Holistic Health Frequently Asked Questions

Holistic Health FAQ

Real answers. Root causes. A path forward.

What is holistic health? Holistic health consists of 2 parts. First is the understanding that the body has an innate ability to heal itself when we eliminate things that lead to dysfunction and add support to perform at a higher level.

Second is that wellness occurs when we treat the body as a whole unit. Everything is connected. One part influences other parts. Body, mind, soul. Physical, mental, emotional and spiritual.

Problems ignored in one area can lead to a cascade of dysfunction to other areas over time to a point where you can no longer participate in a normal life.

Does holistic health actually work? Yes, holistic health absolutely works. I have seen migraines disappear, gut health improve, Lyme disease go into remission, Rheumatoid arthritis go pain free and more. Even had food poising only last a couple of hours, back to work later in the afternoon. The results are remarkable.

How is holistic health different from conventional medicine? In the U.S. we tend to view health from a conventional medicine standpoint also called western medicine. The process is you are given a diagnosis, then offered either prescription medication or surgery to fix. This option works amazingly well for life threatening emergencies but falls short when dealing with chronic health issues (long-term problems with health). Many who suffer are told by their doctor that nothing is wrong and dismiss any health complaints.

The holistic health approach uses everything natural to support healing. It starts with "Food is thy medicine" and expands into many things that can be done at home to reach wellness. At times, supplements can be helpful but they are usually not the complete answer. It’s important to note that we do not intend to replace conventional medicine, but rather be an option when doctors say there is nothing else they can do.

What does a holistic practitioner do? I’m not sure what others do. Our process looks like this: We dig into your health history for clues, listen to the details of your main complaint, then provide a custom protocol (things to do) that is designed to get you feeling better. We provide support and coaching to motivate and guide. If participating in one of our programs, you get scheduled follow-up appointments and unlimited messaging to communicate changes in how you feel which is extremely important so we can adjust the protocol. We have one goal; Get you feeling better.

Is holistic medicine evidence-based? Much of what we do is evidence based, including nutrition, sleep, exercise, stress management, spiritual health and community connection. Areas lacking in clinical trials are ancient remedies passed down for many generations with anecdotal evidence. These are optional.

Is holistic health safe? Holistic health solutions use protocols that are generally regarded as safe (GRAS) and usually have much less risk compared to prescription drugs and surgery. Before making a health change, it is recommended to check with your doctor first.

Are results immediate or gradual? Some results can be immediate while others take longer. How fast depends on how well you communicate your current health status with us and compliance with the protocols. As a general rule, 1 year of health struggles can take a month to resolve. Not always the case but seems to be the average. If you have been struggling for years, it could take some time.

It’s important to know that feeling better is not linear. You will have good days and bad. The first goal is to get you to have a good day. Then aim for more good days in a row.

Can children or families benefit from holistic care? Everyone can benefit. This biggest issues children need help with are pain, skin issues and behavior. Parents are responsible for monitoring their child and communicating with us what they observe. During appointments, make sure the child is close by and available to answer questions. We see children over 2 years of age.

Who is holistic health best suited for? Holistic health is best suited for someone who wants to do something with their health instead of waiting for a cure that may never come. The goal of feeling better needs to be greater than the idea of change. Checkout our list of traits of those who do well with holistic health protocols .

There are three types of people who are not a good fit. Vegans and vegetarians because our protocols include beef products in which there are no good plant based alternatives. The cautious who are reluctant to take any supplements. An example would be someone refusing to take vitamin C because it is not FDA approved. And finally those doing hormone therapy to change their gender are a bad fit because our protocols are specific to your DNA, the way you were created.

What if I’ve tried everything else? Many of our clients come to us feeling discouraged. Often, the missing piece is identifying a hidden root cause or understanding how multiple factors interact. You deserve a practitioner who takes the time to listen carefully and look deeper.

Can holistic treatments be used alongside conventional medicine? Yes. We believe integrative care is powerful. Our services complement conventional medical care and do not replace your physician. We’re happy to collaborate with your healthcare providers when appropriate.

