Must-read-before-you-come

I do not advertise, so you probably got my name from someone who had good results finding 'something natural.' Most people have never been to a practicing traditional naturopath/herbalist and may have lots of questions and misconceptions. And not all naturopaths practice the same way. I wrote this to help you decide IF you really want an appointment with me. If, after reading ALL this info, you are still interested in an appointment, you can call the answering machine at (757) 867-8633 or email my office Use this email: [email protected]. I will not schedule an appointment unless I have verbal confirmation that you have read all of this page. Directions are at the end. (PLEASE don't call for directions on the day of your appointment! I may not be available to help you.)

Agreement

As part of my nutritional counseling, I am researching and documenting non-toxic means of analyzing and restoring health. Because of this, I charge a nominal fee for the time I will spend evaluating your nutritional needs ($30 for an initial consultation and $20 for each follow-up). I will be recommending herbal supplements that have been effective in helping others. The cost of the herbs may range from $50 to S150 depending on the severity of your condition and the strength of the herbs you need (NOT covered by insurance, AND I do NOT take credit cards, although cash transfer via Zelle is a new option). I love interesting cases as they provide me with more data and experience with which to help others.

From my experience, I have learned that you should NOT schedule an appointment if... (Or cancel your appointment if...)

1. You are merely curious about what I have to say,

2. You don't have the time to read this entire post Qfil BEFORE coming to the first appointment (I must assume that you don't have the time to invest in your health either - some people just don't/won't),

3. You are not willing to take or won't afford herbal supplements (if you cannot swallow pills, read this)

4. Your doctor does not approve of your taking herbal supplements (Some doctors are supportive, some are not.) If you are NOT sure how they feel about herbs and you will abide by their opinion, ASK THEM before coming.

5. The controlling influences in your life do not approve of your taking herbs or following my recommendations - e.g., spouse, parents, in-laws, your bill payer, or your ride here, Etc. Lots of opposition down your resolve.

6. You are suffering from the side effects of your drugs and want me to 'make it better.’ I will show you how to look them up here. Experience has shown that I may not have anything strong enough to help my body deal with them. However, if we address the underlying health cause that convinced your doc you needed such drugs, you may be able to reduce/eliminate them. Have this discussion with your medical doc.

7. You are not willing to follow through for the time (sometimes 4-8 months) that it may take to improve your health and learn how to stop destroying it. (Your health problems didn't develop overnight. Time and nutrition are needed to heal and rebalance your body
- one layer at a time.}

8. You are adamantly opposed to making these dietary changes.

If we are a match, I'll bring all my experience (25+years) and resources to help you. NOTE: I'm apologizing ahead of time, but if you fail to keep your first appointment or any other appointment without 24 hours prior notice, this is a disservice to others waiting for an opening to see me, and a no-show fee of $20 applies, or, I will refer you to someone else.

Pat Block, N.D., D.A.Hom.

Your Appointment

The first appointment will be about an hour. Please come a little early to fill out a short symptom survey. Please, if possible, find out your blood type ahead of time, so I can recommend a diet that will be very helpful. I will use several traditional naturopathic tools like Muscle Response Testing to determine the nutritional intervention and therapies for you. Then, I'll give you a schedule of what herbs to take along with other educational materials related to my recommendations (all of which are on this site). I have (and sell) several brands of herbs and supplements with which I have had good results, and you will usually be able to get them before you leave (We don't take credit cards}. I will set up a follow-up appointment, and then my work is done, and yours begins. I do like to work with my clients until their concerns are all resolved, AND they feel comfortable being their own herbalist and resolving their problems with 'something natural.' The first appointment and a few check-ups are usually sufficient. Again, this depends on the severity and persistence of your symptoms, your diet, and your drugs.

