This area is for AHO Members only.
Please check your health plan for eligibility.
| Drug Formulary | Claim Form |
A variety of different
options are available for treating medical conditions.
Presently there is a high demand for botanicals, herbal treatments and
natural ingredients to treat common diseases.
Increasing numbers of Americans are using them for self-medication with
or without the knowledge of their primary care providers.
These botanicals are perceived to be more cost effective, gentle and
have fewer side effects than pharmaceuticals.
In 1995 there were over $1.5 billion dollars spent on botanicals in the
U.S., with a predicted growth rate of 15%-20% per year.
For medicinal botanicals to be accepted into the mainstream medical
market then a number of considerations must be discussed.
They
include:
- Effecitveness
- Price
- Safety
- Alternative vs. Traditional Medicine
-
Quality
- Regulatory Status
Although not promoted as a cure for diseases these products have shown in both clinical and scientific studies to have a positive effect on the body which can aid in the healing process. The origins of many of the pharmaceuticals actually are derived from organic sources thus the recognized benefits of the natural botanicals has been widely accepted for years.
Acceptance of these products has been in practice for thousands of years in the eastern world. Until recently the thought of taking a botanicals has been one of uncertainty in response to disease improvement. Our society has developed a crutch in relying on a pill too often to cure a problem rather than looking at the source and other factors that can influence a reaction in the body (i.e., illness). Americans are now looking for other alternatives that may provide less toxic and more natural healing processes. Our bodies are introduced to toxins and chemicals on a daily basis. The new strains of organisms are developing resistance to the chemicals that have been used for years in treatment. Getting back to basic organic treatments may offer the body a degree of success in fighting off these newer of tougher illnesses.
"The doctor of the future will give no medicine, but will interest his patients in the care of the human frame, in diet, and in the cause and prevention of disease."
Thomas Edison
FAQ's
Are
these products proven to be effective?
Our natural products are chosen based on the findings and required dosage from
the scientifically proven research of the German Commission E.
The German Commission E Agency was established to research and approve
natural products for their safety as well as historical and scientific
evidence of efficacy. Providers
in Germany can write prescriptions for approved natural products and have
third party reimbursement.
Are
all natural products the same?
No, based on our research, only the most advanced manufacturers combine nature
and technology to create a guaranteed potency.
With Guaranteed Potency Herbs (GPH), the level of active ingredients is
closely monitored and a standardized concentration percentage is established
to ensure consistence form batch to batch.
We will only recommend and support natural products that carry the GPH
letters.
Are
these natural products cost-effective?
Yes, when using our formulary for natural products based on the
German Commission E and having a GPH, our
natural products can be very cost-effective.
Consider the cost of Prozac for mild to moderate depression ($92) verse
the cost of St. John’s Wort ($20), that is a 75% savings.
Charlotte, NC 28222