GENERAL

Q: What is the Center for Integrative Medicine?

• A: We are a primary family care practice (ages 5-99+) providing traditional, preventive, and wellness services as well as other healing practices – all under one roof.

Q: How is the Center for Integrative Medicine different from other family practices?

• A: Caring attitudes

Q: What is a nurse practitioner?

• A registered nurse with a master's or doctoral degree in nursing that has been board certified to evaluate, diagnose, treat, prescribe medications, order tests and refer to other health care providers for acute and chronic medical problems.

Q: What is a Physician Assistant?

ACUPUNCTURE

Q: Who can benefit from acupuncture?

• Most people can benefit from acupuncture.  Many use acupuncture to relax and alleviate the stress of life.  Others use it to treat conditions they have lived with for years, or acute conditions that come up.  Many people find that they have at least one friend who has had acupuncture and can share a story about their experience.

Q: Is acupuncture painful?

• We use very fine, solid, high grade surgical stainless steel acupuncture needles about the thickness of a human hair to stimulate the acupuncture points.  These needles are pre-sterilized and disposable.  All of this leads to a painless experience.

Q: How does acupuncture feel?

• Many clients feel nothing, and others may feel a small pinch followed by a sensation of tingling.  Other sensations to expect include numbness, ache, traveling warmth, or heaviness.  Most clients find the sensation of acupuncture pleasant and leave feeling relaxed.  We can adjust our needling technique for hyper-sensitive, weak or older patients.

Q: Are Chinese herbs safe?

• We only use high-grade non-sulfured herbs in our herbal treatment.  Herbs have a balancing or regulating effect on the body and are gentler than pharmaceutical drugs.  Side effects from herbs are possible, but are usually minor.  The most common problems may include gas and bloating due to difficulty digesting the herb.  If this or any other problem occurs, discuss it with your practitioner so he or she may change your formula.  Our practitioners keep up to date on any possible herb/drug interactions.

Q: How Are herbs administered?

• The Chinese herbal Materia Medica is composed of over 5000 plants, mineral and animal substances.  Depending on your condition, we might recommend raw, tincture or a patent (also know as teapills or tablets) form of herbs.  Although the taste is sometimes bitter, most people find this acceptable given the health benefits.

Q: What can I expect?

• Many conditions may be alleviated very rapidly by acupuncture and herbal treatments.  However, some conditions that have arisen over a course of many years will be relieved only with slow, steady progress.  As in any form of healing, the patient's attitude, diet, lifestyle and determination will affect the outcome of a course of treatment.

Q: How long does acupuncture take?

• A typical office visit will last from 45 minutes to an hour.  You should eat something before coming and wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothes.

BIO-IDENTICAL HORMONE REPLACEMENT THERAPY

Q: What is the difference between natural bio-identical and synthetic hormones?

• The term "natural" hormones has come to designate hormones that are also called "biological-identical".  "Synthetic" hormones refer to those that are manufactured with a chemical configuration that is not possible in the human body but mimics some of the native hormonal activity.  These definitions do not reflect the dictionary meaning of these terms but refers to the general use of them.

Q: If the hormones are "natural", why is a prescription required?

• Compounding or formulating a customized dosage for an individual is a function pharmacists may legally perform if a practitioner request it.  The individual ingredients may or may not be restricted to prescription items.  In short, anything that is compounded must have a prescription.

Q: What is the cost of the medication?

• The price range compares favorably with other hormonal treatments and in some cases can even be less.  The average cost per month can be $40-$55 depending on each patient's needs.

Q: Does my insurance cover this medication?

• Due to the large volume of insurance plans that are available, it is difficult to know if a certain plan would cover the medication.  Take your insurance card to the compounding pharmacy and ask.

Q: What are the possible side-effects of my medication?

• Side effects may occur if one type of hormone becomes predominant and is is out of balance with the others.  When trying a natural bio-identical hormone regimen, if you are not experiencing significant improvement with few or no side effects, a follow-up assessment should be made to determine the proper balance.  There can be a period of adjustment; with patience most patients are improved and symptoms resolved within 2-4 months.