Can Dr. Mamie help me?

Dr. Mamie has received extensive training in three distinct, complimentary approaches to health—naturopathic medicine, functional medicine, and traditional Chinese medicine and acupuncture. Her unique education, perspective, and skillset can assist most people in dramatically improving their health, and she’s witnessed incredible healing and transformation in hundreds of individuals over the years. But healing doesn’t happen overnight…and it doesn’t happen without your dedication, persistence, and willingness to make changes. Dr. Mamie will provide the roadmap and the directions, but you must walk the path. In order to provide the highest level of care and expertise possible, Dr. Mamie has chosen to focus on specific chronic health concerns: gut dysfunction, hormonal imbalances, and chronic immune system issues. To begin working with Dr. Mamie, you must be at least 18 years old, and your primary health concerns must include known or suspected issues related to the health of your gut, hormones, or immune system.

Why do I need to submit an application to become a patient?

Your health is invaluable, and your work with Dr. Mamie has the potential to change your life! However, working with Dr. Mamie requires that you make a commitment to your health; you must be willing to do the work. Dr. Mamie sincerely wants the best for you, so before you both invest time and energy into working together, she wants to make sure you're ready for this commitment and that her approach is a good fit for you and your needs!

What should I expect during my Initial Health Consultation?

Before Your Initial Visit Before your first appointment, you’ll complete a detailed Health Questionnaire that gives Dr. Mamie a lot of valuable information about your health history, your main health concerns, your current symptom picture, and your general dietary and lifestyle habits. This is likely the most comprehensive health form you've ever completed! Dr. Mamie reviews this information before your initial visit so that she has a solid foundation for understanding your overall health picture and why you’re dealing with your particular symptoms. Labs If you have any labs or special tests from the last 1-2 years, Dr. Mamie will also review those before your first visit. She looks at labwork through a different lens to make sure your results fall into the optimal range for health (also called the “functional range”), which is far more specific than the normal reference range. The normal reference range identifies the presence or absence of disease…but health is more than the absence of disease. Just because your labs are “normal”, that doesn’t mean your labs are where they should be for health. (And if you’ve been told your labs are normal but you know something is wrong, then you know exactly what we’re talking about!) If your labs fall outside of the optimal range (even if the results are “normal”), that can give Dr. Mamie valuable insight into what’s brewing under the surface and contributing to your symptoms, so that you have the opportunity to take action before it becomes a serious problem or a diagnosable medical condition! During Your Initial Visit Your initial visit lasts 90 minutes and starts with you sharing your story. Learning about your unique health journey — where you started, and how you got to where you are now — gives Dr. Mamie the most insight into what’s going on with you. She’ll also ask plenty of questions and gather additional information so that she has a thorough understanding of your entire health picture. Then the focus will shift, and Dr. Mamie will share with you what she believes is at the root of your concerns, how your symptoms are connected (because they are!), which areas of your health need the most support, and the best way to prioritize addressing your health concerns. If you provided labwork prior to your visit, Dr. Mamie will also share with you what she learned as she reviewed your results, any patterns that she noticed, and which additional tests could be helpful, such as more advanced bloodwork or special tests that evaluate adrenal function, hormones, nutritional status, gut health, chronic infections, and food sensitivities. At the end of your visit, you’ll be given a personalized Wellness Plan tailored to your specific needs that will include dietary and nutrition recommendations, lifestyle suggestions and therapies, and high-quality nutritional and herbal supplements to support your healing process. If you decide to proceed with additional lab tests, you’ll also get all the information you need in order to take care of that!

What should I expect during my Return Health Consultations?

Prior to each 60-minute Return Health Consultation, Dr. Mamie will prepare for your visit by reviewing information from previous appointments, evaluating any new lab results, and brainstorming and exploring additional ways to support you. This dedicated preparation helps ensure you continue to experience positive shifts when it comes to your main concerns and your overall health. During your follow-up, Dr. Mamie will get a thorough update from you, ask additional questions to deepen her understanding of your progress and needs, explain her interpretation of your changing health picture, and share with you the next best steps for advancing your healing process. At the end of your Return Health Consultation, you’ll receive a modified Wellness Plan based on your progress and needs at that time. These regularly updated Wellness Plans are important because as your health picture changes, so will the support your body needs!

What do visits include?

Your visits include: ✓ Thorough case review prior to your appointment

• Dr. Mamie prepares for each appointment by reviewing your Health Questionnaire, previous visits, and lab records; interpreting the results of any new testing; researching; and brainstorming additional ways to support you

How many visits will I need, and how long will it take to reach my health goals?

