tests.

We will make every effort to make you fully aware of any additional lab fees that may be incurred and to give you the opportunity to choose which lab tests you feel comfortable paying for.

You are under no obligation to purchase any functional lab tests.

What are some examples of functional lab test that you offer?

Comprehensive Stool Analysis; Micronutrient Testing; Comprehensive Food Allergy/Sensitivity Testing; Genetic Testing, Hormonal Levels, Adrenal Stress Profiles; and others.

Can I go to my primary care physician and order the FUNCTIONAL LAB TESTS so my insurance can pay for it?

No, most MD’s do not order functional lab testing and in most cases insurance companies do not pay for functional lab testing. We will help you make the best payment decision.

What is Naturopathic Medicine?

Naturopathic medicine is a distinct practice of medicine that emphasizes prevention and the self-healing process to treat each person holistically and improve outcomes while lowering health care costs.

Naturopathic doctors are educated and trained in accredited naturopathic medical colleges. They diagnose, prevent and treat acute and chronic illness, restore and establish optimal health by supporting the person’s inherent self-healing process. Rather than just suppressing symptoms, naturopathic doctors work to identify underlying causes of illness, and develop personalized treatment plans to address them. Their Therapeutic Order™, identifies the natural order in which all therapies should be applied to provide the greatest benefit with the least potential for damage.

What are the benefits of Naturopathic Medicine

• Remove Obstacles to Health. Health, the “natural state” of one’s body, is disturbed by obstacles that lead to disease. The first step in returning to health is to remove the entities that disturb health such as: poor diet, digestive disturbances, inappropriate and chronic stress levels, and individual disharmony. Naturopathic doctors construct a healthy regimen based on an individual’s “obstacles to health” to change and improve the terrain in which the disease developed. This allows additional therapeutics to have the most beneficial effects possible.
• Stimulate the Self-Healing Mechanisms. NDs use therapies to stimulate and strengthen the body’s innate self-healing and curative abilities. These therapies include modalities such as clinical nutrition, botanical medicines, constitutional hydrotherapy, homeopathy, and acupuncture.
• Strengthen Weakened Systems. Systems that need repair are addressed at this level of healing. Naturopathic doctors have an arsenal of therapeutics available to enhance specific tissues, organs or systems including: lifestyle interventions, dietary modifications, botanical medicine, orthomolecular therapy (use of substances that occur naturally in the body such as vitamins, amino acids, minerals), and homeopathy.
• Correct Structural Integrity. Physical modalities such as spinal manipulation, massage therapy, and craniosacral therapy are used to improve and maintain skeletal and musculature integrity.
• Use Natural Substances to Restore and Regenerate. Naturopathic medicine’s primary objective is to restore health, not to treat pathology. However, when a specific pathology must be addressed, NDs employ safe, effective, natural substances that do not add toxicity or additionally burden the already distressed body.
• Use Pharmacologic Substances to Halt Progressive Pathology. NDs are trained in pharmacology and how to use pharmaceutical drugs when necessary. If their state license permits, they can prescribe these agents themselves or if not, refer to a conventional medical colleague.
• Use High Force, Invasive Modalities: Surgery, Radiation, Chemotherapy. When life, limb, or function must be preserved, NDs refer patients to MDs who are expertly trained in these arenas. At the same time, NDs use complementary or supportive therapies to decrease side effects and increase the effectiveness of these invasive procedures.

What kind of education do naturopathic doctors receive?

While many naturopathic doctors are trained in primary care, like conventional medical doctors (MDs), some choose to specialize or focus their practices. Specialty associations currently exist for Endocrinology, Environmental Medicine, Gastroenterology, Parenteral Therapies, Pediatrics, Primary Care Physicians, Psychiatry, and Oncology.

