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Caring with great resolve.

Health Restoration Program

The Program FAQs

 

What does TGC do to insure that I get the highest quality herbal products available?

 

What are these herbs and in what form are they taken?

 

When will I start to feel better? When will I get my energy back?

 

Will you replace my primary care doctor?

 

What types of laboratory tests are done?

 

How long will I need to take supplements or herbs?

 

Will it hurt?

 

Are there any side effects?

 

I live on the West Coast. Is there any other program like The Gilbert Clinic closer to my home?

 

What is included in the program cost? What is not included?

 

Are my treatments tax deductible?

 

 

What does TGC do to insure that I get the highest quality herbal products available?


The most common question asked about Chinese Herbology surrounds safety. Are herbs safe? The answer to this question is “it depends.”

It depends upon who is prescribing them and how applicable those prescriptions are to the patient’s needs. All medicines have the potential to harm, and for the last 3,000 years, Chinese Herbology has been the basis for all the medical care that was available to the Chinese people; and therefore, it is considered a form of medicine. Consequently it has the potential to do much good, but also has the potential to harm or injure.

With that said, here’s the good news – in the hands of a qualified practitioner, Chinese Herbology is one of the safest forms of healthcare available and has few side effects. In order to receive a good standard of care, it is vital that you seek out an herbalist that you feel confident has been trained and is competent. There is a national board for herbalism and acupuncture that is recognized in many states in the USA and can assure a good standard for its members. It is called the NCCAOM (National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine) and can be found at www.nccaom.org. They have an exam and educational base for their Certification in Chinese Herbology and provide a national list of practitioners and their contact information. Jonathan Gilbert, Supervising Herbalist of The Gilbert Clinic, is certified in Chinese Herbology through the NCCAOM. Further information about his training and many years of experience with Chinese herbs is available in his biography.

woman and daughter

What are these herbs and in what form are they taken?

The Chinese Materia Medica is a comprehensive list of medicinal products containing over 9,000 substances of plant, mineral and vegetable origin. This list continues to be expanded as Traditional Chinese Medicine grows. Many of these substances are no longer in use and for many practitioners there is a common list of around 500 herbs that are regularly prescribed. Many of these substances are prepared in a complex manner before they are used, to change or concentrate their effect. Traditionally, herbs are given either in their “fresh” state, as a powder, or they are made into pills, depending on the desired effect. Despite reports of the “doctoring” of herbs with other ingredients and even pharmaceutical medicines, there are many reputable suppliers of pure Chinese herbs in the USA. The Mayway Corporation has an excellent reputation as such. At www.mayway.com, you’ll find an explanation of the production and safety controls used in the processing of their Traditional Chinese Medicine herbs. At The Gilbert Clinic, we use a vegetarian, plant-based protocol with our patients. This restriction allows us to work with many groups for whom the use of animal and/or mineral products is a cause for concern.

 

When will I start to feel better? When will I get my energy back?

The Health Restoration Program is designed to work over a 4-month period. It is designed to be the beginning of your return to health, and turn the corner on your condition. The intention of The Gilbert Clinic is to provide long-term permanent improvement in your condition, which will eventually lead to your complete health with respect to your particular health issue. However this will vary widely depending upon your need and so it is impossible to create a ‘cookbook’ answer to this question.

 

Will you replace my primary care doctor?

The Gilbert Clinical team does not replace your primary care doctor. The Gilbert Clinic medical doctor will communicate with your primary care physician regarding your assessment and progress in The HRP. If other medical conditions arise during your participation in The Gilbert Clinic protocol, our medical doctor can refer you to your primary care doctor or other specialists as needed.

 

What types of laboratory tests are done?

All patients entering The Gilbert Clinic protocol are expected to have a diagnosis by their primary care physician or other medical specialist. Because there are no laboratory tests specific for diagnosing many syndromes, people with these conditions generally undergo a large battery of tests to rule-out other conditions. We ask that you bring copies of all recent lab results to your initial consultation. Specific recommendations of the types of blood tests to have completed prior to your initial visit are included in your initial packet of information. If you have other conditions such as hypothyroidism, anemia, etc., that need monitoring during the HRP, our physician can order these for you during your normally scheduled visits. You can use the lab of your choice. The costs for these lab tests are not included in The HRP.

 

Will it hurt?

There is nothing in The Gilbert Clinic protocol that is known to induce any physical pain. However, initially some people report mild headaches and increased body pain, but this is temporary. Also, if you are on strong pain relieving medications when you begin working with us, your progress may involve the weanig from these medications under the management of The Gilbert Clinic physician and/or your other physicians. In such cases, there may be brief periods of increased pain due to withdrawal of the pain medication.

 

Are there any side effects?

The most common negative side effect is a few weeks of increased bowel movements; this generally occurs initially as the body cleans itself out. Occasionally, some patients experience mild headaches and increased body pain, but these are temporary. We have not had any patient with any allergic reaction to any of the herbs used in this protocol. The positive “side effects” are gradual and sustainable improvement in your symptoms related to your illness.

 

I live on the West Coast. Is there any other program like The Gilbert Clinic closer to my home?

 

Presently, The Gilbert Clinic protocol is only offered in one location on the East Coast. However, the protocol has been specifically designed with the expectation that people will be traveling from all over the country. Your appointments with each member of the clinical team and the workshops will be scheduled on the same or adjacent days. The frequency of the visits is monthly. The Northern Virginia and Washington DC areas offer a lot to visitors, so we encourage clients and their families to enjoy the museums and other attractions near the nation’s capital.

 

What is included in the program cost? What is not included?

The HRP is an integrative model with conventional and alternative healthcare practitioners working concurrently with you. The package cost includes all the office consultations, all the individualized herbal therapies, vitamins and other nutritional supplements applicable to the program and four workshops.

There are no prescription medicines or laboratory tests that are inherent in The HRP. If you require medications that need to be started, maintained, or weaned during the Program, the cost of these medications is not included in the package price. Additionally, you are asked to bring your laboratory test results with you at your initial consultation. If any additional tests are required, the costs for these tests are not included in the package price.

 

Are my treatments tax deductible?

Qualified medical expenses are deductible as an itemized deduction, subject to limitations of the Internal Revenue Service Code. Generally, medical expenses include expenses for the diagnosis and treatment of physical disorders, drugs or other supplements that are prescribed by a physician and the travel and lodging expenses related to those medical expenses would qualify in the year that the expenses are paid. These deductible medical expenses can be for you, your spouse or anyone who can be deducted on your Form 1040 as one of your dependents at the time of the payment of the medical expenses. Medical expenses are deductible only to the extent that they exceed 7.5 percent of the taxpayer’s adjusted gross income, and must be reasonable in amount.


Any deduction for medical expenses must be reduced for any reimbursements that the taxpayer receives for those expenses, and special rules apply to health savings accounts and Archer medical savings accounts. Please contact your tax advisor for additional information as to the deductibility in your individual situation.

 

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