Your health journey will be just as unique as you are, and it’s impossible to predict how long it will take for you to reach the level of health you desire. Several variables play a role in determining how quickly and how much your health will improve, including: the complexity and severity of your current health picture; how long you’ve been dealing with your health issues; your commitment to implementing dietary, lifestyle and supplement recommendations; and how quickly your body responds to the positive changes you are making. Your chronic health issues didn’t develop overnight (and most of the time these health issues were brewing under the surface for months or years before significant symptoms developed), so it’s unrealistic to expect healing to occur overnight or even after a couple of visits. Truly changing your health takes time and requires a deep and lasting commitment to yourself. And in case you didn’t know, YOU are worth that effort! As a general rule of thumb, it's realistic to expect that you'll need to devote 1-2 months toward actively and consistenly working on your health for every year that you've been dealing with a symptom, condition, or imbalance. For many people, the healing process happens more quickly than that. For some individuals, especially those with more serious chronic conditions that have been going on for quite some time, the healing process may take longer. While everyone is different, most individuals report significant improvement in a number of areas within the first few months, and many experience noticeable improvement in a matter of weeks. Health Consultations are typically recommended every 6-8 weeks for the first 4-6 visits, depending on your particular needs and wellness goals. Once you are satisfied with your level of health and wellbeing, Dr. Mamie recommends "maintenance" visits 2-4 times per year.

What is the visit cancellation policy?

If you need to reschedule your appointment and provide at least 72 hours notice, your visit deposit will be transferred to your new appointment. If you need to cancel your appointment and provide at least 72 hours notice, your visit deposit will be fully refunded. If you cancel or reschedule your appointment and fail to provide at least 72 hours notice, the deposit is kept as a Late Cancellation Fee. Dr. Mamie understands that emergencies do arise, and she reserves the right to waive the Late Cancellation Fee at her discretion. Your success is our success, so you’ll receive mulitple appointment reminders prior to this 72-hour deadline to assist you in adhering to this policy.

Does insurance cover Dr. Mamie’s services? What forms of payment are accepted?

Dr. Mamie is not recognized as a network provider under any insurance plans, and payment in full is due at the time of service. Debit cards and all major credit cards are accepted. If your plan has coverage for out-of-network acupuncturists, Dr. Mamie can provide you with a superbill containing appropriate insurance coding to submit for possible partial reimbursement. Services cannot be submitted to Medicare for reimbursement. If you have a Health Savings Account (HSA) or Flexible Spending Account (FSA), you may be able to use those funds to pay for consultation services, supplements, or testing. Please contact your health insurance provider to find out if this is an option for you.

Can Dr. Mamie order labs? How much do lab tests cost?

Dr. Mamie is trained to order and interpret laboratory findings, including functional tests such as those that assess gut health, hormones, adrenal function, food sensitivities, and nutrient levels. The cost of labwork varies greatly and depends on several factors, including what testing you’ve already had; which additional tests could be helpful based on your particular health picture; and how much your health insurance policy will cover (some tests are partially covered, and some are not). If Dr. Mamie feels you would benefit from additional testing, she will provide you with all the information you need in order to determine how to proceed, including test fees and insurance coverage.

Can Dr. Mamie be my primary care physician?

Dr. Mamie is not a medical doctor (MD), and she doesn’t offer primary care services or provide urgent medical attention. All patients are required to have a primary care physician as part of their healthcare team.

When are appointments available?

Dr. Mamie offers visits on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. Health Consultations are available between the hours of 9:45a - 5:30p. You will be given access to Dr. Mamie’s online calendar to view available appointment options and schedule your visit after your application to become a patient is accepted.

Where is Arkansas Natural Medicine located?

All Health Consultations are virtual. You’ll connect with Dr. Mamie over a free, user-friendly, and secure video conferencing platform, allowing you to consult with her from the comfort of your home...or anywhere you may be! All you need is an internet connection and a computer with a built-in or external camera and microphone (or you can use your smart phone).

Where did Dr. Mamie receive her education and training?

Dr. Mamie graduated with a Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine (ND) in 2012 from National University of Natural Medicine in Portland, OR. She graduated with a Master’s in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (MAcOM) in 2020 from AOMA Graduate School of Integrative Medicine in Austin, TX. In addition to continuing education in naturopathic medicine and Chinese medicine, she also participates in ongoing functional medicine education through the Institute for Functional Medicine (IFM), and through courses created by Dr. Datis Kharrazian, a leader in the Functional Medicine community.