Frequently Asked Questions
New Patient Information
THANK YOU for your interest in Body-Mind-Spirit Wellness Centers. We’ve prepared this brochure to guide you through the orientation process and ensure that you derive the maximum benefit from your visit to the clinic. Here are a few common questions asked by new patients.
Questions
- What types of conditions are treated by the clinic?
- Can naturopathic and conventional medicine be combined?
- There has been a lot of attention in the media recently about the dangers of combining vitamins and prescription drugs. Should I be worried about this?
- How long should the first visit last?
- What should I bring to my first visit?
- What will the first visit include?
- Where can I find recommended supplements?
- What if therapies are recommended?
- When should I return?
- I live far away. I can arrange to come for one visit, but it is unlikely that I can come back anytime soon. What should I do?
Answers
What types of conditions are treated by the clinic?
Dr. Pryce is a board certified naturopathic physician and licensed in CT. Dr Pryce does not provide intensive care or emergency services. Virtually, all medical conditions can be helped by the application of basic naturopathic principles, such as diet and nutrition, herbal medicines, exercise and therapies.
Can naturopathic and conventional medicine be combined?
Absolutely, Dr. Pryce maintains a series of close professional contacts within the conventional medical community and often refers cases to other medical specialists. Dr. Pryce often tells her patient that the benefits of healthcare nowadays is that you can combine the “best of both worlds.”
There has been a lot of attention in the media recently
about the dangers of combining vitamins and prescription drugs. Should I be worried about this?
Chances always exist that medicines (conventional or naturopathic) can interact with each other. We are constantly learning about new interactions between herbs and drugs, herbs and herbs, and drugs and drugs. One of the benefits of seeing a fully licensed naturopathic doctor is that their training extends into both traditional pharmacology (drugs) and the pharmacognacy of herbs and vitamins. Naturopathic doctors often spend more time discussing a patient’s prescription medicine with them than the doctor who wrote the prescription!
How long should the first visit last?
As a new patient, you should plan on spending about ninety minutes at the clinic with all the time being in direct contact with the doctor.
What should I bring to my first visit?
First, please be sure to bring your patient information forms that are in this package. About one week prior to your appointment, we ask that you fax us these completed forms. These forms must be completed in their entirety prior to your arrival to ensure your time at the clinic is time well spent. Secondly, we ask that you bring a first morning urine sample (if possible). The container need not be sterile, and we only require a small amount to complete our testing (a baby food jar or something equivalent is about right). Third, you need to fast for at least 6 hours prior to your visit and please DO NOT take any supplements for 24 hours prior to your visit.
What will the first visit include?
Upon your arrival to Body-Mind-Spirit Wellness Centers we will begin the “information gathering” phase of your visit.
- Hydrogen Breath Test which is used to determine if an intestinal bacterial overgrowth exists. This overgrowth can cause dyspepsia – ulcers (due to H. pylori overgrowth), flatulence (gas), bloating, and many other digestive complaints.
This testing procedure is the reason behind your fasting. - Oxidata which is a urine test which checks levels of free radicals.
- Fingerprinting which shows the absorption of the gut and can be an early indicator of celiac sprue (a gluten sensitivity). The patterns also tell us more about certain risk factors that you may be pre-disposed to.
- Bioimpedance Analysis which measures body fat, lean muscle, and intra and extra cellular placement of water within the body.
- Vital Signs which will be taken to determine blood pressure, heart rate, temperature, height and weight.
- Measurement of Head which adds more individual information according to ethnicity and blood type and is accounted for in the processing of the SWAMI (Serotyping with Amplification, Modification Interpretation) personalized diet.
The next step in your visit is the examination phase. During this phase, Dr. Pryce will perform the *history intake, identifying and prioritizing your medical concerns.
The physical exam and assessment portion of your visit will also be conducted by Dr. Pryce Depending on the nature of your concern, physical examination may be minimal or involved, but it typically includes a simple review of all your systems (cardiovascular, ear, eye, nose, abdomen, etc.), and some forms of Traditional Chinese Medicine (pulse analysis, tongue diagnosis, etc.). When Dr. Pryce has completed this phase of the visit, you will meet with her to discuss her analysis of your condition including a review of findings from the lab work which was ordered before your first visit and the course of your treatment.
The final step of your visit involves a detailed explanation of your customized diet and treatment plan (SWAMI), including recommended supplements and/or therapies prescribed by Dr. Pryce.
*This is NOT always done the same day as your visit.
Where can I find recommended supplements?
The clinic has a dispensary which features many unique blood type specific products designed by Dr. D’Adamo and specific or obscure herbal medicines available only to physicians. If your recommendations include these types of products, they can be purchased directly through the dispensary at the conclusion of your visit. Items NOT in stock or customized for you will be ordered for you through the clinic and shipped directly to you. For the more common or easily available supplements, we recommend that you purchase those from a reliable health food store or pharmacy.
What if therapies are recommended?
The clinic uses state of the art equipment and is in full compliance with regulatory agencies. If therapies are recommended, you will be supplied with further information at the time of your visit.
This date will be determined at the time of your visit; however, most patients are asked to schedule annual examinations. If there is a chronic condition which needs to be monitored more frequently, then the patient is asked to return at an earlier date.
Visit type is determined by the nature of the condition and the length of time since the last visit.
I live far away. I can arrange to come for one visit, but
it is unlikely that I can come back anytime soon. What should I do?
Once you are a matriculated patient at Body-Mind-Spirit Wellness Centers (Dr. Pryce has seen you at least one time in the clinic), it is often possible to arrange periodic phone consults (extensive or limited) which are structured exactly as a regular visit to the clinic would be.
Questions? Contact the Dr. Pryce at (734) 730-2265 and she
will be happy to discuss your treatment with you.
M. Samm Pryce, ND
Naturopathic Physician
