Frequently Asked Questions

Learn More About Our Naturopathic Practice

How much will my treatment cost?

The cost of your treatment depends on two factors. The first factor is the nature and severity of your health challenges, which we identify during your health assessment. For example, if you have a severe chronic disease, your treatment will take longer and cost more than if you have a simple infection.

The second factor is your level of commitment to removing the causes of your health problems. If you’ve had a chronic problem for twenty years, it’s probably not going to disappear in a matter of weeks. Conceivably, it could take months or years to fully recover from a chronic disease. Full recovery requires that the causes of the condition are corrected or removed. Removing the cause takes longer and is more work than just suppressing your symptoms.

Regaining full function and health will likely be more expensive than trying for a “quick fix”. Of course, the choice is yours. We will tell you what it will take for you to reach your personal health goals, and approximately how much it may cost.

If you have financial concerns, you have the option of recovering your health in phases. In consultation with you, we will develop a treatment program that is within your budget but still moves you in the direction of your health goals.

Will my treatment be covered by insurance?

Your office visits and some of your laboratory testing may be covered by your insurance. Most vitamins, herbs and ancillary products are not covered.

We accept several insurance plans at our clinic. Please call us to find out more about insurance coverage for your health care.

How long will I need to be treated?

Regaining and maintaining good health is a life-long process. Quite frankly, you can benefit from natural medical care for the rest of your life. If you are healthy, you can do more with your life, and live longer.

But if your primary concern is how long it will take to get rid of a specific problem or disease, we will give you our best estimate for length of treatment after we have completed your health assessment.

What health conditions do you treat?

We see people of all ages, and we treat virtually any acute or chronic problems. See what conditions we treat at The Connecticut Center for Health.

How do I know that naturopathic medicine works?

Many of the treatments that we use have been researched and validated by conventional scientific methods. There are literally thousands of medical studies that support the efficacy of vitamins, herbs, and natural treatment methods.

Some natural medicine methods, like acupuncture and traditional Chinese medicine, are proven by the results they have achieved over hundreds of years.

What is a naturopathic physician?

Naturopathic physicians are licensed primary care physicians who specialize in natural medicine. We treat disease and restore health by using clinical nutrition, herbal medicine, homeopathy, physical medicine, acupuncture, and lifestyle counseling. Treatments are customized to your specific needs.

Naturopathic physicians do everything medical doctors do, except that we don’t prescribe most drugs, and don’t do most surgeries.

We focus on prevention of future health problems in addition to treatment of current conditions. We work with you as a team to create a treatment plan that is both effective and “do-able”.

Education is a cornerstone of what we do. We take the time to sit with you and explain a disease process or educate you about self-care in relation to your overall health.

What training does a naturopathic physician receive?

Naturopathic medical schools are four-year postgraduate schools with admission requirements comparable to those of conventional medical schools. The degree, Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine, requires four years of graduate level study in the medical sciences. These include anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, microbiology, pathology, pharmacology, physical and clinical diagnosis, laboratory diagnosis, immunology, cardiology, radiology, gynecology, dermatology, rheumatology, minor surgery, pediatrics and other clinical sciences.

We also receive intensive training in naturopathic therapeutics, which include therapeutic nutrition, botanical medicine, homeopathy, hydrotherapy, naturopathic manipulative therapy and lifestyle counseling. The training also includes over 400 hours of clinical training in outpatient clinics.

Are naturopathic physicians licensed?

After acquiring the degree of Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine, naturopathic physicians must pass a national and state level board examination in order to become licensed to practice naturopathic medicine. In addition, naturopathic physicians are subject to a review by a state board of examiners.

Do I continue with drugs prescribed by my M.D.?

Yes. You continue to consult with the M.D. who prescribed your medications. However, in many cases, your medications may have to be reduced as a result of our treatments. As you get healthier, your need for prescription drugs may diminish.

During your course of treatment in our clinic, we may advise you to check with your M.D. about adjusting the dosage or type of medication.

Do I continue to see my M.D. and other health practitioners?

Yes. We encourage you to continue seeing your other healthcare providers, as needed.

We will also coordinate your care with other healthcare practitioners by communicating with them as appropriate. We prefer to work as a team with other practitioners in order to give you the best possible health care.

For example, if surgery is necessary, we can provide guidelines for pre and post-surgical supplementation to prepare you better for a better surgical outcome, and to speed your recovery.