Frequently asked questions
Are you a primary care doctor?
Although I am trained as a primary care physician, I do not act as one. I recommend my patients maintain a relationship with their primary care physician for annual visits, laboratory tests, and screenings.
My purpose is to provide additional naturopathic care to patients with chronic disease and to families who want to incorporate natural medicine into their lives.
Do you prescribe pharmaceutical medications?
While I have extensive training in pharmaceutical administration and management, I do not prescribe pharmaceutical medicines in my practice. I employ a wide range of natural medicines and perform interaction checkers when needed to make sure that what I am prescribing does not interfere with any pharmaceutical drugs my patients may be on.
Pharmaceutical drugs have a place but they rarely treat the root cause of disease. My goal is to treat the root cause of disease so that patients do not need to rely on any form of medicine, allopathic or naturopathic, to maintain their health.
Do you accept insurance?
I am not contracted with any insurance companies as they limit my ability to provide excellent care. If I contracted with insurance, I would be unable to spend 90-120 minutes for a first visit and see that person in their home. I made the decision to not take insurance so that I could have the flexibility to provide the best possible care I can for my patients!
I am happy to issue superbills that patients can submit to their insurance companies upon request.
What is Naturopathic Medicine?
Naturopathic medicine focuses on treating the root-cause of disease and takes into account the whole person when developing a treatment plan. Naturopathic doctors (NDs) complete doctoral degrees at accredited naturopathic medical schools. They are trained in various modalities of medicine including homeopathy, nutrition, botanicals, hydrotherapy, pharmaceuticals, laboratory testing and diagnostics, IV therapy, and physical medicine.
The 6 Principles of Naturopathic Medicine are:
1. First, do no harm
2. The doctor is a teacher
3. Recognize the healing power of nature
4. Treat the whole person
5. Identify and treat the cause
6. Prevention
What is Homeopathy?
Homeopathic medicines (remedies) are made from extremely diluted and potentized material that comes from plants, animals, minerals, viruses, bacteria, drugs, and biologics. Anything you can think of can be turned into a homeopathic remedy--thousands of remedies exist in our homeopathic repertory.
The homeopathic system was founded over 200 years ago by a German medical doctor, Samuel Hahnemann. Homeopathy is based upon the idea that "like cures like", meaning that whatever produces certain symptoms in a healthy person will cure those same symptoms in a sick person.
For example, a bee sting produces a lot of redness, heat, and swelling of the area. If someone steps on a piece of glass and suddenly starts to experience those same symptoms like redness, heat, and swelling, a homeopathic remedy made from a bee (Apis) will start to heal that wound.
A homeopath's job is to take a detailed account of all the mental, spiritual, emotional, and physical complaints of a person and match that to a remedy that produces those same substances in crude form (unlike diluted homeopathic medicines). That is why Belladonna, which is an excellent remedy for infections and scarlet fever, is safe for all ages when prepared homeopathically but poisonous when taken in large doses as a tincture or capsule.
Homeopathic remedies are prescribed to treat physical, mental, and spiritual problems. In the case of chronic disease, specific remedies aid certain organs to allow for proper detoxification. Other specific remedies re-train the body's own internal healing mechanisms to work again.
I like to use the analogy of a bucket: we are born with a certain sized bucket that can withhold X amount of toxins and stress. When our bucket overflows, we experience symptoms and develop chronic disease and enter into a vicious cycle where we get "stuck" in our diseased state. Homeopathic remedies act as information to re-train our body how to properly drain our bucket again. In a world where we are bombarded with chemical toxins, financial burdens, family stress, etc., homeopathic medicines help us process these toxins and stressors so that we never enter into a state of chronic disease.
Homeopathy thrived in America in the late 1800's and 1900's. In 1900 there were over 22 homeopathic medical schools, more than 100 homeopathic hospitals, and over 1000 homeopathic pharmacies in America. Because of homeopathy's proliferation and positive impact on American life, a memorial was dedicated to Samuel Hahnemann in Washington D.C. Thousands attended the dedication ceremony including President William McKinley.
I have found homeopathy to be one of the most healing medicines that exist. It is extremely safe, effective, and cheap and addresses the root cause of disease and suffering and allows the individual to truly heal. Over 300 million people use homeopathy worldwide as their main form of healthcare.
Do you work with patients who live out of state?
No, you have to live in Washington, Oregon, or California to establish care since I am licensed as a physician in these three states.
What are your fees?
An initial online consultation costs $350 and is 90 minutes long. This consultation includes 2-3 different homeopathic remedies and/or flower essences and covers your first online check-in.
Subsequent check-ins costs $90 for 30 minutes and are conducted online.
An acute appointment (for the flu, a cold, UTI, food poisoning, etc.) costs $90 and includes two brief check-ins. These appointment are conducted online or by phone.
All of my patients receive 10% off supplements and I only recommend supplements when they are needed.
I offer a 10% discount for Initial Consultations for immediate family members and I donate 10% of all my proceeds to non-profits that work to uphold Medical Freedom.
