FAQ

Acupuncture

Q. What is Acupuncture?
A. Eastern medicine states that the connective force between the mind, body and the spirit is called Qi (pronounced chee). Qi is the energy that flows through the body along pathways called meridians. When Qi flow is blocked by injury, stress, disease or pain, dysfunction can occur. Acupuncture points are opened, promoting balance and harmony to the flow of Qi, relieving symptoms of disease.

Q. Does it hurt?
A. Most people enjoy treatment and find it very comfortable and relaxing. Needle insertion may produce a quick pinch, followed by mild tingling, heaviness, or warmth. After treatment, you can expect to feel less pain, more energy, and a heightened sense of wellbeing.

Q. How many treatments will I need?
A. The number of required treatments is dependent on the severity and duration of the symptoms. Patients often find relief after just one or two treatments. Chronic health concerns existing for years (or lifelong) may take upwards of six sessions or more to start to feeling relief.

Q. Are the needles reused?
A. Of course not. We use only sterilized, single-use, disposable needles which are discarded following the treatment of each patient.

Q. Are there any side effects?
A. Acupuncture is an extremely safe method of treatment. Side effects are extremely rare. A small number of patients, however, may experience nausea or lightheadedness. Any concerns you may have should be discussed prior to treatment to ensure maximum effectiveness.

Q. How long is an Acupuncture treatment?
A. Generally speaking, each visit will last forty-five minutes. Your first visit may take more time, however, in order to get you familiarized and comfortable with the procedure. Upon insertion, the needles are left in place for about twenty minutes. Acute and painful conditions usually require longer treatment time.

Q. Cupping, what is it?
A. Cupping is the application of suction through a small jar. This treatment is used to stimulate acupuncture points and is useful in treating backaches, sprains, soft tissue injuries, and helping relieve fluid from the lungs in chronic bronchitis.

Q. Does the National Center for Integrative Medicine® accept charge cards or checks?
A. Payment is accepted in cash, check, credit card or by online debit.

Q. Do insurance plans cover acupuncture?
A. Some insurance companies will limit the amount they will pay for care, or may limit the number of visits one may take to the chiropractor. It is always best to contact your health insurance company prior to receiving care to see exactly what your insurance plan covers.

Q. How would I go about learning whether the services of the National Center for Integrative Medicine® will suit my needs?
A. Call 815-330-3130 to set up a private consultation. We are confident that we can help you achieve your ultimate best. Your well-being is our highest mission.

Chiropractic

Q. Does chiropractic treatment require a referral from my MD?
A. No, patients do not need a referral from their MD in order to see a chiropractor. Chiropractors are portal of entry physicians, licensed for diagnosis and treatment. Following a complete health history, physical, diagnostics, and diagnosis, our doctors will determine if chiropractic care is right for you. Otherwise, our doctor will refer you to an appropriate health care provider.

Q. What conditions do chiropractors treat?
A. Chiropractors focus on conditions that affect the nervous and musculoskeletal systems. Chiropractic care is used most often to treat musculoskeletal complaints, including (but not limited to) low back and neck pain, headaches, sciatica, TMJ, plantar fasciitis, muscle strains/sprains, sports injuries, and fatigue.

Q. Is chiropractic treatment safe and effective?
A. Yes, there are many studies supporting the effectiveness of chiropractic care. There have been many controlled and individual research studies showing chiropractic care to be highly successful without the use of prescription medication or surgical intervention. Incidence of injury is very rare. Our clinic uses only evidence-based treatments, procedures and techniques.

Q. Is chiropractic treatment appropriate for children?
A. Yes, children and families both benefit from chiropractic care through treatment and prevention. Participation in sports or dance activities may cause injuries that we can treat utilizing minimally invasive procedures. Just as you would prevent cavities by going to the dentist, you can prevent chronic injuries and illness by going to your chiropractor. Teaching kids and families how to live and stay healthy is our specialty at National Center for Integrative Medicine®.

Q. Do insurance plans cover chiropractic?
A. A majority of health insurance plans do cover chiropractic services. Some insurance companies will limit the amount they will pay for chiropractic care, or may limit the number of visits one may take to the chiropractor. It is always best to contact your health insurance company prior to receiving care to see exactly what your insurance plan covers.

Q. What type of education and training do chiropractors have?
A. Chiropractors are trained as primary care physicians that specialize in neuromusculoskeletal disorder diagnosis and treatment. Our chiropractor at NCIM graduated with a pre-medical undergraduate degree prior to attending medical school. The chiropractic curriculum demands at least 4,200 hours of classroom, laboratory, and clinical experience. Chiropractors are then required to pass 4 boards, pass a physiological therapeutics exam, and obtain licensing before they can practice.