Naturopathic medical education curricula include certain areas of study not covered in conventional medical school. At the same time, aspiring naturopathic doctors receive training in the same biomedical and diagnostic sciences as MDs and osteopathic doctors (DOs). The result is a comprehensive, rigorous, and well-rounded scientific medical education that is both comparable and complementary to that of MDs and DOs.

How are naturopathic doctors educated, trained, and licensed?

Accredited naturopathic medical schools are four-year, in-residence, hands-on medical programs consisting of a minimum of 4,100 hours of class and clinical training. During naturopathic medical school, students are educated in the biomedical sciences as well as the latest advances in science in combination with natural approaches to therapy. They also study disease prevention and clinical techniques.

In addition to a standard medical curriculum, schools require their graduates to complete four years of training in disciplines such as clinical nutrition, acupuncture, homeopathic medicine, botanical medicine, physical medicine, and counseling. For at least the final two years of their medical program, naturopathic medical students intern in clinical settings under the close supervision of licensed professionals.

Given the importance of hands-on, clinical experience for naturopathic medical students, the accrediting body for naturopathic medical colleges does not recognize degrees from online programs of study.

Differences between how MDs and DOs and naturopathic doctors are trained
The general educational structure for naturopathic doctors is comparable to that of conventional medical doctors (MDs) and osteopathic doctors (DOs). In all three medical programs, the first year emphasizes biomedical sciences such as anatomy and biochemistry. Second year classes focus on the diagnostic sciences, including areas such as evidence-based medicine and physiological assessment. All programs progressively increase students’ problem-based learning and integrated coursework, enabling students to learn how different concepts affect one another.

After the first two years, the curricula of the three medical programs focus on applying medical knowledge to real-life situations with simultaneous classroom studies supporting this training. Third- and fourth-year naturopathic medical students have opportunities for hands-on clinical training and practice, often at their schools’ teaching clinics and off-site clinics. This period of clinical training is essential to these students’ education—so much so that clinical training is now being introduced during the first and second years of education at several AANMC-member schools. As a result, naturopathic medical students graduate with experience in diagnosing and treating patients, even before they begin formal practice.

A major difference between the training of the MDs and naturopathic doctors is medical residencies. MD residencies are mandated and regulated by conventional medical schools. As a result, many opportunities for residencies exist at a wide variety of medical facilities and are funded by the federal government.

Naturopathic medical residencies are not nearly as common because they are not yet required by most states (Utah is an exception) or funded by the federal government. In place of a residency, many new naturopathic doctors choose to practice with or shadow an experienced doctor before setting up their own practices.

Like MDs, a growing number of naturopathic doctors choose to specialize or focus their practices. Specialty associations currently exist for Endocrinology, Environmental Medicine, Gastroenterology, Parenteral Therapies, Pediatrics, Primary Care Physicians, Psychiatry, and Oncology. In addition, while practicing Family Medicine, many naturopathic doctors choose an area of focus based on a therapeutic, condition, or population subset.

Prerequisites
Prior to admission into an accredited naturopathic medical school, the typical entering student has completed three years of pre-medical training and earned a bachelor of science degree. Students are expected to have completed courses in English and the humanities as well as math, physics, and psychology, with a strong emphasis on chemistry and biology. In addition to prerequisite course work, prospective students must demonstrate appropriate observational and communication skills, motor function, intellectual-conceptual abilities, integrative and quantitative abilities, and behavioral and social maturity.

Accredited schools
There are currently seven accredited schools with eight campus locations in the United States and Canada. A degree from an accredited medical school is required for licensure or certification by a state.

The following accrediting institutions provide accreditation services for naturopathic medical schools:
College accreditation is issued by the U.S. Department of Education (ED). All AANMC member schools have been accredited or are in candidate status for accreditation by an ED-approved regional accrediting agency.

Programmatic accreditation is issued by the Council on Naturopathic Medical Education (CNME). All AANMC member schools have also been accredited—or are candidates for accreditation—by the CNME, the recognized accrediting body for naturopathic medical programs in North America.

