Frequently Asked Questions

FAQs for Prospective Patients (existing patients click here)

Q)	What does Greenspan Good Health Center offer to patients that is unique?
A)	The most unique aspect of GGHC is our ability to diagnose your concerns quickly and in a thorough manner. Much less trial and error with our care than you might be used to. And you get results that last because you learn how to maintain them. We appreciate diagnosis from a medical viewpoint (i.e. high blood pressure, arthritis, etc) but we also make the diagnosis you using a holistic approach. That means we test and understand the cause of your concerns and, with that information, a treatment is much more effective. At GGHC, we spend at least 2 hours in your initial health intake so we can get to know you. We listen to your concerns and determine what you need and how we can help you. We know that many people are anxious about their health concerns and they want to begin treatment so they can get some relief from their symptoms. We provide treatment as quickly as possible in your care program while we always make sure to pursue an adequate and useful diagnosis of what has caused your condition.
Q)	Does insurance cover your care?
A)	Insurance companies are very interested in our type of healthcare but they are still learning about how to include it. We estimate that 30-40% of our patients have coverage for their care. It is best to contact your insurance company directly (or your employer) and tell them you are interested in naturopathic health care.
Q)	What is the difference between medical doctors and naturopathic doctors?
A)	Medical doctors generally operate from a perspective that a patient's health concerns need to be classified as a disease of one type or another. Their treatments are "scientifically" created to block symptoms from the place where a disease might be suspected. An example of this might be the use of a pain reliever or anti-inflammatory drug when there is pain in the joints. While this can produce a relief of symptoms, it does not really work to understand or correct the cause of the problem. Naturopathic physicians operate from a perspective that the body has an inherent ability to heal itself given the right resources. We study the body in this way so we can identify how this inherent healing ability has been damaged. In other words, naturopathic physicians believe the cause is related to a disturbance in the body's inherent self-correcting systems. When the treatment addresses and facilitates this ability of the body, there is less resistance (i.e. side effects) to the treatment. In addition, naturopathic physicians use medicines that are more natural to the body, also making the healing process easier for the body to adapt to.

FAQs for Existing Patients

Q)	Why doesn't my medical doctor approve of naturopathic medicine?
A)	One of the hardest things to do as a patient is to begin seeking natural health care when your medical doctor disapproves of it. While some MD's are becoming educated and more interested in naturopathic care, many are still very critical. There are a number of reasons, many beyond the scope of this discussion, but let's look at one of the most common ones. "Naturopathic care is not scientific"- That's what they say.However, naturopathic medicine and its various methods, are scientifically studied and proven in all types of medical research facilities and journals. There are many other aspects of naturopathic care that are better defined and studied using other scientific approaches than the typical one seen in our medical system. Many of these perspectives are challenging to the average medical doctor.
Q)	Can I use naturopathic medicine while I am on treatment from my MD?
A)	Generally, we see no problems or obstacles to using both types of health care. We screen all of our patients and any prescription medicines they are using for the possibility of interactions. We are careful to minimize any risk of interaction between prescription treatments and naturopathic treatments.
Q)	When I go to my MD, I usually get a treatment prescribed at the time of my visit- can you do this also?
A)	We can prescribe a treatment for you as soon as we gain an understanding of what your needs are. We can almost always make a good natural prescription early in your care. However, at GGHC, we find that the results are better and they last longer when we make a good diagnosis first.