Naturopathy

Dr. Valeria Wyckoff, NMD, RD

	NMD = Naturopathic Medical Doctor (Arizona license) RD = Registered Dietitian (National registration)   Naturopathic Principles:
	Respect the Wisdom of the Body
	Find the Source of the Problem
	Do no Harm
	Physician as Teacher
	Preventive medicine and wellness promotion

Naturopathic doctors are the physicians who listen.  They will evaluate the whole person and determine the root of the problem needing treatment.  Naturopathic Medical Doctors (NMD) are licensed in Arizona as physicians after they complete pre-med courses, graduate from a four year naturopathic college, pass national licensure board exams and finally are accepted by the Arizona Board of Naturopathic Medical Examiners (NPBOMEX). They are trained to use both conventional and alternative therapies, so they can write prescriptions, do acupuncture, practice homeopathy, nutrition, counseling, manipulation, botanical medicine and many more modalities. 

 A good NMD will try to avoid treatments which merely suppress the symptoms instead of stimulating true healing.  Natural therapies usually work with the body’s natural healing mechanisms, moving the body towards health.

 Will my insurance pay for a naturopath?

Many insurance companies do pay. If the insurance policy says they will pay for your choice of a “physician” then in Arizona they are required to pay for a licensed naturopath since they are physicians. If you have HMO coverage they generally dictates which physicians you see and Dr. Valeria is not signed up with any plans.

For many people their insurance is a contract between them and their employer. Encourage your employer to offer plans covering naturopaths, if they don’t already. If you are self employed, consider looking at an insurance plan with a high deductible and a Health Savings Account to pay for regular wellness expenses such as your naturopath, eye glasses or teeth cleaning.

Our office does accept credit cards. If you file promptly with the insurance company, frequently you can have your reimbursement by the time the credit card bill comes.

Can you treat cancer?

Naturopaths have some excellent adjunct therapies for treating cancer.  They can reduce side effects and increase the effectiveness of the conventional treatments such as radiation and chemotherapy. Many of these adjunctive treatments have the support of scientific studies and can increase the patient’s quality of life during and after the treatment..

Can you treat menopausal symptoms, fibroids, painful menses and other female problems?

Homeopathy, nutrition, lifestyle changes and herbs can powerfully change and improve your quality of life. Many times you can avoid drugs and their side effects or  all the risks and recovery time with surgery. The added benefit comes in improved general health and well being for a better future.

For Answers to the following questions, click on the underlined word in the question.

What is the difference between naturopathy and homeopathy? 

How does Dr. Valeria work with herbal medicine?

Is acupuncture an option with Dr. Valeria?

What kind of physical manipulation does Dr. Valeria do?

What kinds of lifestyle changes might be necessary for improved health?

For more information on naturopathic medicine in the United States, the American Association of Naturopathic Physician's website is a good source.  Go to links page.