What to expect for a first time visit. How does it work?

Visits: What happens in a visit? What does a visit cost? Is there coverage?

Visits can vary in length and type of visit, from a short 5 minute B12 injection to a one hour consultation on complementary cancer care. In general new patients schedule an initial visit at which time Dr. Graham will go over your main health concerns, your health history including family history, medications, supplements, diet, and a review of all your health systems, ( skin, digestive etc.). Based on findings and history Dr. Graham will decide, (with you), what the next appropriate step may be. As food and diet have a foundational affect on our health often the next step (about 90% of the time) is to schedule a food sensitivity screen. This electrical screen of approx. 100 foods allows for detection and temporary elimination of offending foods, during the second half of thevisit a substitution diet is derived and instructions are given on how to easily follow it. The third visit almost always is another in- office assessment called an organ screen that gives an indication of imbalances in specific organs, or areas of the body. Follow-up visits are to check progress, recheck food sensitivities and organ function, recheck Candida yeast imbalance if originally an issue, and make adjustments to the program as needed.

Schedule of Fees

Item / Cost

First visit – approximately 30 minutes / $80 ($85 Effective July 1, 2017)
Food sensitivity screen (VEGA) – approximately 45 minutes / $155 ($165 Effective July 1, 2017)
Organ imbalance screen (VEGA) – approximately 30 minutes / $80 ($85 Effective July 1, 2017)
Follow-up retest/consult visits / $75
Telephone & Skype Appointments Available / Please Call for more info

Cancellation notice – If you are unable to make an appointment please give 24 hours’ notice or there may be a charge

Insurance: Many people have extended benefits through employers and will have some coverage for naturopathic visits, (often $300.00-500.00/ annum). Please check your individual plan as rules and stipulations can vary between plans.

Please download and fill in the intake form to bring with you to your first appointment.

There are three fairly standard appointments that Dr. Graham likes to have with a new person. This can vary depending on particular circumstances, but over the years Dr. Graham has found that this approach works well in evaluation and treatment. A description of these visits are as follows:

1) Initial consult – Usually ½ hour. Before your first visit you will be given a Health Questionnaire to fill in. During the initial visit Dr. Graham will not only discuss your primary health concerns but will also go through many questions to do with such things as; your present health, family health, health as a child, diet, activity level, quality of sleep, and others aspects of your overall health. At the end of this visit a decision will be made as to what the best next step to take may be. As diet is at the foundation of all other aspects to do with one’s health, Dr. Graham very often recommends an in office Food Sensitivity Test or Screen.

2) Food Sensitivity test – Usually about ¾ of an hour. Food sensitivities can be different than typical food allergies in that with a food sensitivity there may be no immediate noticeable symptom such as with a classical IgE mediated allergic reaction that can be extreme to the point of anaphylaxis. This is the typical severe peanut allergy. Food sensitivities are most often a product of the state of our GALT, (Gut Associated Lymphatic Tissue). This is a huge amount of lymphatic tissue in our small intestines that comprises 60-70% of our body’s total immune system. What happens here, the ratios of specific bacteria and yeasts, the levels of inflammation, the competence of our digestion, absorption and intestinal barrier, has a hugely profound effect on our overall health.

Food sensitivities can cause issues with hypo-immune function such as seen with people who suffer long intractable colds that seem to never fully resolve, or they return to sickness shortly after they appear to be well. They can also trigger hyper- immune or autoimmune responses. These type of problems are vast and on the increase, and include health issues such as eczema, asthma, Crohn’s disease, lupus, and rheumatoid arthritis to name a few. Food sensitivities can interact and affect hormonal issues such as menopause and depression and may even play a part in health issues such as cancer and cardiovascular disease. By identifying and eliminating food sensitivities for a period of time, and doing some work to improve the function and state of the gut/ immune system, usually a big improvement in overall health can be realized. After a period of time (usually 2 months) a good number of the food sensitivities become okay to include back in the diet.

During this appointment Dr. Graham will also help you with a list of substitutes for the removed foods, and formulate with you a “working diet plan” for the elimination period. Often in the first week of diet changes there is a 5-10 lbs. loss of water weight, and where the first several days may be an adjustment, ( you may feel somewhat achy and possibly a little fatigued), by the end of the week one’s sleep, energy, and overall health issues are improving.

3) Organ screen – The third visit involves another in-office test called an organ screen. This test allows Dr. Graham to bio-electrically assess organ balance or function. While blood tests can be helpful to measure organ failure such as with the thyroid gland, kidney, and pancreas, these types of tests usually only show a problem when the gland has been substantially compromised. For example there has to be a loss of 50-60% of kidney function before any changes will show on a blood test. If areas are identified for you on this test it often means that that organ or gland may need a little short term support or a “tune-up.” An analogy would be something we do all the time, take your car in for a regular oil change and tune up. A hard working organ, such as your liver which is responsible for over 1000 different functions, works more effectively and efficiently if periodic strategies are used to keep it in top form.

Suggestions and recommendations will be made to help specific areas.

Testing –the testing method for both the food and organ screen is accomplished by using a machine called a VEGA electro-dermal test machine. This machine, manufactured in Germany, was developed by a German dentist in 1977. Using a testing stylus that has a blunt tip resembling a large ball-point pen, Dr. Graham will apply gentle pressure to an acupuncture point on your toe while you hold a ground to the circuit. There is no shock or discomfort, but the machine reads an electrical response from your body, similar to a bio-feedback measure. Ampules containing foods or vitamins, or organ extracts can be entered into circuit with your bodies electrical system (there are standard medical electrical tests, EKG, EEG, EMG that are used routinely to measure electrical responses all over the body). Your particular electrical response gives Dr. Graham more information regarding your diet and over-all health picture. There are other forms of testing using blood, saliva, hair, and urine. These are mostly sent out to labs that do specific specialized testing. If there is a concern, such as heavy metal retention, which may be measured more effectively by using one of these other methods Dr. Graham will discuss this situation with you.