Therapies
Naturopathic Medicine
Root-cause care from doctors who work with your whole team. At Progressive Medical Center in Atlanta, licensed naturopathic doctors work alongside physicians, nurse practitioners, and dietitians to treat why you feel the way you do, not just what to prescribe.
You may be here because standard medicine kept handing you a prescription and a follow-up that never quite fixed the problem. Or because a friend suggested you try something more natural but you do not want to leave conventional care behind. PMC's naturopathic doctors are part of a larger care team, so you do not have to choose. Call (770) 676-6000 to schedule a consultation.
A Different Kind of Primary Care
Medicine That Treats the Whole Person
Naturopathic medicine is a system of primary care built around identifying and treating the root causes of disease rather than managing symptoms. It combines the diagnostic rigor of conventional medicine with natural therapies that support the body's ability to heal itself.
A simple example: a patient comes in with persistent bloating, brain fog, and fatigue. A naturopathic doctor does not just prescribe something to mask the symptoms. They order testing, find a candida overgrowth, and build a protocol that includes MCT oil, targeted dietary changes, and supplementation designed to starve the overgrowth and restore gut balance. That is what root-cause care looks like.
At Progressive Medical Center, naturopathic doctors are core members of your care team. They work alongside physicians, nurse practitioners, and dietitians to build treatment plans that address your physical, nutritional, and lifestyle health together. This is not alternative medicine on the side. It is integrated into everything we do. Learn more about how we treat patients.
The Foundation
Six Principles of Naturopathic Medicine
These principles guide every licensed naturopathic doctor's practice. They shape how your ND approaches your case, chooses therapies, and measures progress.
The Healing Power of Nature
Your body has an inherent ability to heal. Naturopathic doctors identify the obstacles standing in the way of that process and support recovery with therapies that work with your biology.
Identify and Treat the Cause
Symptoms are signals, not the problem itself. Rather than suppressing what your body is telling you, naturopathic doctors look for the underlying dysfunction driving your condition.
First, Do No Harm
Treatment should minimize side effects and respect your body's self-healing process. Naturopathic medicine favors the least invasive, most effective therapies available for your situation.
Treat the Whole Person
Your physical, emotional, genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors all contribute to how you feel. Naturopathic doctors assess the full picture before building a plan.
Doctor as Teacher
Your naturopathic doctor educates you on why a treatment works and what your body needs. Understanding your own care is part of the healing.
Prevention is the Best Medicine
Rather than waiting for disease to develop, naturopathic doctors assess risk factors early and create targeted interventions. Preventing illness is always more effective than treating it after the fact.
Naturopathic + Conventional, Under One Roof
How It Works at PMC
Most patients have to choose between a conventional doctor and a naturopathic one. At PMC, you do not. Our naturopathic doctors work directly alongside board-certified physicians, nurse practitioners, and registered dietitians in the same clinic.
That means your ND reviews the same advanced diagnostic results as your MD. They coordinate on your treatment plan in real time. They share notes, adjust protocols together, and make decisions as a team rather than in isolation.
This collaborative model is rare. It is also why so many of our patients find answers after other providers could not help them. When conventional and naturopathic medicine work together, your treatment plan is more complete and more personalized than either approach alone.
What Your ND Brings to the Team
Naturopathic Treatment Areas
Your naturopathic doctor draws from multiple disciplines to build your treatment plan. These are the core areas where naturopathic expertise shapes your care at PMC.
Clinical Nutrition
Targeted dietary protocols, supplementation plans, and nutritional interventions based on your lab results. Your ND designs nutrition strategies that directly address the deficiencies and imbalances your testing reveals.
Botanical Medicine
Evidence-based herbal therapies that support healing processes. Botanical protocols are selected for their clinical effectiveness and integrated alongside conventional treatments when appropriate.
Lifestyle Medicine
Modifications to sleep, stress management, exercise, and daily habits that directly affect your recovery. Your ND helps you identify the lifestyle factors contributing to your condition and build sustainable changes.
Detoxification Support
Protocols for reducing toxic burden from heavy metals, environmental chemicals, and metabolic waste. Your ND works with your diagnostic results to identify what's accumulating in your system and how to safely remove it. See also Detoxification.
