Finding a holistic/alternative doctor

**quiltergirl** · 02-13-2008, 02:55 PM

I need help finding a holistic or alternative medical doctor. Needs to be an M.D. or D.O. and covered by insurance. Not asking for much am I?

I am tired of going to doctors who claim to be holistic or alternative but turn out to be pretty conventional docs who just know a little bit about vitamins. We do need someone who can prescribe because we have not been able to fully get everything in balance without prescription drugs yet.
We also can't afford to pay all costs out of pocket, so they have to accept insurance. Our uncovered out of pocket expenses are already high enough with the supplements we take.

The medical schools in our city each offer one course in holistic/alternative medicine and docs here seem to think that if they took that course that qualifies them to call themselves holistic or alternative. I'm just getting tired of trying a new doc, full of hope that this will be the one only to find they really aren't what they are claiming to be.

Any suggestions?

**Megareader** · 02-13-2008, 04:38 PM

What state are you in? My old M.D. stopped practicing traditional medicine and has concentrated on alternative medicine for the past 5 years. This is in Omaha Nebraska. I'm not sure if insurance covers that type of health care though.

**quiltergirl** · 02-14-2008, 12:15 PM

Thanks! I sent you a private message about this.

**Megareader** · 02-15-2008, 02:14 PM

I just pm'd you with the info. I hope it helps you!

**quiltergirl** · 02-22-2008, 09:30 AM

Still looking if anyone has any ideas.

**shortstack** · 02-22-2008, 10:36 AM

I went to a Dr. who fit your description. Are you near WV?
I went to this Dr. when traditional Drs kept telling me I had "chronic fatigue". I got so sick of hearing that and then being told there was little I could do about it. He fixed me right up (including taking me off of all Rxs I was on and adding fruits, veggies, supplements...) and I feel better now then I have since I was in high school.
He actually does free lectures here on alternative treatments.

Andrea

**santoria** · 02-22-2008, 11:26 AM

search under Naturopathic Doctors. thats what mine goes under. she's a real doc.

**quiltergirl** · 02-22-2008, 12:23 PM

Actually I am in Nebraska. We are both doing quite well healthwise right now. There are a couple of genetic things that I struggle with, but they are at least controlled for now. We are ready to accept that we won't find what we are looking for but we really need is someone who won't try to mess with what we are already doing supplement wise, won't get real pushy and controlling and will give us the lab results - the actual lab report -- not just say "everything's fine."

I do not trust conventional doctors and would not be going to one if we were not forced to by cost and need for prescriptions. We have tried everything to not need the scripts but this is one thing we can't seem to get under control with lifestyle and supplements. It's most likely related to the gentics I mentioned earlier.

In my state at least Naturopaths or ND's cannot prescribe and do not accept insurance. The are also quite expensive. One that I am aware of here practices under a counseling license to give "nutritional counseling."

We have tried the American Holistic Medical Society and Dr. Weil's certification program so far for referrals and have not had much luck there.

The upcoming election scares me a little. Everyone's talking about healthcare. Our major concern is that alternative medical products and practices remain legal. I don't know what we would do if we could no longer obtain our supplements and alternative treatments legally in this country.

**shortstack** · 02-22-2008, 12:49 PM

The Dr. I mentioned earlier is a Pulmonologist and was able to acceot my insurance. He will only treat you holistically if you ask him to otherwise he treats you conventionally.
Hope you find what you are looking for.

Andrea

**Squirt** · 02-22-2008, 11:27 PM

If you really want real test results (and don't mind paying for them) there are a few places online which will do tests for you. They send a requisition which you take with you to a lab if necessary, such as for a blood draw. I recently did this myself because I couldn't find an alternative doctor and I didn't want to waste my time convincing a "normal" doctor to test me. Direct Labs does this, I think there are others as well.

**quiltergirl** · 02-23-2008, 07:46 AM

Thanks, I'll check it out.

**M55FF** · 02-23-2008, 01:03 PM

Originally Posted by quiltergirl

I need help finding a holistic or alternative medical doctor. Needs to be an M.D. or D.O. and covered by insurance. Not asking for much am I?

I am tired of going to doctors who claim to be holistic or alternative but turn out to be pretty conventional docs who just know a little bit about vitamins. We do need someone who can prescribe because we have not been able to fully get everything in balance without prescription drugs yet.
We also can't afford to pay all costs out of pocket, so they have to accept insurance. Our uncovered out of pocket expenses are already high enough with the supplements we take.

The medical schools in our city each offer one course in holistic/alternative medicine and docs here seem to think that if they took that course that qualifies them to call themselves holistic or alternative. I'm just getting tired of trying a new doc, full of hope that this will be the one only to find they really aren't what they are claiming to be.

Any suggestions?

just to say.. a D.O. is still a doctor and not practicing alternative medicine. I recently had a very bad experience with a D.O here in texas... she kept messing up and having the nurse call in meds for me that I wasn't on. After the second mistake I called to speak to her directly and she became so angry she banned not only me but the whole family from the chain of clinics she practices her doctoring from. I see it as a good thing if they can't even get the right meds with the right patient ( I asked her what her problem was to keep messing up and calling in the mail order pharmacy to send me meds I wasn't on, which I was billed for... I'm not on any meds so what the heck is she thinking and doing... her excuse was......... " don't you ever make mistakes? ... a direct quote from her.....
for gods sake... this is a doctor who is practicing on real live people ????? ).
wow is she is twit or what ? LOL !!!
I wish medical insurance like bluue cross covered alternative doctors but I guess they don't because people would get well......
and put the united states big bucks medical out of business.