Save Money, Time in Search for Good Health Care (Part Three)

By Jacqueline L. Jones

The doctor is baffled by your symptoms. Or the doctor has a diagnosis, but isn’t aware of any treatments for your illness. Your doctor sends you to a colleague, who also doesn’t have any answers. Consider asking the owner of your local health food store to recommend an alternative health care practitioner.

Physicians and medical schools in the United States are beginning to combine alternative and allopathic medicine. By using complementary or integrative medicine in the war against chronic illness, these physicians are learning to reverse, halt, or slow the progress of these diseases, sometimes even in patients whose illness is fairly advanced.

Naturopathy is another option in the fight against chronic disease. Naturopaths focus on holistic practices. Fourteen states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands license naturopathic doctors (NDs). NDs practice as primary care physicians after graduating from schools accredited by the Council on Naturopathic Medical Education, which is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Private insurance, Medicare, and Medicaid cover their services in some states. (See Part Two of this series for additional ideas on how to pay for these services.)

Unlicensed holistic practitioners abound in all states and serve an important function in educating the public and detecting conditions that can lead to chronic illness. Exercise caution when you use their services. The laws vary from state to state. Some allow unregulated practice, some require registration or certification, and some ban their practice altogether.

Do your research! Read what’s on the Internet, inquire at a health food store, or check with your state about licensing laws. In recent years state and federal agencies have become stricter with even licensed alternative practitioners and their clients.

Fatima Hyder edited this post.