Frequently Asked Questions

Needles, Herbs & Labs brings together three areas of care: acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine, and Functional Medicine with laboratory testing. Dr. Arik Naylous uses these approaches individually or together depending on each patient’s needs, symptoms, and health goals.

Functional Medicine takes a broader look at a patient’s health by considering symptoms, medical history, nutrition, lifestyle, environmental exposures, and laboratory findings together.Rather than focusing only on an isolated symptom or laboratory value, Dr. Naylous looks for patterns and potential underlying contributors that may help explain the patient’s overall health picture.

Functional Medicine may be helpful for people experiencing persistent, chronic, or unexplained symptoms, particularly when they feel they have not received clear answers.Patients commonly seek care for concerns involving digestive health, fatigue, nutrient deficiencies, anemia, hormones, metabolic health, inflammation, environmental exposures, and other complex health concerns.You do not need to know exactly what is causing your symptoms before scheduling a consultation.

Functional Medicine consultations are currently offered on a self-pay basis and are not billed directly to insurance.Upon request, we may provide a superbill containing the appropriate visit information that you can submit to your insurance company for possible out-of-network reimbursement.Reimbursement is determined entirely by your insurance plan and is not guaranteed. We recommend contacting your insurance company directly to ask about your out-of-network benefits before scheduling if reimbursement is important to you.

A superbill is an itemized document that includes information about the services provided and may be submitted by the patient to their insurance company for possible out-of-network reimbursement.A superbill is not the same as an insurance claim guarantee, and receiving one does not mean that your insurance company will reimburse you.

Insurance coverage for acupuncture depends on the patient's individual plan and whether Dr. Naylous participates with that insurance network.Please contact the office before your appointment so we can let you know what options may be available. Coverage, copays, deductibles, visit limits, and authorization requirements are determined by your insurance company.

Yes. Patients may schedule acupuncture as a stand-alone service when appropriate.Not every acupuncture patient needs Functional Medicine testing, supplements, or laboratory work.

Yes. Acupuncture is not required to receive Functional Medicine care.Some patients primarily work with Dr. Naylous for laboratory evaluation, nutrition, supplementation, lifestyle support, and other Functional Medicine strategies. Acupuncture or Chinese herbal medicine may be discussed when appropriate, but treatment is individualized.

No. Chinese herbal medicine is one of the tools available within the practice, but it is not automatically recommended for every patient.If herbs are appropriate, Dr. Naylous selects formulas based on the individual patient’s symptoms, health history, and Chinese medicine pattern.

Not necessarily.Dr. Naylous determines whether laboratory testing may provide useful information based on your symptoms, health history, previous testing, and clinical needs. The goal is not to order unnecessary tests simply for the sake of testing.

Depending on the patient's needs, Dr. Naylous may use testing such as:Comprehensive bloodworkVitamin and nutrient testingIron and anemia evaluationThyroid and hormone testingInflammatory and metabolic markersSIBO Breath TestingGenova Diagnostics stool testingMosaic Diagnostics Organic Acids TestingHeavy metal testingEnvironmental toxin and mycotoxin testingOther targeted testing when appropriateNot every patient requires every type of testing.

When standard blood testing is ordered, Dr. Naylous places the laboratory order and patients may have their blood drawn at a participating laboratory such as Quest Diagnostics or another designated laboratory location.Specific instructions will be provided based on the testing ordered.

Many specialty tests are completed at home.Depending on the test, you may receive a collection kit for urine, stool, or breath samples. The kit includes collection and shipping instructions, and the specimen is returned directly to the specialty laboratory for analysis.Once the results are available, Dr. Naylous reviews them and discusses the findings with you during a follow-up consultation.

Yes. Please bring or upload any recent laboratory results that may be relevant to your concerns.Reviewing previous testing can help Dr. Naylous understand what has already been evaluated and determine whether additional testing may be useful.

The first consultation is designed to understand your health story in detail.Dr. Naylous may discuss your current symptoms, previous diagnoses and testing, medications, supplements, nutrition, digestive health, sleep, stress, lifestyle, environmental exposures, and other factors that may be relevant.From there, he can determine whether laboratory testing or other evaluation may be appropriate and discuss potential next steps.

Appointments are designed to allow time for a more detailed discussion of your symptoms, history, lifestyle, and previous testing.Rather than evaluating each symptom completely in isolation, Dr. Naylous looks for relationships between different areas of health and considers how acupuncture, Chinese medicine, laboratory testing, nutrition, supplementation, and lifestyle strategies may fit into an individualized plan.

This is a common reason patients seek a more detailed evaluation.A laboratory result being within its reference range does not necessarily answer every clinical question. Dr. Naylous reviews the overall pattern of results alongside symptoms, health history, nutrition, lifestyle, and other relevant information and may recommend additional testing when appropriate.

Targeted supplementation may be recommended when appropriate based on a patient's symptoms, nutrition, laboratory findings, and individual needs.The goal is not to place every patient on a large number of supplements. Recommendations are intended to be purposeful and individualized.

In some cases, yes.Dr. Naylous reviews the patient's medications, supplements, and health history before recommending Chinese herbs or additional supplementation. Patients should provide a complete list of everything they are currently taking.

Dr. Naylous commonly works with patients experiencing concerns involving:Digestive and gut healthFatigue and low energyNutrient deficienciesIron deficiency and anemiaThyroid and hormonal healthMetabolic healthChronic inflammationPain and musculoskeletal concernsHeadaches and migrainesStress and sleep concernsEnvironmental and mold-related health concernsPersistent or unexplained symptomsGeneral wellness and preventionBecause every patient is different, an initial consultation helps determine whether the practice is appropriate for your individual needs.

There is no predetermined number of visits that applies to every patient.The frequency and duration of care depend on the reason for your visit, the complexity of your health concerns, your response to treatment, whether laboratory testing is being performed, and your individual goals.

Every patient responds differently, and no specific outcome or timeline can be guaranteed.Some people seek care for relatively straightforward concerns, while others have been experiencing symptoms for years and may require a longer process of evaluation and follow-up.

No.Functional Medicine services at Needles, Herbs & Labs are intended to complement appropriate medical care and are not a replacement for having a primary care physician or receiving emergency or specialty medical treatment when needed.

If available, it is helpful to bring:Recent bloodworkPrevious specialty laboratory reportsA current medication listA current supplement listRelevant imaging or medical recordsA brief timeline of major health concernsHaving this information available can help Dr. Naylous get a clearer understanding of your health history.

You do not need to choose a laboratory test or figure out which type of treatment you need before scheduling.Start with a consultation. Dr. Naylous will listen to your concerns, review your history, and help determine which next steps may be most appropriate for you.