Today there are so many people in the integrative healthcare field it may be hard for you to decide where to go to receive the best possible care. There are also so many therapies, finding the right one is also a challenge. So where do you start, who do you call? I’m going to give you some very helpful suggestions, things to look for and information on how to choose the right place for you.
First, let’s take a look at the therapies because that will have a lot to do with your overall choice. You will want to find a place that offers several different types of therapies which target a wide range of imbalances, so that you can get more done there, instead of going to several places. Also, it’s important to ask about studies, have studies been done on the effectiveness of the therapy? Always go with evidence based therapies, otherwise you may be wasting your time and money. There are a few organizations which study alternative therapies for example, ACAM (American College for the Advancement in Medicine). ACAM researches Oxygen/Ozone, Hydrogen Peroxide, Vitamin C IV Therapy, Chelation and many more, they have studies on the effectiveness and the best part of all is that Medical Doctors are doing the research. Also, the IOA (International Ozone Association) is a worldwide organization that researches only Oxygen/Ozone Therapy. They are always current on the uses and effectiveness of Oxygen/Ozone Therapy.
Next, let’s look at the education of the practitioner. The more education the better, however in the state of New Mexico things are a little different here. Naturopathic Doctors are not licensed here, (neither are Kinesiologists or Herbalists) that means they do not all have the same level of education. Some schools have better course curriculum than others, so here we must look for accredited diplomas. ANCB (American Naturopathic Certification Board) accreditation is a must. Board certified traditional naturopaths are essential, to ensure that the practitioner has received the best training to help you. My wife and I are currently working towards our Naturopathic Doctorates. Let’s say that you want to see an unlicensed practitioner because they offer what you’re looking for, you may ask if they work with a licensed Doctor? At my office (Alternative Health Concepts, AHC LLC) we have a medical director who is a Certified Family Nurse Practitioner that oversees our practice. This ensures that we can provide the best quality of care possible.
Last, let’s look at the clinic itself. How are things done? Will you fall through the cracks because the practice is so big that you’re just another face? Do you get personalized attention from your practitioner because they genuinely care about you? There’s nothing wrong with a busy practice as long as you get the care you deserve. Finding the right place may not be easy, when you do find it, you’ll know. I invite you to call our office to enquire about our services, become part of our practice and part of our family.