First Visit with a Naturopath. Was I ripped off?

My initial assement was scheduled for 90 minutes and cost $180. In fact, I spent about 15 minutes with the ND. I got a tour of the facility (it was beautiful, like a spa), waited around a lot (nice herbal tea), and saw a "clinical assistant" who did electro dermal testing.

My actual meeting with the ND consisted entirely of my giving my medical history. I mentioned my meds (Androgel and Humira) and he said he'd never heard of either.

He told me, with no physical exam or any tests, that my problem was toxins. That chief amongst these was the Humira, which poisons me and hides my symptons without addressing my disease. Keep in mind he'd just said he'd never heard of the drug a moment before. He also told me that he had no symptoms like mine, I guess to impress that if I followed his advice I wouldn't either. He said he needed some test results to get the "biochemical topography of your body. You know how important your pH level to your overall health."

Then it was off to electro-dermal testing. Basically, it measured the resistence between two electrodes, one in my left palm and the others on three different fingers of my right hand. The test showed my immune system was strong but my cardiovascular system weak. The tech talked in what I truly think was pseudo-scientific non-sense. She also repeatedly said resistance was measured in volts, when any high-school student can tell you it's measured in Ohms.

Finally, I was presented with the bill ($180) and asked to come back for a test of arterial stiffness ($120) and a toxins screening ($80). Those would be followed by a consultation with the ND for $84.

I feel like this is a big fraud. The norm here in my province is that doctors don't do tests. They send you to a lab, so there's no conflict of interest. The electro-dermal test seemed like nonsense. And the ND seemed to have decided that my problem was toxins from the moment he heard my story. They also made it clear that would be ultimately be selling medications from their own "dispensary" which is also contrary to the ethical norms in my province.

I told the receptionist I'd have to check my calendar about the follow-ups. I have no intention of returning, and I'm thinking about asking for my money back.

Anybody else have experience with naturapathic care? I am being to harsh?

I had a mix time with a ND. they said the same things about detoxing, which their happy to sell you all the berries and seaweed you need to purge your body of everthing (and i do mean everything). they did acupuncture on me. didn't do anything other than hurt my ear. and several other places they stuck me. I might believe this stuff would help someone who just in poor health from a bad diet but for someone with AS or a geneticatly linked/ cause disease you need to pull out all the stops and go with proven methods.

if its works why won't insurance pay for it?

The first accupuncturist had a busy practice and moved constantly from room to room. She worked mainly on the affected joints, and I found it very painful. She also used heat lamps on the area with needles. She does a lot of cupping, but I didn't get any of that. I went four times, and found it very stressful.

The second accupuncturist has been very succesful for me. My family thought I wouldn't like him because his English is very limited and he's very old. He's an MD from China but a RAc here. He works a lot of with massage, and his needles are sometimes near problem areas but never into them. Most of them, though, are on either side of the spine, some in the buttocks, some near knees and ankles.

Most don't hurt at all, just a gentle tapping. Maybe 3 out of 30 sting a bit. Most stay in for about a 1/2 hour, and he does massage on other parts of the body while they're there. He's not jumping from room to room.

I'm seeing him for pain in one hip and one knee. I think it helps a great deal, and it seems to last about two weeks. This week I asked him if he did any treatments for ED. It was a little embarassing, he didn't understand what I was asking at first. But then he understood, said, "Ah, impotence treatment. No problem." This added yet more needles to my treatment, including a few just a couple inches north of the organ in question. He told me it would take about eight treatments to work, but I think it started working that very day. If it's a placebo effect it's a pretty potent one.

Perhaps that's more information than you wanted; if so, sorry.

You were asking about my meds. I take Humira every 2 weeks; and daily I take Androgel 5 g, Simvastatin 20 mg, ASA 81 mg, Cialis 5 mg. Other than the baby aspirin I don't take any NSAIDs or painkillers. I'm very happy with Humira.