The exam required to qualify for naturopathic doctor licensure is administered by the North American Board of Naturopathic Examiners (NABNE). The Naturopathic Physicians Licensing Examinations (NPLEX) is a two-part examination. Only students and graduates from accredited or candidate naturopathic programs are eligible to sit for the NPLEX. Passing the NPLEX is required before a doctor of naturopathic medicine can be licensed by a state.

Licensure and certification
Licensure and certification are the highest forms of regulation. They are designed to protect the public by ensuring that certain minimum competency requirements are met. They also set standards for the profession.

Currently 20 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands offer licensure or certification for naturopathic doctors. The American Association of Naturopathic Physicians maintains a list of states and territories that license or certify naturopathic doctors.

Why should I choose to see a naturopathic doctors?

• You want a doctor who will treat all of you, not just your illness.
  Naturopathic doctors (NDs) are trained to treat the whole person. This requires taking the time to listen and understand the genetic, environmental, and behavioral/lifestyle factors that can affect your health. At your initial appointment, you’ll spend up to an hour or more talking with your ND.
• You want personalized treatment.
  NDs understand there is no one-size-fits-all treatment that works for everybody. After your visit with an ND, you’ll leave the doctor’s office with a treatment plan uniquely tailored to you, your health status, your health goals, and your lifestyle.
• You want to treat the root cause of an illness, not just the symptoms.
  Sometimes having trouble sleeping, aches and pains, strange or hard to treat skin rashes, and indigestion or stomach discomfort are symptoms of an underlying illness. While these symptoms can be managed, it’s more important to understand and treat the root cause—which is the focus of naturopathic medicine.
• You want to actively participate in managing your own health.
  An ND will help you learn what your body needs to get well and stay healthy. Patients have the opportunity to feel empowered and hopeful when they understand and are actively engaged in managing their own health.
• You have chronic pain and don’t want to use pharmaceutical drugs such as ibuprofen, acetaminophen, or highly addictive opioids to manage it forever.
  Pain that lasts six months or more is more complex than acute pain and requires a holistic, long-term approach to manage. NDs are trained to work with you to determine which combination of therapies will work best for you to heal or manage your pain safely so that you can resume daily activities.
• You have tried all conventional medical options for diagnosing and treating a health condition.
  Certain chronic health conditions that have symptoms such as fatigue, insomnia, or gastrointestinal distress can be difficult to diagnose and treat, and can benefit from a holistic approach. NDs use diagnostic tools common in conventional medicine, such as detailed health, disease, and prescription drug histories, physical exams, and targeted laboratory testing and imaging. NDs also consider detailed diet history, lifestyle habits and choices, exercise history, and social/emotional factors to assess patients’ needs. These approaches can open doors to new treatment pathways and options.

Licensed naturopathic doctors and their scope of practice
Licensed naturopathic doctors combine knowledge of the body’s natural healing properties with the rigors of modern science to focus on holistic, proactive prevention and comprehensive diagnosis and treatment. By using protocols that minimize the risk of harm, naturopathic physicians help facilitate the body’s inherent ability to restore and maintain optimal health.

Naturopathic doctors treat all medical conditions and can provide both individual and family health care. They can work as primary care providers and as part of an integrated healthcare team. Among the most common ailments they treat are allergies, chronic pain, digestive issues, hormonal imbalances, obesity, respiratory conditions, heart disease, fertility problems, menopause, adrenal fatigue, cancer, fibromyalgia, and chronic fatigue syndrome. Naturopathic doctors can perform minor surgeries, such as removing cysts or stitching up superficial wounds, however they do not practice major surgery. They also are trained to use prescription drugs, although they emphasize less toxic substances that promote natural healing first, following the Therapeutic Order to provide the greatest benefit with the least potential for damage.

