FAQs
Naturopathic medicine is a distinct field within medicine that specializes in treating the whole body, via a combination of modalities including:
- Nutritional and Lifestyle Modification
- Botanical Medicine
- Homeopathy
- Physical Medicine
- Counseling and Stress Management
- Individualize clinical nutrition (vitamin, mineral, glandular supplementation)
These modalities are used to address the underlying causes of symptoms and disease by putting health back into the body allowing the body to return to a state of true health. We do not simply swap out pharmaceutical agents for “natural agents” trying to manage symptoms or dysfunctions, but strive for complete disease resolution. Treatment focuses on the individual person, not the disease so every “protocol” is specific to the person. The patient plays an active role in their health care and is expected to make the necessary changes to accomplish their return to health. Strict emphasis is on behavior change which focuses on lifestyle modifications including diet, exercise, stress management and sleep quality. When naturopathic functional medicine is prescribed, the side effects are seen as part of the outcome ie: the person may be following a protocol to lower cholesterol and the side effects are they lose body fat, lower their blood pressure and blood sugar. There are six principles that create the foundation of our philosophy and guide the naturopathic approach to health and healing.
Harness the Healing Power of Nature Naturopathic medicine harnesses the vast potential of nature’s medicines to stimulate your inherent healing power.
First Do No Harm Naturopathic Doctors choose remedies and therapies that are safe and effective.
Identify and Treat the Cause The primary goal of your Naturopathic Doctor is to identify and treat the underlying causes of your condition, not simply manage symptoms.
Treat the Whole Person Naturopathic Doctors have a vast understanding of how the physiology of the body works and why the body may be presenting with specific symptoms or diseases given the environment it has been in. Through this understanding an individualized treatment plan can be implemented to reverse the physiological changes that have occurred allowing the body to return to a state of health.
Educate Naturopathic Doctors educate you about your health and empower you with the tools to live in balance and to become a good steward of your own health.
Prevention Naturopathic Doctors emphasize the prevention of disease – assessing your risk factors, heredity and susceptibility to disease and making appropriate interventions in partnership with you to prevent illness.
Naturopathic Doctors are trained as primary care practitioners at naturopathic medical schools fully accredited by the US Department of Education. Like conventional medical schools, these four-year, graduate level, in-residence naturopathic medical programs provide a solid foundation in the basic medical sciences and in conventional diagnostic and treatment methods. Extensive coursework in naturopathic therapeutics is combined with supervised, outpatient clinical training in comprehensive integrated health care. Additional information on naturopathic medical schools can be found at www.aanmc.org.
True Health does not participate in any insurance plans. Naturopathic medicine is currently not recognized by insurance companies in Wisconsin. However, it may be possible for some services and supplements to be reimbursed by your HSA (Health Savings Account) or FLEX plan. It is the responsibility of the patient to research these options prior to their appointment. Without insurance as an option, we are able to maintain a practice that offers cost-effective options for our patients. We are able to do so as there is no “red-tape” that drives higher rates and costs for many of our offerings.
We don’t know. Our office believes that transparency is key in our communication with our patients. So, one thing that we share is that there is nothing fast in naturopathic medicine. When one chooses to add health back into their body to nourish cells and promote natural healing, time is necessary; patient compliance will certainly help expedite the healing process. Pharmaceuticals often yield fast, targeted resolution of symptoms for what they are intended to address but will often create a wave of unwanted side-effects. Many patients opt to continue their treatments plan beyond the relief of their initial complaints because they realize that feeling great is within their reach. Patient consults are helpful in determining what you may expect as a new patient. To learn more, visit our What to Expect page.
As a new patient, you come to us ready for change, motivated by the idea of new possibilities and possessing a desire to be involved in your health transformation. Your health really is our purpose. From the moment you begin treatment with us, you will notice some distinct differences in our operation. Being a patient here is about being recognized and acknowledged. Your intake is comprehensive as we want to know just as much about your biography as we do your biology. We take our time to get to know all about you to create a plan as unique and individual as you. We provide you with quick responses to your questions and needs and leave you feeling supported and nurtured through every step of the way.
New patient appointments are scheduled for 90 minutes, however we charge on a per minute basis ($3 per minute), so if your appointment only take 60 minutes, the investment for the appointment is $180. The average new patient appointment takes about an hour, but some are quicker and some are longer. Depending on your symptoms further investigation including lab work may be necessary to rule certain things in or out. Lab costs vary greatly from under $100 to over $500 but nothing is mandatory and you are not obligated to do any specific labs. Supplements are almost always recommended even after your first visit, which again, vary greatly as everyone leaves with their own personalized treatment plan and no one plan is the same as another. So our best transparent price range is $300 to $700 for your first visit. Please take advantage of our free 10 minute consultation with Dr. Paulson for more clarity regarding what to expect at your first visit.