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Frequently Asked Questions
Here’s a list of some of the most frequently asked questions about naturopathic medicine and my services. I hope you find these answers helpful! If you’re new to my practice and have additional questions, I invite you to schedule a complimentary Discovery Call with me.
How do I know you are the right doctor for me?
Please schedule a complimentary 10 minute Discovery Call. You can describe what you are looking for and I will explain to you how my services may be beneficial for your specific needs and answer any questions about naturopathic medicine that you may have.
This consultation is free for new patients only. Specific health care recommendations are not included in this consultation.
How long is the first appointment, and what can I expect?
An initial appointment at Natural Family Medicine’s office typically takes 1.5 hours. This allows the time necessary for me to understand your health concerns and goals, your medical history, your family’s medical history, and to create an individualized comprehensive treatment plan for you.
I ask detailed questions to better understand your health. We discuss various aspects about your lifestyle, including:
- Sleep
- Stress level
- Energy
- Exercise
- Emotions
- Foods consumed
- Bowel habits
After collecting a detailed medical history, I may also perform a physical exam and recommend laboratory tests for further evaluation. All of the information gathered is compiled to create an individualized treatment plan.
Will I leave the first appointment with recommendations for a treatment plan?
Yes! I will create an individualized treatment plan based on your extensive medical history and any additional information provided from previous laboratory tests and your physical exam. If laboratory tests are ordered during the first appointment, a follow up appointment will be needed to review them and additional recommendations will be made, as needed.
What types of recommendations might I expect to receive?
I only use safe and effective natural treatment options. Often there are several treatment options available to you, so we will discuss them all during your consultation. Common treatment options include:
- Lifestyle recommendations (such as recommendations for sleep, exercise, meditation, food choices, and more)
- Herbal medicine
- Homeopathic medicine
- Hydrotherapy (water therapy)
- Bach flower remedies
- Vitamins
- Minerals
- Amino acids
- Detoxification programs
- Non-prescriptive bio-identical hormones
How often will I need to follow up?
After the first appointment, it is typical for us to follow up after a month. This appointment is approximately 1-1.5 hours in duration. However, timing varies based on numerous factors, including what we have discussed, your health goals, your treatment plan, laboratory test results and more.
Additionally, ongoing continued care is individually based depending on your health concerns and progress. The duration of each follow-up appointment for continued care typically ranges from 15-90 minutes; fees are based on actual time taken.
Can you order labs and what kinds of labs might be recommended?
I can and often do order laboratory tests. The types of lab tests I order depend upon your current health status, and may include similar markers run by conventional doctors. Most often, though, the labs I focus on include different types of tests called functional medicine labs. These labs look at how the body is working to determine the underlying core cause(s) for health concerns.
- One example: I may recommend that a person experiencing fatigue complete a lab test that involves collecting saliva four times throughout the day to look at cortisol production and the pattern of release. This helps to determine what type of support an individual may need to improve adrenal gland function, which may be the underlying core cause for the fatigue.
- Another example: I may recommend that a female with menstrual concerns collect saliva several times a month to map out the release of progesterone, estrogen and testosterone during an entire cycle. This allows us to see a complete picture of hormone health and the type of support needed to create balance.
I also order comprehensive labs to assess for food sensitivities, nutritional status, cardiovascular and metabolic health, gastrointestinal function, genetic profiles and more.
Can you utilize lab results from past labs?
Yes, absolutely! I can review and discuss your previous lab results with you during your appointment. Please keep in mind that older results may no longer reflect your current health status, and I may recommend repeating certain labs when appropriate.
Past lab results are reviewed during your scheduled appointment and are not reviewed in advance unless we have made prior arrangements for pre-visit review and any associated fee.
Do you accept insurance?
I do not bill my consultations through insurance, as naturopathic medicine is not a covered service in the state of MN.
Additionally, I do not bill laboratory testing through insurance. In the state of MN, insurance does not cover laboratory orders made by naturopathic doctors. If I recommend labs that include similar markers run by conventional doctors, I would be happy to provide you with a lab order to share with your primary care provider to see if they would be willing to be the ordering physician and run them through your insurance for you. However, they may or may not be covered, even if your primary care physician agrees to run them for you. Coverage depends on the type of lab and your insurance plan. If you’d like to know more, we can discuss this in detail during your consultation.
Supplements are not covered by insurance.
What forms of payment do you accept?
I offer a variety of payment options, including accepting all major credit cards, cash, checks, and debit cards. You can also use your Health Savings Account or Flexible Spending Account checks or cards to pay for services, laboratory tests and most supplements that I recommend.
How long will it take for me to feel a difference?
It is typical to begin to feel better after just a couple weeks of following your individualized treatment plan. However, this varies based on your health condition and your lifestyle. For instance,
- Those that have chronic health conditions may take longer to see a vast improvement.
- For acute conditions, such as ear infections, sinus infections, urinary tract infections and others, relief is typically seen within days.
Improvement also depends on what the underlying core cause of the health condition is and how the body responds to treatment recommendations.
Will you collaborate with other health care providers?
I am willing to collaborate with any of the health care providers you work with. This can help lead to a more comprehensive health care approach with a team effort.
What types of conditions do you treat? Do you treat both acute and chronic health conditions?
The philosophy behind naturopathic medicine is that the body has an inherent ability to heal itself when given the right support, which means anyone can benefit from this type of medicine.
I treat the whole person, not a just a disease or symptom.
I provide treatment recommendations and prevention recommendations for several types of acute and chronic health conditions.
Common chronic health conditions I treat include:
- Hormone-related health concerns
- Diabetes
- High blood pressure
- Fatigue
- Autoimmune conditions
- Gastrointestinal concerns/conditions
- Acne
- Infertility
- Osteoporosis
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Insomnia
- Rashes or other skin conditions
Common acute health conditions I treat include
- Sinus infections
- Ear infections
- Urinary tract infections
- Upper respiratory tract infections
- The common cold
- Influenza (the flu)
- Diarrhea
- Constipation
- Seasonal allergies
If your acute conditions occur frequently, I will also make recommendations for prevention.
Do you see people for general wellness?
Yes, absolutely! I enjoy working with individuals for general wellness and prevention. I can provide specific, personalized recommendations for healthy lifestyles and optimal wellness. This includes recommendations for sleep, exercise, food, clinical nutrition, detoxification and more.
Do you see children?
I am very passionate about the pediatric population and really enjoy working with families. I have two children of my own, which brings in personal experience and an understanding of the unique needs of young ones. With that being said, I am not a pediatrician and do not take the place of a pediatrician.