Naturopathic Physician, Jessica Stadtmauer

Dr. Jessica Stadtmauer

About Dr. Jessica Stadtmauer, Naturopathic Physician

Q: Why did you decide to become an Naturopathic Physician?
A: I am lucky in that I always knew this is what I wanted to do. As a five-year-old, I'd tell people I wanted to be either a witch or a doctor. It took me until college to learn that the profession of Naturopathic Medicine even existed, but once I found it and did the research, I knew what I would do for my career.

Q: Where did you go to school?
A: I did my undergrad at the University of Minnesota. I went to medical school at the National College of Naturopathic Medicine in Portland, OR.

Q: How is naturopathy different from other natural treatments (acupuncture, homeopathy, etc)?
A:  There are many differences between acupuncture and naturopathy. They are completely distinct systems of medicine with their unique philisophical underpinnings, and they evolve out of different traditions. That being said, there are some strong similarities which make them very complementary systems, and people tend to fare very well when they use both naturopathic medicine along with chinese medicine. Naturopathic Medicine incorporates several different treatment modalities. They include homeopathy, botanical medicine, nutritional therapy, physical medicine, detoxification therapies, etc. While a homeopath may just use homeopathy, a naturopathic doctor will use homeopathy along with other treatment modalities within our scope of practice.

Q: What sets you apart as an naturopathic physician from others?
A: On a personal level, I am extremely patient and personable and I love to look at the body in a mechanistic sense. This allows me to work well with people who have complicated cases where they need a lot of a doctor's time and help putting all the pieces of their health puzzle together. People will often tell me that I'm the first person who's ever been able to help them understand why they have certain symptoms, and what those symptoms mean about their bodies. As a woman and a mom, I also enjoy and do very well working with women's and kid's health issues. Underlying all that, I'm intensely practical, so I really take into account an individual's lifestyle and challenges before I assign treatment plans.

Q: Who do you treat?
A: I work mostly with women and children. With women, I see all sort of issues, but there is a great emphasis on pre and post menopause hormone balancing. I see a lot of thyroid and adrenal cases with women as well. With children, I see a lot of allergy and focus issues plus the typical kids stuff like eczema and ear infections and colds.

Q: Who is your mentor in the field?
A: While I was going through school, I spend a lot of time working with 2 naturopaths in particular. Both were women who themselves specialized in women's health. One lived on the island of Kauai for decades, and was the only midwife for miles. She also treated children. I learned so much from her about herbs and 'old wives tale' remedies since she worked with people who couldn't afford a lot of medicine. My other mentor also specialized in women's health, and from her I learned so much about the doctor-patient dynamic and all of the healing that can occur when that relationship is a good one.

Q: Is there anything else that you would want people to know about you or Naturopathy?
A: I believe that naturopathic medicine is what most people are looking for when it comes to their own healthcare. Thank goodness that conventional medicine is there when the need for "high tech" medicine arises. That being said, what naturopathic medicine does best is to provide tools for people to stay not only disease free, but more important, optimally well. 

Q: How many people are on your staff?
A: At The Art of Living Center, we have a variety of practitioners. There are two Naturopathic Doctors, a chiropractor, a massage therapist, an esthetician and a Life Coach.

Q: What can a potential patient expect during an appointment with you?
A: The initial consultation is usually an hour and a half. I take an extensive history discussing at length people's diet, lifestyle, health goals, past medical history, family history and whatever else is pertinant. Then, I'll do a non-invasive physical exam. Once I've gathered as much information as I can, we discuss how best to proceed. This may involve some further testing, putting together a supplement protocol and/or a diet plan and possibly a referral to another type of practitioner. The cost of the initial visit is $175.00 for an adult and $120.00 for a child. Our follow-up visits are priced by the amount of time spent together. The fee ranges from $75.00 - $115.00. 

Q: What would a potential client need to do to schedule an appointment?
A: To schedule an appointment, give my office a call. The number is (704) 332-1201. Pat Owens, my fabulous office manager will be happy to schedule an appointment for you. I'm always happy to answer any questions that you have of me prior to scheduling your appointment.