Naturopathic doctors can order all blood reference range and diagnostic imaging tests. They can also order individualized specialty functional medicine labs, such as those for assessing digestive impairment, hormone imbalances, heavy metal and/or environmental toxin exposure, nutritional deficiencies, and adrenal dysregulation. They will evaluate your lab results in combination with your clinical presentation, your health history, and lifestyle and environment factors that might be preventing you from having optimal health.

Choose your naturopathic doctor wisely
When seeking medical care from a naturopathic doctor, it is important to select a doctor who has a naturopathic medical degree earned from an accredited, four-year, in-residence, naturopathic medical college and is licensed or certified.

What is the difference between a licensed Naturopathic Doctors and an unlicensed naturopath?

Licensed naturopathic doctors, sometimes referred to as naturopathic physicians, are regulated at the state level to practice naturopathic medicine. Naturopathic medical students attend accredited, four-year, in-residence, naturopathic medical schools where they study biomedical sciences such as anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, pathology, and pharmacology. Their medical education incorporates the latest advances in science and natural approaches to illness prevention and management. Students complete a minimum of 4,100 hours of class and clinical training, including over 1,200 hours of hands-on, supervised, clinical training.

Naturopathic doctors can order diagnostic tests such as blood tests, X-rays, MRIs, and, in some states, prescribe prescription drugs and hormones and perform minor surgery. According to the Association of Accredited Naturopathic Medical Colleges (AANMC) 2015 survey of alumni, 50 percent of naturopathic doctors practicing full-time self-report as primary care physicians, while 28 percent report working as natural health specialists. In addition, like conventional medical doctors (MDs), a growing number of naturopathic doctors choose to focus their practices in specialty areas. Specialty associations currently exist for Endocrinology, Environmental Medicine, Gastroenterology, Intravenous Therapies, Pediatrics, Primary Care Medicine, and Oncology.

Naturopathic doctors can order diagnostic tests such as blood tests, X-rays, MRIs, and, in some states, prescribe prescription drugs and hormones and perform minor surgery. According to the Association of Accredited Naturopathic Medical Colleges (AANMC) 2015 survey of alumni, 50 percent of naturopathic doctors practicing full-time self-report as primary care physicians, while 28 percent report working as natural health specialists. In addition, like conventional medical doctors (MDs), a growing number of naturopathic doctors choose to focus their practices in specialty areas. Specialty associations currently exist for Endocrinology, Environmental Medicine, Gastroenterology, Intravenous Therapies, Pediatrics, Primary Care Medicine, and Oncology.

The exam required to qualify for naturopathic doctor licensure is administered by the North American Board of Naturopathic Examiners (NABNE).
The Naturopathic Physicians Licensing Examinations (NPLEX) is a two-part examination. Only students and graduates from accredited or candidate naturopathic programs are eligible to sit for the NPLEX.

In some states with laws regulating naturopathic doctors, the use of the term “naturopath” or “naturopathic physician” by anyone other than a licensed naturopathic doctor is prohibited. However, not all states regulate naturopathic doctors and not all states that do protect the term “naturopath.”

Therefore, unlicensed naturopaths can have varied levels of education and experience, often from a purely online or correspondence format. Such education is not accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education and does not qualify students to take the NPLEX examination or apply for licensure in any regulated jurisdiction in North America.

Be aware that while the terms may be used interchangeably, they are not the same
As a patient, you should also know that the terms “naturopathic doctor”, “naturopathic physician” and “naturopath” are often used interchangeably by medical practitioners in other disciplines and the public, even though unlicensed naturopaths do not have the same training or privileges. Knowing the difference between licensed naturopathic doctors and unlicensed naturopaths can help you make informed decisions about which type of provider can best help you.

How does naturopathic medicine lower health cost?

As concerns grow over high health care costs and poor health outcomes in the United States, a growing number of policymakers, health care practitioners, and other stakeholders are calling for an expansion of the focus of our health care system to keeping people healthy in addition to providing medical treatment after a person gets sick. To accomplish this change, health care professionals from a broad range of disciplines must come together in primary care teams. Trained as primary care doctors and to emphasize prevention, licensed naturopathic doctors have a central role to play in these efforts.

