The Basics of Visiting a Natural Practitioner

Most practitioners of natural therapy treatments work in a private practice type setting. Conventional doctors will sometimes refer their patients to other practitioners for specialized therapy such as acupuncture, hydrotherapy, osteopathy or chiropractic. Many medical referrals often involve patients who suffer from muscle, joint or stress-related conditions but some patients who suffer from allergies, digestive issues, skin disorders and insomnia are finding help from these natural practitioners too. When choosing a practitioner of natural medicine it is always best if you get a referral from a doctor and always be certain that the practitioner belongs to a professional organization and has the proper license to administer treatment in your state.

Your first visit may require a lengthy consultation. The first part will be a general discussion of your immediate symptoms, when they started and are they constant or sporadic. The practitioner will then build a picture of your medical history by asking you questions about past illnesses and also the illnesses of your immediate family members. You will be asked about your eating and sleeping habits and some practitioners may also ask about your emotional health, your relationships and your lifestyle habits. Although you may find these questions irrelevant to your symptoms natural practitioners focus on treating the whole body and they need this information to gain an entire view of the situation before they can diagnose how best to treat your illness.

Your consultation may also require you to have a physical exam. The type of examination will depend on what particular therapy you have chosen. The first visit will be lengthy. Subsequent visits are likely to just be follow-ups and shorter in length. The number of visits will depend on your illness, if it is severe and whether it is considered acute or chronic.

Keep in mind that most therapies are safe but some may have side effects if used for long periods of time or administered inappropriately. Some herbals may trigger an allergic reaction in some individuals or may interfere with prescription drugs. If you are unsure about any illness or therapy consult with all doctor’s involved so you can get the best treatment available.

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