Frequently Asked Questions
How is a Naturopathic doctor different from my M.D.?
What should I expect in my first visit?
What medical conditions can a Naturopath treat?
Can Naturopathic medicine be used in conjunction with other forms of medicine?
Do Naturopaths take insurance?
How do I know if my ND is fully qualified?
Does Texas license Naturopaths?
Can a Naturopathic Doctor be my primary care physician?
How long does treatment take and what does it cost?
How is a Naturopathic doctor different from my M.D.?
Naturopathic doctors receive the same medical training as MDs - they attend accredited
four-year medical schools and go through clinical rotations. The major difference is
that in addition to learning biomedical sciences and pharmacology, they also learn
alternative therapies such as nutrition, homeopathy, counseling, botanical medicine,
and orthomolecular medicine. The state of Texas does not allow NDs to prescribe
pharmaceutical medications at this time, although it is legal in other states.
What should I expect in my first visit?
Naturopathic Doctors work very differently than the typical doctor. Your first visit with
a Naturopath will last about an hour and a half. During this time your complete medical
history will be discussed, as well as your symptoms, family history, lifestyle, emotional
health and diet. Any appropriate physical exam will also be conducted. Based on the body
of information gathered your Naturopath will outline a treatment plan for you that may
include supplements, homeopathic remedies, dietary or lifestyle changes, counseling,
and referral to other physicians or practitioners when necessary.
What medical conditions can a Naturopath treat?
Naturopaths treat the person as a whole, focusing on the person’s symptom picture and overall
health and wellness. Because of this, your naturopath can help with any medical condition,
with the exception of medical emergencies or conditions requiring immediate surgery
(such as acute appendicitis) for which the emergency room would be more appropriate.
Below is a list of the most commonly asked-about medical conditions and if your condition
is not listed please call the office for more information.
ADD/ADHD
Adrenal Fatigue
Allergies
Alzheimer’s
Anemia
Anti-Aging
Anxiety
Arthritis
Asthma
Atherosclerosis
Autism
Autoimmune Disease
Behavioral Disorders
Behcet’s Disease
Bipolar
Bloating
BPH
Cancer (supportive)
Candida
Cardiovascular Disease
Chemical Sensitivity
Chorea
Chronic Fatigue
Chronic Pain
Cirrhosis
Clotting Disorders
Cancer (supportive)
Common Cold
COPD
Concentration Difficulty
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Constipation
Cough
Depression
Detoxification
Developmental Delay
Diabetes
Diarrhea
Difficult Pregnancy
Digestive Disturbance
Ear Infections
Eczema
Endometriosis
Erectile Dysfunction
Fertility problems
Fibromyalgia
Flu
Gallbladder disease
GERD
Goiter
Gout
Graves Disease
Headaches
Heavy Metal Toxicity
Hepatitis
High Cholesterol
HIV/AIDS (supportive)
Hypertension
Hyperthyroid
Hypothyroid
IBS/IBD
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Immune Deficiency
Insomnia
Insulin resistance
Lupus/SLE
Memory loss
Menstrual Disorders
Migraines
Mood Disorders
Multiple Sclerosis
Night Sweats
Nutritional Disorders
Obesity
PCOD
PMS
Pneumonia
Post-partum depression
Pregnancy (supportive)
Prostate problems
Psoriasis
Psychiatric Disorders
Raynaud’s
Restless Leg Syndrome
Rheumatism
Sinusitis
Sleep Disturbance
Ticks/twitches
Ulcers
Vitamin Deficiency
Weight Disorders
Wilson’s syndrome
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Can Naturopathic medicine be used in conjunction with
other forms of medicine?
Yes!
Naturopathic medicine works very well when used in conjunction with other forms of medicine
including pharmaceutical drugs, acupuncture and chiropractic care. Your naturopathic doctor
will custom-tailor your treatment and will be able to avoid negative interactions with other
therapies you may be using. In addition naturopathic can help to counteract the side effects
of other treatments such as the side effects from chemotherapy.
Do Naturopaths take insurance?
Naturopathy is considered alternative medicine in Texas so naturopaths cannot bill directly
to insurance at this time. Dr. Neuzil can provide you with a receipt and superbill that you can
submit to your insurance company. Different insurance companies will reimburse for all or a portion
of the visit.
How do I know if my ND is fully qualified?
Your ND should display a diploma from one of the four accredited schools and should be a member
of the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians (or AANP). In addition, NDs should have
(and display) a valid State License. For more information please contact the AANP at
www.naturopathic.org or 1-866-538-2267.
Dr. Amy Neuzil graduated from Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine in Phoenix, Arizona
and holds a current and valid license from the state of Arizona (AZ 03-781). Unfortunately
because of the lack of regulation in Texas, many alternative health practitioners call
themselves “Naturopathic Doctors” without the proper qualifications.
Does Texas license Naturopaths?
The State of Texas does not license Naturopathic doctors at this time, neither do they regulate
the use of the title “Naturopathic Doctor”. For this reason it is especially important in
Texas to ensure that your N.D. is properly trained and holding an active license from a State
which offers licensure. Please see www.naturopathic.org
for more information. Lack of licensure
does not prohibit the practice of Naturopathic medicine, but it does limit what your Naturopath
can legally do. Although Dr. Neuzil’s license (State of Arizona) allows her to diagnose,
prescribe pharmaceutical medications, use injectable therapies and perform minor surgery
in Arizona, she is unable to offer those services in Texas. This does not affect the quality
of care offered, and she can still use all of the alternative medical therapies.
Can a Naturopathic Doctor be my primary care physician?
Not in Texas. In states where Naturopathy is fully licensed, your Naturopath can also be your
primary care physician. In Texas, you will need to have an additional primary care physician
who is fully licensed such as an M.D.
How long does treatment take and what does it cost?
Treatment length depends entirely on the complexity of the condition being treated. For
most patiens they have the inial visit, which is an hour and a half to get a complete case and then
follow up monthly for the first 3 months. After that if the condition is simple or well-controlled
then further follow-up visits are on an as-needed basis. If the condition is more complex, ongoing
monthly follow-ups are the best course of action.
Costs are typically:
New Patient Visit: $280
Half hour follow-up: $70 (this is typical)
Extended follow-up: $90 - $110
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