Question 1

What is Naturopathic Medicine?

Accepted Answer

Naturopathic doctors (ND's) are trained at 4-year accredited naturopathic medical institutions and become state licensed after completing state board examinations. We are clinically trained as Primary Care Providers, study all the same basic sciences, diagnostics, and pharmaceutical drugs as conventional medical students, but with two years of education in natural therapies.

Naturopathic medicine encompasses a wide array of scientifically backed natural therapies (see list below), offering a comprehensive and effective approach to healthcare for individuals of all ages.

These medicines address the internal environment of the individual, stimulating innate healing mechanisms, vitality and resilience. It integrates aspects of prevention, diagnosis, and treatment across the physical, mental, and emotional spectrums. As a result of placing more emphasis on the individual's expression and experience of symptoms, personal risk factors, and biology, Naturopathic medicine take a more robust approach to the art and science of medicine.

Question 2

What are Natural Treatments?

Accepted Answer

Naturopathic doctors (ND's) are trained in many natural treatment modalities. Following graduation, each doctor will specialize in patient population, condition(s), and treatment focus.

Population focus will be pediatrics, adults (internal medicine), geriatrics, or family medicine (all of the above).

Condition focus will range from acute to chronic conditions for all systems of the body, aesthetics, regenerative therapies, and physical medicine. Regardless of our specialties, we are all trained as Primary Care Physicians.

Natural Treatment modalities include the following:

Bio-identical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT)
Botanical (herbal) medicine
Chelation (oral and IV)
Detoxification
Homeopathic medicine
Hydrotherapy
Intramuscular nutrient (vitamin / mineral / cofactor) injections
Intravenous (IV) nutrient therapies
LDN (low-dose naltrexone)
Lifestyle counseling
Nutraceuticals (supplements)
Ozone therapy
Preventive medicine
Physical medicine
PRP (platelet-rich-plasma) therapy
Prolotherapy injections
Infrared Sauna therapy

Question 3

What Is Homeopathy?

Accepted Answer

Homeopathy is the second largest system of medicine in the world. It is a safe, 100% natural, cost-effective, non-pharmaceutical, oral medicine discovered in 1796 by German physician, Samuel Hahnemann. It is appropriately prescribed by medical doctors, naturopathic doctors, and registered homeopaths, although a small number of remedies are available over the counter for home use. Homeopathic remedies are prepared in a lab with strict processing methods and standards which you can see here. There are over 3,000 homeopathic remedies available, all made from single natural substances (not formulas), and range in potencies from weak to strong. Homeopathic remedies are not the same as botanical (herbal) medicine, they are not extracts, and they cannot be patented.

Prescribed as a single medicine, homeopathy stands alone in its capacity to address multiple symptoms at one time. It is a mind-body approach based on the fact that it cannot discriminate between mental, emotional, and physical symptoms; its efficacy is dependent on the whole person's complete symptom picture. Homeopathy's mechanism of action is not based on a diagnosis, but rather how symptoms specifically express themselves in the individual. One person's experience of a diagnosis rarely looks identical in another person with the same diagnosis. Homeopathy works to raise the vital force of the individual, stimulating the innate healing mechanisms inherent to us. It is based on the law of similars, or "like treats like". This means that the symptoms a natural substance can produce in a healthy individual will also cure those exact symptoms in the sick individual.

Safety
Homeopathy is safe for pregnancy, children, acute cases, complex chronic cases, and the elderly. It is an excellent medicine for mental health and does not interfere with prescription medications.

Question 4

Why Aren't Naturopathic Medicine and Homeopathy More Mainstream?

Accepted Answer

Naturopathic medicine, naturopathic doctors, registered homeopaths, and the practice of homeopathy are up against the obstacles of misconception, lack of access to accurate information, and prevalent misinformation regarding its practices. The power of pharmaceutical and insurance companies to endorse, promote, and push their agendas by pouring money into conventional medical practices is a major factor in the success of their marketing campaigns.

However, there has been a growing increase in the collective awareness around the failure of conventional methods in primary and chronic disease management, creating a stronger reach for the better practices and results of natural medicine. Yet, even with slogans like "integrative medicine", "holistic health", and the like, there is no all-inclusive approach for the variety of natural treatment options available. Each practitioner chooses and excels at what resonates best with them and for their patients, making them specialists in that particular modality. The beauty of having these options means that we can proactively choose which treatment approach resonates best for us. This is where we can become advocates for our health, exercising bodily sovereignty.

Naturopathic medicine and the practice of homeopathy require an in-depth understanding of the complexities, specificities, and unique experiences of each patient in order to work. Short medical visits as required by insurance companies are not conducive to the successful practice of medicine, or to the success of the patient, making our services a cash-pay practice. Mainstream medicine is designed for short, impersonal visits, reductionistic diagnoses, and limited treatment options as dictated by insurance companies.

Naturopathic medicine and homeopathy are highly individualized medical approaches not currently falling under mainstream medical philosophies or practices but can be collaborative with willing practitioners.

Question 5

Will I Have Access to Communicating With You Between Visits?

Accepted Answer

Texting brief questions at your convenience is welcomed and encouraged through a HIPAA-compliant texting app, which you will be invited to download to your phone at the end of your new patient visit.

Texting is not a substitute for follow-ups. If text messages are not quick or easy to answer, booking a follow-up will be encouraged.

This texting access is included in the 6 month program working together.

Question 6

How Long Will I Need Treatment?

Accepted Answer

We start with 6 months. This is how long we need to establish a strong foundation and make progress. Any less, and it's just insufficient.

Whether you need care for longer depends on the following: the pace of your progress, which depends on the length of your symptom history, complexity, potential history of invasive procedures, lifestyle habits, obstacles to cure (heavy pharmaceutical use, strong lifestyle/environmental/relational challenges), support systems, and personal commitment.

All of us are on our own path.

We will discuss payment in our discovery consult.

Question 7

Do You Take Insurance?

Accepted Answer

Naturopathic doctors in California are out-of-network providers. The majority of insurance companies in California do not cover Naturopathic medicine/doctors, but I encourage you to call them and ask if they will cover any visits, labs, and/or treatment. I can always provide a Superbill for you to submit to your insurance for reimbursement once you receive approval from them first.

As a cash-pay practice I accept credit cards, debit cards, HSA (health-savings account), and FSA (flex-savings account).

Dr. Shonna Calica, ND

Frequently Asked Questions