In the content you provide why are paragraphs limited to one or two sentences? Those battling mold and other chronic issues have limited ability to focus. Our content is formatted for them.

Chronic Pain FAQ

If you're living with chronic pain, you're not alone—and you're not without options. We believe your symptoms have a story. Our goal is to listen, understand, and guide you toward real healing.

What is chronic pain? Our definition is severe pain that occurs on a regular basis. It can be a few times a month, a week, or in some cases nonstop for many years. It's the type of pain that is debilitating and wipes you out, keeping you from doing the things you want.

Why do I still have pain after seeing multiple doctors? Many conventional approaches focus on managing symptoms and pain after it starts occurring. In our opinion when it is too late. We are sad to hear doctors dismiss your complaints with comments "There is nothing wrong with you" or "It's all in your head".

What is holistic treatment for chronic pain? Holistic chronic pain treatment looks at the whole person, not just the symptoms. Instead of focusing on WHERE it hurts, we explore WHY.

Pain can be influenced by inflammation, nervous system dysregulation, stress, mold exposure, gut health, nutrient deficiencies, trauma, and lifestyle factors. We work to identify underlying contributors and support your body’s natural ability to heal. Plus we teach you to listen to your body so you can give it what it wants.

How is your approach different from conventional pain management? Conventional pain management often focuses on symptom control, typically through medications, injections, or surgery which are all risky to your long-term health. Our root-cause approach to chronic pain is proactive, aiming to understand what is driving inflammation or nervous system imbalance in the first place. We take time to listen carefully, review your history in depth, and connect the dots that may have been missed. Many of our clients tell us this is the first time they’ve felt truly heard.

What types of chronic pain do you support?
We work with individuals experiencing:

• Migraines and chronic headaches
• Joint pain and arthritis
• Autoimmune-related pain
• Fibromyalgia
• Unexplained or “mystery” pain

If you have an injury, go to your doctor.

Does holistic chronic pain treatment actually work? Healing is rarely instant, but when underlying drivers are addressed, many people experience meaningful improvements in pain levels, energy, sleep, and overall quality of life. We think less pain should be the goal as we focus on sustainable, long-term changes rather than temporary relief.

Do you offer personalized care plans? Yes indeed. This is our secret sauce! The goals to feel better are the same. Cut inflammation, lower toxic load, fix dysfunction. BUT, everyone is different. The plan (protocol) is created for you to get the fastest results. This plan can change week to week as we monitor your progress.

How long does it take to see improvement? Chronic pain often develops over months or years, so healing also takes time. Some clients notice early improvements within weeks. For others, progress is gradual and steady over several months. We monitor your status and adjust your plan as needed. We look for sustainable improvement, not a quick fix.

Results may vary. Since your environment and compliance with the program are out of our control, we cannot guarantee becoming 100% pain free but we'll try hard to get you close. Remember that this is a marathon not a sprint. In some cases, overcoming pain can take a year or longer.

Conditions and Outcomes FAQ

What does “treating the root cause” mean? Treating the root cause means we look for things causing pain and dysfunction, then we work to fix them. Let’s say you get headaches. Rather than give you an aspirin, we will investigate the likely causes and remove them so that you rarely get a headache. And if you do, train you to identify the cause.

What is the best supplement to take? There is no one supplement that will either fix everything or be the best option for everyone. We suggest specific supplements after an analysis of your health history had been made.

How does lifestyle affect overall health? Rather than overwhelm you a long list of things to do, we analyze your lifestyle then make suggestions on what will make the biggest difference to get you feeling better. Everyone is different. We encourage progress over perfection.

Will I need to change my diet? Yes. Changes will depend on your main health complaint. Some changes will be for a short period of time. Others may not be a complete elimination but rather a plan to limit consumption. The focus should be feeling better rather than what should change.

What role does stress play in illness? Stressors are the key. Addressing them is a top priority for wellness. Stress is more than office drama. Stressors are anything that causes irritation or agitation with most unseen or unfelt until symptoms arise. It may seem sudden but in reality the body senses that change is not happening so it grabs your attention with symptoms. In going over health history we learn about your known stress and use labs to identify hidden stressors.