Naturopathic medicine is a distinct practice of medicine that emphasizes wellness and the self-healing process to treat each person holistically. Licensed naturopathic doctors are known for following a unique Therapeutic Order, an approach that identifies the natural order in which naturopathic therapies should be applied to provide the greatest benefit with the least potential for harm. This approach leads to improved outcomes and lower health care costs.

How do naturopathic doctors help people manage chronic pain without highly addictive opioids?

Anyone who has ever experienced chronic pain knows how debilitating it can be. Yet the most commonly recommended conventional medical solution—prescription opioid painkillers—is turning out to be worse than the problem. Opioids may stop the pain, but at a high price: growing numbers of deaths due to opioid overdose and higher rates of addiction and misuse.

As a medical discipline that emphasizes a holistic approach and natural treatments, naturopathic medicine offers safe and effective alternatives to highly addictive drugs for managing chronic pain. Licensed naturopathic doctors are educated at four-year, post-graduate medical schools to start with non-drug approaches to chronic pain management, and use opioid painkillers as a last resort.

Naturopathic doctors are also trained to develop personalized pain management treatment plans. These plans take into account each individual’s lifestyle, nutrition, work and leisure activities, current and past stressors, and relevant previous injuries—in other words, the root causes of each person’s pain and all its manifestations. The plans use various combinations of dietary recommendations and nutritional supplements along with botanical medicines to help reduce inflammation and the pain it causes. Exercise, physical rehabilitation, and mind-body approaches that are known to reduce perception of pain are also included in the plans.

In addition, naturopathic doctors recognize the value of working closely with conventional and alternative medical providers and will make appropriate referrals for further diagnostic work-up, treatment support, or surgical intervention as indicated. In turn, a growing number of conventional medical doctors refer patients and colleagues looking for a fresh perspective for difficult-to-treat chronic pain to naturopathic doctors.

How can Naturopathic Doctors and conventionally trained doctors work together?

here are a number of situations where naturopathic and conventionally trained doctors working together deliver care for some patients. Examples include:

1. Individuals with chronic conditions: This includes those with heart disease, diabetes, or hypertension, which require a high level of patient engagement in their own health as well as time to realize the full benefits of recommended treatments
2. Patients with cancer or other severe illnesses: Commonly used medical treatments can cause significant side effects that can undermine health
3. People seeking relief from chronic pain without using highly additive opioids
4. Those people who want to build and maintain a foundation of optimal health and well-being
5. Patients with unexplained symptoms such as fatigue, insomnia, and gastrointestinal distress who have exhausted options with conventionally trained medical doctors and still do not have an actionable diagnosis or are not improving with current treatments

These are areas where naturopathic medicine excels, providing diagnostic approaches and treatments that complement those of conventionally trained doctors. Naturopathic doctors are educated and trained in accredited naturopathic medical colleges to diagnose, prevent and treat acute and chronic illness and restore and establish optimal health by supporting a person’s inherent self-healing process. In addition, they are trained to identify underlying causes of illness and develop personalized treatment plans to address them. They also are known for their unique Therapeutic Order, which identifies the natural order in which naturopathic therapies should be applied to provide the greatest benefit with the least potential for adverse reactions.

In collaborations with conventionally trained doctors, the Therapeutic Order can help guide decision-making for the care team.

Diagnostic tools commonly used by conventionally trained doctors include detailed health, disease, and prescription drug histories, physical exams, and targeted laboratory testing and imaging. Naturopathic doctors also consider detailed dietary records, lifestyle habits and choices, exercise history, and social/emotional factors to assess patients’ needs. These approaches can open doors to new treatment pathways and options.

