If you have specific questions, the best way to get individualized answers is to SCHEDULE a complimentary call with 1 of our providers so we can help you decide what to do next.
What should I expect from my naturopathic or acupuncture visit?
For a complimentary consult, expect to have a chance to share a brief synopsis of your current health struggles and goals. This visit is not for medical advice. We can’t give any treatment suggestions during this consultation. You don’t need to bring any lab work or medical history documentation. It’s for you to see if we are a good fit as a provider for you and for us to ensure we can help you with what you’re coming in for. Consults, like all of our visits, can be done via phone, video conference, or in person.
A new patient naturopathic visit is 60-90 minutes long and consists of a thorough intake, indicated physical exam, and recommendations for next steps. You should expect to leave with a clear plan of action created just for you.
An acupuncture session will include a check in on symptoms, brief exam, and treatment. You will be on a table with a heating pad if desired, in a room with calm lighting and music. After the needles are placed you will rest comfortably. A buzzer is always provided to alert your provider if something is needed during treatment.
How do I prepare for my visit?
New patient naturopathic visit:
Have labs available for the doctor to review – either printed or uploaded to your Charm portal (our front desk staff can help you with this). If you have labs in another portal, please be sure you are able to log in so we can view them from your device.
Our fax number is 970-449-0574 – for your other providers to fax over lab info.
Complete your intake and consent forms at least 48 hours before your appointment.
Bring in any supplements you are currently taking.
New acupuncture visit:
For acupuncture and/or cupping visits please wear loose clothing. You will keep your clothes on unless you receive cupping in which case you may need to remove your shirt for that portion of treatment.
I’ve been told all my blood work is “great,” but I don’t feel great. Can you order more comprehensive labs for me?
Most conventional providers are only “allowed” to order the blood work that insurances will cover, depending on the applicable codes. This system allows no room for digging deeper or for focusing on preventative care – both top priorities for our providers!
Our providers are not limited by what insurance will cover and are able to order whatever kind of labs are needed to help us better understand the underlying cause(s) of your symptoms and to help you get and stay healthy
In addition to “regular” blood work, our providers can order: comprehensive blood, saliva, and urine hormone panels; comprehensive thyroid panels, food intolerance panels, DUTCH hormone panels, in depth gastrointestinal microbiome panels, stool testing, adrenal testing, urine and saliva hormone testing, nutrient testing, mold exposure panels, other environmental exposure panels, and more.
How many appointments will I need?
Naturopathic – This depends largely on what you are coming in for. We specialize in complex chronic conditions which aren’t likely to be resolved overnight. We usually want to see you more in the beginning of your care and then the frequency will taper down as you begin to feel better. We don’t do packages and you are never locked in to any set number of visits.
Acupuncture – This depends on the individual and their care needs. Generally treatments are weekly for a month then spaced to biweekly or monthly for maintenance. The average amount of treatments are anywhere from 6-12.
How much do visits cost?
Naturopathic
15 minute introductory consultation – complimentary
Initial intake $350 ($100 of this is paid upon booking in order to hold your appointment)
Follow-ups $90-$190 (ranging from 15 minutes to 1 hour)
Acupuncture/Cupping
Initial Acupuncture Appointment $175
Follow-ups $85.
Initial Cupping Appointment $60
Follow-up Cupping $45
B12 shots – $25
Craniosacral:
New Patient $125
Established Patient $75
We require full payment for services at the time of your visit. We do not offer payment plans.
Are there any additional fees I should anticipate?
Lab fees and nutritional supplement fees are not included in the service fee
Lab fees vary widely depending on what info is needed. One example, comprehensive blood work panels start at $150 (this includes “basic” labs run at conventional wellness exams + some important nutrients + metabolic markers, thyroid hormones, inflammation markers, etc.)
We often incorporate herbs, nutritional supplements, and vitamins into our treatment plans. While we do sell physician-grade supplements in our clinic, you are not obligated to buy them from us.
We can recommend good local or online options for supplements if you prefer to get them elsewhere (we DO NOT recommend supplements from unregulated online retailers like Amazon)
Does insurance cover naturopathic medicine / acupuncture?
No. Sadly, the insurance model isn’t equipped to cover the longer visits that we require to give you individualized and high quality care.
We are happy to give you procedure diagnostic codes but we do not bill insurance directly.
Many of our patients prefer to use HSA or FSA accounts with us, though these do not always cover naturopathic care.
Because insurance doesn’t cover our services or our lab work, we contract with many labs who do cash pay options, which means the costs are drastically lower than typical/insurance costs for labs
Do you offer remote/virtual visits?
Yes, we see patients from all over the country and we can see people in person, via video conferencing, and over the phone. We need the initial visit to be in person, but after that we can do most things remotely.
Are Naturopathic Doctors (ND’s) primary care doctors?
Although ND’s are trained as primary care providers, we are not licensed to practice as primary care providers in the state of Colorado.
While we treat many of the same conditions that primary care doctors treat, we strongly encourage our patients to have a primary care doctor on their care team. There are times when the need arises for a medication that we are unable to prescribe or you may need a diagnostic workup (like imaging) that falls outside of our scope. It’s always best to have an established relationship with a primary care doctor before this kind of need arises.
We are unable to sign off on sports physical forms, vaccine forms (as we can’t legally administer any vaccines), worker’s comp forms, etc.
Additionally, none of our providers can do well-baby exams for any child under 2 years old.
What training and education do Naturopathic Doctors have?
Learn more about our training and education here.
Is Naturopathic Medicine the same as Functional Medicine?
The short answer is yes. If you want to delve into the long history of naturopathic medicine, any of our providers would happily nerd out with you on this topic! But, since you’re not here for that…we’ll just say yes. Naturopathic doctors do all the cool things that functional providers do and then some. Read more here.
What can acupuncture treat?
Acupuncture can treat many things. Some of the most common are stress, insomnia, mental health issues, hormonal symptoms, gut issues, migraines, allergies, and pain.
Does acupuncture hurt?
Acupuncture does not hurt. You may feel a slight pin prick sensation when a needle is inserted, but care is taken to avoid any pain during treatment. You will be informed during treatment about acupuncture points that may cause more sensation.
Can acupuncture be done without needles?
There are non-insertive styles of acupuncture that can be used instead of needles. Cupping, bodywork, ear seeds, and moxibustion (a type of herb carefully burned over acupuncture points) may be used. You can still benefit from acupuncture without needles.
If you have more specific questions, please SCHEDULE a complimentary call with 1 of our providers so we can help you gain clarity about what to do next.