Naturopathic medicine is a system of care that blends conventional science with the wisdom of the natural world. Full naturopathic medical training (at an accredited naturopathic medical school) includes the basic science, anatomy, physiology, and pathology classes that a medical doctor would take, with education in diagnostics and patient evaluation including medical history taking, physical exams, labs, and imaging. While trained in the use of pharmaceutical medicines and minor surgery, a fully trained naturopathic doctor (ND) also receives extensive training in clinical nutrition, herbal medicine, homeopathy, IV therapy, physical medicine including massage, physical therapy, manipulation of the spine and extremities, and other tools of alternative medicine. They are educated in both conventional and naturopathic approaches for all the “ologies” such as Gastroenterology, Cardiology, Dermatology, Gynecology, Urology, Neurology, Oncology, etc. They receive training for working with special populations as well, such as Pediatrics and Geriatrics. The degree to which NDs can practice their full training varies from state to state and depends upon state licensure.

As a licensed naturopathic doctor, I utilize a different health philosophy than other providers: rather than just suppressing symptoms, supporting the body’s interconnected systems will help the body tend towards healing and coming back into balance. Beyond this different philosophy, I am trained in additional tools and therapies that tend to be gentler, less invasive, and more harmonious to the body. Naturopathic philosophy informs my approach to massage as well, in that by working with the body, versus fighting against it, the benefits of therapy are generally easier to obtain and results longer-lasting.

Naturopathic doctors are the original functional medicine doctors. Adopting a patient-centered approach, we’re interested in the integration of all the body’s systems as a whole, as well as the “why” behind a presenting illness. NDs employ a treatment approach that addresses the individual and stimulates the body’s own ability to heal, with the ultimate goal of finding and treating the underlying cause of your symptoms.

The daily practices we engage in have a far greater impact on our health than any medicines or other treatments used short-term. Therefore, our primary goal is to help you understand the determinants of your health and the lifestyle changes you can make to achieve and maintain wellness on a daily basis. To help you achieve health, we utilize time-tested therapies including nutrition, botanical (herbal) medicine, massage, hydrotherapy, homeopathy, essential oils, flower essences, biotherapeutic drainage, and more.

Yes, naturopathic therapies are generally safe if facilitated and overseen by a qualified naturopathic doctor. A skilled and licensed ND will likewise be able to advise on the indications, risks, and benefits of each therapy and when alternative care is NOT indicated. Naturopathic medicine can complement conventional treatments under the close supervision of your primary care physician. We recommend discussing with your primary doctor before beginning any new therapies or treatments. The collaboration of your care team is essential for optimizing both safety and success.

Massage is one of the oldest forms of treatment for various ailments of the body. Ancient Egypt, Greece, India, China, Japan, and many other cultures contribute to the long history of massage. By manipulating the soft tissue of the body (including the musculature and connective tissue like fascia) physical restrictions are released and range of motion is improved, and circulatory flow is enhanced. In addition, massage has a restorative effect on the nervous system. These combined effects greatly benefit both the physical and emotional components of many common conditions.

Dr. Ries is a naturopathic doctor (ND) who maintains an active naturopathic medical license in the state of Oregon. She attended the oldest accredited naturopathic medical school in North America, NCNM, now NUNM. To become a licensed ND one must complete a Bachelor’s degree and pre-med coursework, a 4 or 5 year post graduate medical degree in Naturopathic Medicine at an accredited resident school which includes clinical hours and rotations, pass a two-part set of rigorous board exams and local state jurisprudence and formulary (pharmaceutical) exams as applicable to their state of practice, as well as be in good standing with their professional licensing board.

Dr. Ries also holds an active massage license in the state of Virginia. Beyond her naturopathic training which included massage coursework, and the years of clinical massage practice under her ND license in OR, she has completed a 600 hour program in massage and passed the massage licensing exam for VA, giving her the additional credentials of LMT (licensed massage therapist).

After scheduling, you will receive an invite to create an account and log in to your patient health portal. This is where you will access all new client paperwork as well as visit summaries from any health consultations or massage treatments.

The first visit will last 75 min. for new naturopathic consults, or 60-90 min. for an initial massage treatment, depending on the service you have booked.

All new client paperwork must be completed in full prior to your scheduled appointment time. If paperwork has not been completed in advance, your appointment will be rescheduled.

You can expect to be warmly greeted and well cared for during your time at our clinic. You will have ample time to convey your health concerns, ask questions, and discuss your options for therapy.

While Dr. Ries is adequately trained for this, and served previously as a primary care doctor in Oregon, she is unable to do so in the state of Virginia. The Commonwealth of Virginia does not at this time license, regulate, or otherwise recognize naturopathic doctors. As a result, naturopathic doctors are unable to practice primary care or general medicine within the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Due to the lack of licensure and regulation of naturopathic medicine in the state of VA, Dr. Ries is unable to accept health insurance plans for naturopathic consulting. This includes submitting claims, providing superbills or communicating directly with your health plan. While massage therapy can be covered under some health insurance plans, the state of VA does not authorize LMTs to directly contract with insurance.

On the upside, not dealing with the limitations of health insurance means your provider can freely offer the care and therapies best indicated for you based on your individual needs, not a protocol centered around maintaining profit.

We encourage you to consider using an HSA or FSA if massage services are eligible per your plan. Alternatively, you can also create a separate wellness fund to help you budget for self care that falls outside the conventional medical realm, such as massage, naturopathic medicine, acupuncture, gym memberships, etc.

We live in interesting times with the immediate access to information via the Internet. Today, anyone can post anything with absolutely zero oversight or vetting of health claims. Much of the health information seen in forums, on social media, on blogs or product sites are highly based on either:

1. promotional marketing or
2. personal – and not professional – experience.

Getting your health information from a trained health practitioner with a medical degree – who takes your individual case into account – is not only safer, but more sensible too.

A word on supplements: while supplements are “natural”, they can be unsafe if not used properly. This is especially true for individuals taking various pharmaceutical medications. Licensed naturopathic doctors are highly educated healthcare professionals, and the best source of professional advice for safe and beneficial supplementation.

This depends on your unique situation. Children typically respond very quickly to naturopathic medicine and other alternative approaches that address the cause. Adults by nature have more miles on them and as a result can have more complicated or compounded health challenges. As a general guideline, if you have something acute and are in decent health standing, response to care can be swift. If you struggle with chronic health issues, it’s taken you years to get to this point, and likewise the unwinding back towards health can be a more gradual one. This is true both for naturopathic medicine and therapeutic massage approaches. As always, we’re interested in both prevention and achieving long term health, not just the quick fix.

If you’re ready to explore what massage or naturopathic medicine can do for you, you can book your service online or contact the clinic at (804) 503-0592. On the fence? We offer a free, no-obligation 15 min. discovery call to help you decide if we’re the right fit for your needs. We can’t wait to help you get started on your wellness journey!