Q. Does the National Center for Integrative Medicine® accept charge cards or checks?
A. Payment is accepted in cash, check, credit card or by online debit.

Q. How would I go about learning whether the services of the National Center for Integrative Medicine® will suit my needs?
A. Call 815-330-3130 to set up a private consultation. We are confident that we can help you achieve your ultimate best. Your well-being is our highest mission.

Naturopathic

Q. What is naturopathic medicine?
A. Naturopathic medicine is founded in six principles: treat the whole, treat the cause, doctor as teacher, the healing power of nature, prevention and wellness. Naturopathic doctors strive to provide comprehensive care that is the least invasive possible, while fostering the body’s own ability to heal itself. Botanical medicine, homeopathy, physical medicine, nutrition counseling, hydrotherapy and nutritive supplementation are all methods naturopathic doctors use to work toward this goal.

Q. Does my insurance cover naturopathic services?
A. Because the state of Illinois does not yet offer naturopathic doctors (ND) licensure, naturopathic doctors are not able to submit claims to insurance.

Q. What states license naturopathic medicine?
A. Currently 16 states and several US territories offer ND licensure. These include1:

• Alaska
• Arizona
• California
• Connecticut
• District of Columbia
• Hawaii
• Idaho
• Kansas
• Maine
• Minnesota
• Montana
• New Hampshire
• North Dakota
• Oregon
• Utah
• Vermont
• Washington
• United States Territories: Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands

Q. What is the education of a naturopathic doctor?
A. A naturopathic physician (ND) that is eligible for licensure attends a four-year, graduate-level naturopathic medical school after receiving a Bachelor’s degree and is educated in all of the same basic sciences as an MD, but also studies holistic and nontoxic approaches to therapy with a strong emphasis on disease prevention and optimizing wellness. In addition to a standard medical curriculum, the naturopathic physician is required to complete four years of training in clinical nutrition, acupuncture, homeopathic medicine, botanical medicine, psychology, and counseling (to encourage people to make lifestyle changes in support of their personal health). A naturopathic physician takes rigorous professional board exams so that he or she may be licensed by a state or jurisdiction as a primary care general practice physician.
Practitioners who receive their degrees in a non-accredited program, such as an online or trade school, are not eligible for licensure in the previously mentioned states and jurisdictions.

Q. What is homeopathy?
A. Homeopathy is a physics-based medicine that is founded on three principles:

• “Like cures like”: Take the example of Allium cepa (red onion). When a healthy person is exposed to a chopped onion, watery eyes develop and are often itchy and inflamed. When your flu or cold is causing similar symptoms of itchy, watery discharge from your eyes, homeopathic onion may be indicated to resolve it.
• Minimal dose: Each remedy is prepared in an ultra-dilute form in the form of a pellet or liquid.
• The Single Remedy: Traditional homeopaths believe that only one remedy is needed at a time and if the correct remedy is administered, it will treat all symptoms at once.

Homeopathy is a practical form of medicine because it is inexpensive, completely safe and without side effects, unlike many medications available today. Remedies are formulated from natural ingredients and are not addictive or interactive with medications or other supplementations. It is a holistic approach to wellness, as it treats physical, mental and emotional causes of disturbed health, and it is extremely effective: results can be rapid, complete and permanent.

Q. Are supplements regulated by the FDA?
A. Unless the natural supplement is a pharmaceutical prescription (written by an MD, DC or ND with license to do so), it is not currently regulated by the US Food and Drug Administration. Because no formal body is governing the safety and efficacy of supplements at this time, it is becoming extremely important to make educated decisions regarding vitamin, mineral and herbal supplements in order to ensure high quality products that are safe and effective.

Q. Where can I get more information on the practice of naturopathic medicine?
A. More information at:

• www.naturopathic.org: American Association of Naturopathic Physicians (AANP) is the national governing body of licensable naturopathic doctors and provides ample resources for patients and health professionals curious about naturopathic medicine.
• www.abchomeopathy.com: A patient-friendly guide to the use of homeopathy and explanations of common remedies.
• www.drouano.com: Website of Sarah Ouano, ND, which more fully explains the process and philosophy of naturopathic medicine at NCIM.

Q. Does the National Center for Integrative Medicine® accept charge cards or checks?
A. Payment is accepted in cash, check, credit card or by online debit.

Q. How would I go about learning whether the services of the National Center for Integrative Medicine® will suit my needs?
A. Call 815-330-3130 to set up a private consultation. We are confident that we can help you achieve your ultimate best. Your well-being is our highest mission.