The Supplements You Are Now Taking

If you are taking dietary supplements, you can try not taking them before the appointment to see if you are able to get along without them. If you have been taking them for some time, they have likely done all they can do for you. Big box brands and cheap herbals are generally not good for you for many reasons and can imbalance your body and possibly be toxic taken long term. And taking too many supplements can make you sick, just like giving a plant too much fertilizer will make it sick.

Various Medicinal Products in a Pharmacy

If you are taking prescription drugs, DO NOT stop taking them prior to the appointment. Please come with a list of all the medications/OTCs you are taking. If you are taking more than 2 prescriptions, do the exercise on this post before coming. If your drugs are causing your symptoms, then the only way eventually goes off the drug. Herbs may be able to help, but I have found that 'help' is temporary. This is a discussion you should have with your doc. The only herbs that might be able to counter a drug effect are the ones that have adaptogenic properties or that detox your liver from accumulated poisons.

Natural Healing Basics 101

So we are on the same page. The first foundational principle is the body heals itself. Your diagnosis indicates that your body has failed to do this for some reason. The second is that the body's response is always an intelligent response - that is, what it needs to do to preserve and continue your life. 'Symptoms' are indicators of imbalances and efforts of the body to restore balance.

How do we get sick? Simply put - we over-stress our body, suppress its recovery efforts w/OTCs, insult it with drugs/toxic substances, provide it with too few nutrients to function as it was designed, and add pharmaceuticals to mask intelligent body responses (putting black tape over the 'service required' light). It always does the best it can with what it has to work with. Herbs stimulate the healing process. My job is to find the herbs your body needs to do its own healing work.

An Analogy: Imagine that when we were born, $100,000 was deposited into our health checking account. Throughout life, we write checks on this account and hopefully make deposits also. Health damaging actions are withdrawals - like stress, toxic emotions, drugs or. Let's say that each time we overate, we withdraw $50. And say every stressful event (illness, job/family problems) or toxic emotion (envy, anger, fear, guilt) was a $100 withdrawal from our health account. Well, that's OK when you are young and have a big account to back your check, or if you compensate by making deposits into your account with a healthy diet and herbs or resolving problems through prayer. However, when you start having disturbing, recurring symptoms, you are bouncing checks, and it's time to turn things around - stop making withdrawals and start making deposits. Herbs are sizable nutritional deposits. Love, forgiveness, and mercy short-circuit the toxic emotional damage. This is how the body cures itself of even the dreaded cancers and heart disease. Remember - if you don't take care of your body, where will you live?

About the Herbs, I Will Be Recommending

Herbs are strong or concentrated foods that have certain 'actions' on the body. For example, some herbs have been historically shown to move mucus, strengthen the heart, dear the lungs, improve circulation, move the bowels or calm the nerves. Herbs have been used for thousands of years, and if they didn't work, their use would have been abandoned. Herbal remedies are part of every culture.

As far as 'vitamins' are concerned, I do not consider these good for supplementation because they are isolates and not whole foods. Some synthetic vitamins (big box brands) are toxic to your liver. God didn't make a vitamin A tree or a vitamin E root. The herb contains not only what we call vitamins and minerals but also synergists needed to utilize the vitamins and minerals. All herbal products aren't equal. Some are diluted with less expensive fillers. Some are imported from countries that allow pesticides that are banned in this country. Be cautious. Cheap herbs are often impotent and potentially dangerous. Good quality gives good results.

Dos, Don’ts, and Factoids (Necessary to Keep My/your Costs Down)

DO NOT give my name as your 'primary care physician' even if you do not go to doctors.
DO NOT fax any medical records to me or request 'medical from me. My notes from our meetings do not constitute your medical records, and rather they are my research notes. You can keep your own healing journal.
DO NOT have medical forms sent to me to fill out and return. Any action by me that could be construed as medical treatment, records, or advice can potentially pose legal problems for me. Thank you for your understanding.
DO write down your appointment time in several places. I do not hire extra staff or purchase software to remind you to look at your calendar. 'No shows' incur the missed appointment fee of $20.
DO keep your receipts for your own accounting purposes and do not request were issue them. No insurance plan I know authorizes payment for supplement recommendations made by a non-state-licensed practitioner.
DO come prepared with checks or cash. We do NOT take credit cards or debit cards. Insurance pays for no aspect of what I do or recommend.
DO NOT wear perfume or heavily scented deodorant or body lotions to any appointment.
DO respect my neighbors and come into my neighborhood and around my horseshoe driveway SLOWLY. Do not block the driveway but park in the side yard and come to the front door.

