Frequently asked questions
What can I expect during my first visit?
First visits are typically between 1.5-2 hours. During that time, we will spend time going through your health history, medications, supplements, and reviewing any previous labs or other medical records. I will then evaluate your diet and ask a lot of questions about each body system to try to to get a complete picture of what is going on in the body. Once we have gone through all of your history, I will give you a summary of what I think is going on and what body systems need to be healed. I will give specific recommendations on how to address these issues. There is usually a pretty lengthy discussion about nutrition in addition to any herbs or supplements I may recommend.
How often do i need to follow up?
That depends on your health issues and health goals. For most issues, at least one follow up visit is recommended to make sure we are on the right track, to make adjustments or additions, and to answer questions. If things are moving in the right direction after the first follow up, then follow ups can be scheduled on an as needed basis. For more chronic health issues or multiple health issues, more frequent follow up is likely necessary. A typical follow up schedule may be every 2-3 months. Some people are already healthy and just want to come in for one visit to optimize their health and ask some questions. These people can follow up as needed.
Do you take insurance?
Since the state of Tennessee does not license naturopathic doctors yet, we cannot be recognized as a health care provider by insurance companies. Therefore, we cannot become contracted with any insurance companies in the state of TN. We also cannot provide you with an itemized superbill to submit to your insurance for reimbursement since this would be stating that we are providing medical services, which we are not allowed to do in the state of TN. If you would like to see naturopathic care covered by insurance in the future, I suggest supporting the Tennessee Naturopathic Doctors Association in their future licensing efforts.
Can I use my HSA/FSA card?
Unfortunately no. Health savings and flexible spending accounts are to be used on qualified medical services. Since naturopathic doctors cannot provide medical services in TN, you would not be able to use your HSA/FSA for visits.
Do you offer IV therapy?
Since IV therapy is a medical procedure, I am unable to provide IV therapy at this time. If you require IV therapy or are interested in getting IV therapy, I am happy to refer you to a reputable IV therapy clinic.
Do you work with cancer patients?
I work with cancer patients on a case by case basis. Though I am well versed in alternative cancer treatments than most doctors in the area, I am not a cancer specialist. I tend to work with cancer patients who are very early stage, those who have failed or are unable to tolerate conventional treatment, or those that are in remission and want to prevent recurrence. Since I am not a cancer specialist, I generally refer most cancer patients to have at least one consult with a board certified naturopathic oncologist(FABNO). They will be better able to answer questions about expected outcomes, potential interactions of natural treatments with conventional treatments, and reducing side effects of conventional treatment. Unfortunately, there are no FABNOs in the region, but most FABNOs practice telemedicine. I am happy to share the names of qualified FABNOs with anyone who is interested. Contact me for more info.