What can I expect when I visit a Naturopathic Doctor (N.D.)?
Set aside a 1.5-2 hours for your visit with the Doctor. They will take a complete history, examine
you, consider necessary lab work needed for your care, and develop a clear treatment plan.
Their treatment plans are just for you— they may include herbal medicine, homeopathy,
nutritional recommendations, diet evaluation, lifestyle suggestions, movement goals, etc.
Treatments from a natural approach.
you, consider necessary lab work needed for your care, and develop a clear treatment plan.
Their treatment plans are just for you— they may include herbal medicine, homeopathy,
nutritional recommendations, diet evaluation, lifestyle suggestions, movement goals, etc.
Treatments from a natural approach.
How long are follow up visits and how often do I have to come?
Although each case is unique, typically, the second visit will be 45 minutes and the visits thereafter, between 30-45 minutes. Occasionally there will be a deviation from this standard, which the doctor would discuss with you.
Will my insurance cover treatments?
Currently, we are not in-network providers for insurance plans or Medicare. However, your care at SNM is
eligible for HSA and FSA reimbursement.
We recommend calling your insurance provider to inquire about your plan. Certain plans offer
some reimbursement for naturopathic doctor visits. It will help to specifically ask:
eligible for HSA and FSA reimbursement.
We recommend calling your insurance provider to inquire about your plan. Certain plans offer
some reimbursement for naturopathic doctor visits. It will help to specifically ask:
- Does my plan cover visits to a licensed Naturopathic doctor if coding is provided?
- Will my plan cover lab testing ordered by a naturopathic doctor at the hospital or
national lab company?
How are Naturopathic Doctors trained?
After receiving a bachelor’s degree in pre-medical sciences, Naturopathic Doctors complete a rigorous four-year doctoral medical program at an accredited university (see Resources page). Naturopathic training includes 2 years of basic medical sciences—anatomy, physiology, pathology, diagnosis, biochemistry– followed by completion of the national basic science board exams.
The last 2 years, or clinical component, emphasizes western study of disease, diagnosis, and treatments with treatment focus on natural therapeutics. Naturopathic therapies and principles are the emphasis of the training, but conventional medical practices are largely incorporated to provide appropriate choices for the patient and stronger education for the doctors. Internship includes 1500 hours of supervised direct clinical experience as well as 250 hours of outside observational training in private practice or hospital settings.
In the state of California, N.D.’s are the only doctoral-level alternative medicine practitioners with
both holistic training and conventional training.
Will the Naturopathic Doctor order lab tests?
Like other licensed doctors, N.D.’s can order and interpret any necessary lab work. At SNM, we work with the local hospital as well as national laboratories for basic lab testing. Additionally, we also use a variety of reliable specialty labs around the county that perform more in-depth testing when needed.
What if I am taking prescription medications - will herbs interact with them?
There are certain drug-nutrient and drug-herbal interactions that need to be taken into consideration when devising an individual treatment plan. Your naturopathic doctor is aware of the interactions and will avoid all possible combinations. It is essential that you provide your doctor with a list of all current medications as well as any allergies.
Will my Naturopathic doctor interact with my other doctors or health providers?
Yes. The doctors at SNM have excellent referral relationships with local providers and specialists. They frequently collaborate care for patients offering a “team approach”. We also provide referrals to reliable practitioners as needed or desired by our patients.