You can read my bio so you see that really sick folk can get well.

Directions

(or Search: 102 Kay Circle, Yorktown 23693)

From I 64, Take exit 256B onto route 171 (Victory Blvd.) towards Poquoson (as if going to Super K). Cross over Rt 17 and Rt 134. The next light is Big Bethel Rd (Rt 600). Turn left onto Big Bethel Rd. (see->>> below)

From Hampton, Take Rt 134 (Magruder) towards Yorktown. Turn right onto Big Bethel Rd. After the stop light at Victory Blvd (Rt 171}, Bethel road turns into Yorktown road. You'll see on the left the fire station. (see->>> below)

From Hampton, Take Big Bethel Rd north towards Yorktown. You'll pass over Rt 134 and Rt 171 (Victory Blvd). After the stop light at Victory Blvd (Rt 171), Bethel road turns into Yorktown road. (see->>> below)

From lower Newport News, Take Rt 17 towards Yorktown. Turn right at Victory Blvd (Rt 171). The 2nd light is Big Bethel Rd. Turn left onto Big Bethel Rd. (see->>> below)

From upper Denbigh & York Co., Take Denbigh Blvd toward York Co and turn right onto Rt
17. Take 17 south to Victory Blvd. Turn left at Victory Blvd (Rt 171). The 2nd light is Big Bethel Rd. Turn left onto Big Bethel Rd. (see ->>> below)

->>> Take your 3rd right onto Tidemill Rd. Then make your second right (onto Denise}, your first left (onto Pageland}, and your first right (onto KayCircle). We are at 102 Kay Circle - a white two-story farmhouse with a split rail fence in front. THERE ARE MANY CHILDREN IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD. THEREFORE DRIVE SLOWLY THROUGH THE
NEIGHBORHOOD AND SLOWLY AROUND MY DRIVEWAY. Enter the driveway next to the mailbox, drive around the back of the house (a horseshoe driveway), and out to the front and park on the side yard by the "PARK HEREHsign. Do not park on or block the driveway. Please come to the front door.

What Customer Says

Consider this…..

I have learned more from very sick people than I have from double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over studies. My sick clients taught me how to get them well - things that even my teachers didn't know. I have such smart clients.

Important Warning

Nothing on this site is FDA approved. Nothing I write here is intended to be medical advice. Follow my recommendations at your own risk. Results may vary, and blah, blah, blah. So if the required warnings have not scared you away, then you have a chance. I'm reporting here what kinds of approaches actually helped very sick people get well, AND the kinds of things that actually made them sick (and it usually isn't lack of exercise, weight, menopause or smoking - it is the underlying cause of all those things.)

Important Posts

► I Went to the Doctor and the Doctor Said…

► THE Technical Info on the Herbs

► Uh oh, what was I supposed to do when I think I’m getting sick?

► Fatigue: The Mother of All Disease

► Uh oh, my kid is sick again

► Childhood Disorders (ADHD, Behavior Disorders, etc.)

► Too Busy to do Healthy

► Of Drugs, OTCs and Black Electrical Tape

► Pat’s book – Spiritual Disciplines for Physical and Emotional Healing

In case you were wondering..

B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner, b=bedtime. Make sure to read What to Expect on an Herbal Program (in the Herb menu) before beginning. Dosages given are about what my clients benefit from. You may be different. Begin slowly and see how each recommendation benefits you.