Diagnostic tools commonly used by conventionally trained doctors include detailed health, disease, and prescription drug histories, physical exams, and targeted laboratory testing and imaging. Naturopathic doctors also consider detailed dietary records, lifestyle habits and choices, exercise history, and social/emotional factors to assess patients’ needs. These approaches can open doors to new treatment pathways and options.

In collaborations of naturopathic and conventionally trained doctors, sometimes one practitioner takes the lead and sometimes the other. An example of a situation in which a conventionally trained doctor would provide primary treatment and a naturopathic doctor would provide adjunctive treatment is cancer care. For cancer patients, surgeons, medical oncologists, and radiation oncologists provide surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation as primary treatments while a naturopathic doctor supports a patient’s vitality and natural ability to heal, which helps them tolerate the often difficult or toxic side effects of cancer treatments.

While patients can benefit from these collaborations, naturopathic and conventionally trained doctors who work together report that each practitioner learns from the other—opening up new possibilities for both and improving patient outcomes.

Where can I get more information about the field of naturopathic medicine and how I can get involved with legislation?

https://www.naturopathic.org

What is a doctor of natural medicine?

A physician who specializes in understanding the root cause of disease and other health disturbance and then aims to improve those conditions with natural therapies. This usually involves an in-depth consultation with the physician who listens to understand contributing factors to your condition. Health issues are usually addressed using the most natural therapies possible that can include a variety of different methods such as: dietary changes; lifestyle habits inclusive of exercise, sleep, stress management; nutritional or herbal supplementation; detoxification practices; hydrotherapies; and other beneficial approaches that are less invasive to supporting the body’s bult-in desire to thrive.

What’s another word for natural medicine?

Alternative medicine, holistic medicine, complimentary medicine, herbal medicine, traditional medicine, native medicine are all terms often used interchangeable with natural medicine.

What is the advantage of natural medicine?

The biggest advantage of natural medicine is that the body recognizes it on a cellular level as naturally occurring substances or methods. The body usually can better tolerate substances and methods that it can recognize. Mainly those natural substances are supporting the process of the body, which is why in many cases (with proper dosing) you don’t usually experience any negative or profound side effects with many natural medicines. This is in comparison to conventional medicine, which is made up of foreign substances that the body does not recognize and can lead to harmful side effects that can compromise bodily functions even beyond what was initially being treated.

What is the difference between a visit a naturopathic doctors and a medical doctor?

When a patient visits a licensed naturopathic doctor you are sitting with someone who is trained to address your medical condition from the point of the root cause. This usually requires more doctor patient time together especially during the initial assessment to fully evaluate the issue.

Naturopathic doctors are trained in a variety of healing methods to assist the patient with improving their health more naturally and ultimately their quality of life. Medical doctors treat health conditions from a point of symptom relief, which does not require them to spend much time with patients. In addition, most medical doctors are limited to prescription drugs and surgery as their only treatment options, which can sometimes ultimately rob patients of not only their health but quality of life as well at a time when they were initially seeking to restore it.

What treatments do Naturopathic Doctors use?

Clinical Nutrition – The impact that food directly has on health has been proven in numerous studies and scientifically based medical journals. Healthy foods provide the body with the vital nutrients it needs to heal and to thrive. Naturopathic Physicians are trained to be experts in clinical nutrition by studying extensively the impact that food has on the biochemical pathways of the body to improve health and wellbeing.

Nutritional Supplements – Nutritional supplements include vitamins, minerals, enzymes, plants and sometimes animal derived substances that are typically ingested via capsule, tablet, liquid, or powder form. These supplements can provide a more highly concentrated form of necessary nutrients that our bodies need to perform that are much greater than what is obtainable through eating food.

Naturopathic physicians are trained to be knowledgeable of the maintenance dose versus the therapeutic dose of these supplements in addition to any vitamin-drug interactions. Journey of Wellness only utilizes products from companies that has been researched and proven to provide the highest quality medical grade supplementation and has demonstrated high standards in its manufacturing practices so that we can ensure a product that is not only safe but also effective when used appropriately.

