Frequently Asked Questions
What conditions do you treat?
Low energy, Poor sleep, Poor mental clarity, Digestive issues, Poor immunity, Inflammation (joints, muscles, skin), Hormone imbalances (hot flashes, thyroid dysfunction), Anxiety/Depression, Cardiovascular Disease (co-treat)
Do you take insurance?
We recommend you contact your insurance provider prior to visiting us to learn if they cover naturopathic medicine. We hope that you would consider our services well-worth the out of pocket expense. The cost of natural health care now is far less than the cost of poor health later.
We require payment at the time of service to keep our operating costs down and thus keep our fees fair and reasonable. We will give you an invoice from our office to submit your insurance provider for reimbursement.
Do you have a natural medicine pharmacy?
Our clinic offers a natural medicine pharmacy for the convenience of our patients. Ensuring the quality and effectiveness of the products we prescribe is paramount to us. To uphold these standards, we source our products from manufacturers who furnish certificates of analysis from independent laboratories. These certificates certify that each product aligns with our strict criteria: meeting the strength and potency indicated on the label, free from rancidity, and devoid of contaminants, including heavy metals. This is our clinic's standard requirement for pharmacological quality assurance.
Purchasing items at our clinic is optional and we will be happy to work with you to purchase recommended items from our local nutrition store in Falmouth, Vital Nutrition. http://www.vitalnutritioncapecod.com/
How are Naturopathic Physicians trained?
Naturopathic medical colleges offer a rigorous four-year postgraduate program with admission standards comparable to conventional medical schools. Earning the Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine degree entails comprehensive graduate-level studies in various medical sciences. These include anatomy, cardiology, physiology, neurology, biochemistry, radiology, pathology, minor surgery, microbiology, obstetrics, immunology, gynecology, pharmacology, pediatrics, dermatology, laboratory diagnosis, clinical and physical diagnosis, among other clinical sciences.
Throughout these four years, students undergo training in naturopathic therapeutics, which encompasses therapeutic nutrition, botanical medicine, homeopathy, natural childbirth, acupuncture, hydrotherapy, naturopathic manipulative therapy, and various other therapeutic modalities. The coursework in natural therapeutics is integrated into a standard medical curriculum.
These are accredited colleges of Naturopathic Medicine in the United States:
Bastyr University
14500 Juanita Dr. NE Kenmore, WA
98028-4966
(425) 823-1300
www.bastyr.edu
National University of Natural Medicine
11231 S.E. Market Street
Portland, OR 97216
(503) 255-7355 https://nunm.edu/
Sonoran University of Health Sciences
2140 E. Broadway Rd.
Tempe, AZ 85282
480.858.9100
https://www.sonoran.edu/
National University of Health Sciences
200 East Roosevelt Road
Lombard, IL 60148
(630) 629-2000 https://www.nuhs.edu/
Are you licensed?
Dr. Lawrence is licensed in the state of Massachusetts and Vermont. She is also a member of the Massachusetts Association of Naturopathic Doctors and the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians.
Massachusetts Association of Naturopathic Doctors https://www.msnd.org/
Currently, 26 jurisdictions (23 states plus the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands) have licensing or registration laws for naturopathic doctors (NDs/NMDs).
In these jurisdictions, naturopathic doctors are required to graduate from accredited four-year residential naturopathic medical programs and pass an extensive postdoctoral board examination (NPLEX) in order to receive a license or registration. Licensed and registered NDs have a specific scope of practice as defined by their state’s law, and must fulfill State-mandated continuing education and reporting requirements. https://naturopathic.org/page/ScopeforPatients
What is the history of Naturopathic Medicine?
While the term 'naturopathic medicine' emerged in the late nineteenth century, its philosophical origins trace back thousands of years, drawing wisdom from various healing traditions across cultures including Ayurvedic practices from India, Taoist principles from China, and Hippocratic teachings from Greece.
This distinct American healthcare profession is nearly a century old, having taken shape around the turn of the twentieth century.
At that time, practitioners from diverse medical backgrounds integrated natural therapeutics in unprecedented ways, leading to the formation of the first naturopathic professional medical societies.
The 1920s witnessed naturopathic medical conventions attracting over 10,000 practitioners. Earlier in the century, over 20 naturopathic medical colleges existed, and naturopathic physicians were licensed in a majority of states.
Naturopathic Medicine faced a decline in the 1940s and 50s due to the rise in popularity of pharmaceutical drugs, technological advancements in medicine, and the belief that drugs could eradicate all diseases.
However, in the past few decades, it has experienced a resurgence. This field continues to grow and adapt, incorporating elements of scientific modern medicine that advance knowledge in natural healing mechanisms and therapeutics, particularly in diagnosis, immunology, clinical nutrition, botanical medicine, and other clinical sciences. As a profession, naturopathic medicine remains committed to ongoing research and development in its field.
What are the professional associations for Naturopathic Doctors?
The American Association of Naturopathic Physicians (AANP) is the unifying professional association for naturopathic medicine. Its governing body includes delegates from state level Naturopathic Associations. The goals of the AANP are to promote public health, to maintain high standards of education and medical practice, and to encourage scientific research.