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.

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.

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.

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 therapies 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.