Herbal Medicine – Many plant substances are powerful medicines that come in the form of teas, tinctures, and capsules that can be consumed or used in creams applied topically. Botanical herbs are highly effective when used in correct dosages and in combination with other synergistic herbs and treatments to optimize health with the minimal likelihood of side effects. Naturopathic physicians are trained extensively in herb-herb as well as herb-drug interactions to ensure safety and efficacy of its therapeutic action.

Environmental Medicine – Human beings are perpetually interacting in an environment filled with daily toxic exposure from the cleansing products used on skin and in living spaces to the pesticides ingested as well as, solvents that are inhaled. The cumulative effects of toxic exposure can be very disturbing to the neurological, endocrine, immune system, and respiratory functions of the body, all of which can lead to damaging the body on a systemic level, therefore affecting other organs and organ systems. Naturopathic Physicians identify potential environmental triggers that may be contributing to your diseased state and recommend additional lab testing (if needed) to help determine the level of toxic load that is limiting your body from functioning in an optimized wellness state.

Detoxification/Cleansing – Detoxification is the process of eliminating toxins from your body that have accumulated over time through a variety of avenues such as the foods you eat, the air you breathe, the environment, and stress. When patients take time out to detox their body, they are clearing out the toxins and waste products that can limit health optimization.

Every week in the houses of most people they accumulate at least one garbage can full of trash and then they dispose of it by removing it from the home to prevent it from attracting unwanted flies or rodents if the trash accumulates. The body is no different, it has mechanisms in place to remove toxins and pathogens but occasionally depending on toxic load, it is necessary to give the body a hefty push in the right direction of detoxification. Everyone is a good candidate for a detoxification and being educated on how to make it an ongoing part of their healthy lifestyle.

Homeopathy – Homeopathic medicine is the art of using nanoparticles of a substance to facilitate an improved state of wholeness and well-being. This small yet powerful system of medicine is based on the principle of “like cures like.” Clinical observation indicates that when properly prescribed it will work on a subtle, yet powerful, energetic level, gently acting to promote healing on the physical, mental, and spiritual levels with minimal to no side effects.

Mind/Body Medicine – Mental attitudes and emotional states can influence, or even cause physical illness, in addition to minimizing the healing mechanism of the body. Our Therapies like counseling, nutritional balancing, and stress management can help patients heal psychologically. Dr. Houston has been clinically trained to provide counseling with patients on mental/emotional, social, or spiritual concerns as another tool to optimize your total health and wellness.

Hydrotherapy – Hydrotherapy utilizes the physical properties of water combined with adjustments to temperature and pressure for therapeutic purposes such as stimulating pain reduction, blood circulation, releasing toxins, inducing relaxation, and treating a variety of health conditions.

What is the difference between a naturopath and a Naturopathic Doctors?

A naturopath is someone who believes and practices holistic natural therapies similar to what a naturopathic doctor may utilize but they have not been formally educated and trained by a nationally accredited institution. Therefore, they are ineligible for state licensure (where offered). Naturopathic Doctors/Physicians may oftentimes be referred to as a “naturopath” for short but they have completed a 4-year undergraduate degree in additional to 4-years of residential medical school education that includes at least 2 years of supervised clinical training. Before becoming license eligible all candidates are required to pass a national board exam administered by the North American board of Naturopathic Examiners (NABNE).

In states where laws are in place to regulate the service of naturopathic doctors, the use of the term “naturopath” or “naturopathic physician” by anyone other than a licensed naturopathic doctor is prohibited. Nonetheless, not all states across the U.S. regulate naturopathic doctors and not all states that do protect the term “naturopath.” Therefore, patients should be aware of the difference and inquire further information on the educational background and training of their providers if it is something that is important to their own health and sense of well-being.