Can holistic health help with anxiety or stress? Yes, help with anxiety and stress come two-fold. First is the peace of mind you get knowing we will get a plan in place that is designed to get you results. Second are the changes made that put you in a better state of mind, building resilience and making you a stronger person overall. We also have exercises proven to help manage emotions.

Can you help with chronic pain or inflammation? Pain is our specialty and inflammation is usually the key. Our first priority is a deep dive look into what could be causing inflammation. Also check our chronic pain FAQ above.

Do you support gut health or digestion issues? Gut health is a huge priority, especially for pain. In our experience poor digestion leads to chronic health issues and a relapse if not addressed. Some say that all disease starts in the gut. We disagree. Our view is that unchecked stressors are the main cause of disease and that the gut is the first place where we experience dysfunction.

Can holistic care help with hormone balance? Yes, we look for nutrition issues and other dysfunction that in our experience are usually the root cause of imbalance.

Do you treat autoimmune conditions? Next to pain management, autoimmune is a subspecialty that we have experienced overcoming in our family. The key is to treat the whole body.

Functional Labs FAQ

How do I order labs? Our functional labs are game changers when it comes to health. By law we can't order without a consulatation. Therefore you must have an appontment with us. The process is during our appointment we decide which labs to get, you prepay, lab kits are sent to your home, you collect the sample then ship it to the lab. A shipping label is included with the order. Saliva, urine, finger prick and stool tests can be done in your home. For blood draws, you can go to a local clinic or pay for a mobile phlebotomist to visit your home or work.

PBH Practice Information FAQ

Are your practitioners certified or licensed? Our practitioners complete rigorous training, continuing education and are board certified by the American Association of Natural Wellness Practitioners. In addition, they belong to the Association of Functional Diagnostic Nutrition Practitioners.

How much do sessions cost? At the moment, we have two options. Schedule a single appointment when you need short-term help or signup for a program that guarantees your spot for a group of sessions. Coming soon will be individual lab bundles, self-paced help and group programs. Visit our appointment page for to see pricing and availability.

Why do your 1 on 1 programs cost so much? The better question is why are they worth so much. We spend much time with you and we invest many hours away from you working on protocols, getting second opinions from doctors and at times presenting your case to clinical advisors to get their opinions. This costs money and time. What's more is that we are highly responsive compared to most other healthcare practitioners. But the true value is what you gain. Less pain and the opportunity to get your life back. We believe this is priceless.

Do you accept insurance or HSA/FSA? Insurance companies won’t pay us so we do not accept. Maybe someday this will change. It's up to them. Legally we cannot provide a CPT or diagnosis code for reimbursement. It might be possible to pay with HSA/FSA if you get a doctor recommendation for our services. Check with your insurance company.

Do you offer virtual appointments? Yes. Appointments are online through Zoom or by phone call. Be ready for the appointment at the scheduled time with pen and paper to write notes.

What is your service area? We serve all 50 United States. However, labs are limited in NY, NJ and RI. Contact us for any questions.

How do I get started? Go to our appointment page. Depending on availability you can purchase and schedule appointments online. If you want faster results, we suggest doing our Root Cause Health Reset program.

How do I prepare for my first visit? Fill out and submit all paperwork ASAP so we can start looking at your health history. We usually touch base before the appointment to get you started on your healing journey.

What should I expect in my first session? Expect us to get to know you. Most will be learned going through your paperwork. Topics include your health history, when the pain began, triggers or patterns, stress levels and lifestyle, environmental exposures, previous treatments and outcomes. We will also ask questions to get more clarity. You can also ask questions and feel heard.

Then we will talk to you about your new protocol to follow. It is a personalized plan that can include nutrition guidance, lifestyle adjustments, targeted supplementation, nervous system support strategies and other holistic tools. Access to a hardcopy of the plan will be emailed within 24 hours. The appointment is a collaborative process. You are part of every decision.