Gut Health Restoration
Targeted support for digestive function, microbiome balance, and intestinal permeability. Your gut houses 85% of your immune system, and naturopathic protocols are designed to repair and restore it from the ground up.
Hormonal Balance
Natural approaches to hormonal health including adrenal function, thyroid support, and sex hormone optimization. Your ND works alongside the physician team to coordinate hormonal protocols with your full treatment plan. See also Hormone Therapy (BHRT).
Conditions We Treat
Naturopathic Care for Complex Health Challenges
Naturopathic medicine plays a role in treating every condition we see at PMC. Your ND brings a whole-body perspective to cases that conventional specialists often address one system at a time.
Not sure if naturopathic care fits your situation? Call (770) 676-6000 and our team can walk you through what your first visit would look like.
Your Naturopathic Team
Licensed Naturopathic Doctors at PMC
PMC's naturopathic doctors are fully licensed NDs who completed four-year accredited naturopathic medical programs and passed rigorous board examinations. They work directly with the physician team to coordinate your care.
Marcia Williams, ND
Naturopathic Doctor
Focuses on natural, whole-body treatment plans tailored to each patient's unique health profile. Works closely with PMC's diagnostic and physician team to translate lab findings into targeted naturopathic protocols.
Firlande Volcy, ND
Naturopathic Doctor
Specializes in naturopathic protocols including clinical nutrition, supplementation, and lifestyle modification. Collaborates with the care team to ensure naturopathic and conventional treatments are working together.
Getting Started
What to Expect
Here is how naturopathic care fits into your experience at PMC.
Your First Visit
Every patient starts with a consultation ($250 standard, $450 for cancer patients). Your physician determines the right diagnostic workup and treatment direction. From there, your naturopathic doctor becomes part of your ongoing care team.
Collaborative Treatment Planning
Your ND reviews your diagnostic results alongside your physician and dietitian. Together, they build a plan that combines natural therapies with advanced medical treatments. You understand every element of your plan and why it was chosen.
Ongoing Support
Naturopathic care at PMC is not a one-time visit. Your ND works with you through your treatment, adjusting nutritional protocols, supplementation, and lifestyle recommendations as your health improves.
Common Questions
Naturopathic Medicine FAQ
What is a naturopathic doctor?
Naturopathic doctors (NDs) are licensed primary care physicians who diagnose, treat, and manage patients with a focus on prevention and root-cause treatment using evidence-based natural therapies. They complete four-year accredited naturopathic medical programs, pass rigorous board examinations, and maintain continuing education. NDs are trained in conventional medical sciences alongside clinical nutrition, botanical medicine, physical medicine, and lifestyle counseling.
How is a naturopathic doctor different from a conventional MD?
NDs are educated in the same basic sciences as conventional MDs and must pass comparable board exams. The key difference is their approach: naturopathic doctors emphasize non-invasive, natural therapies as a first-line treatment and focus on chronic disease prevention. They are also trained in clinical nutrition, botanical medicine, and lifestyle medicine in ways that most conventional medical programs do not cover. At PMC, our NDs and MDs work together so patients get the strengths of both approaches.
How is naturopathic medicine different from holistic medicine?
The terms get used interchangeably, and the underlying philosophy is similar: treat the whole person, find root causes, use natural therapies where possible. "Naturopathic medicine" refers to a specific, licensed, credentialed profession with accredited four-year medical training. "Holistic medicine" is a broader descriptor that can apply to many practitioners, some licensed and some not. At PMC, our naturopathic doctors are fully licensed NDs with formal credentials, and they practice within an integrative medical team.
Do I see a naturopathic doctor instead of a regular doctor at PMC?
No. At PMC, naturopathic care is integrated with conventional medical care. You work with a full care team that includes physicians, naturopathic doctors, nurse practitioners, and dietitians. Your ND is part of the team that reviews your diagnostics and builds your treatment plan. You benefit from both approaches working together rather than having to choose one or the other.
What conditions can naturopathic doctors treat?
Naturopathic doctors treat a wide range of chronic and complex conditions including autoimmune disorders, hormonal imbalances, digestive issues, chronic fatigue, thyroid dysfunction, diabetes, anxiety, depression, and more. At PMC, naturopathic care is especially valuable for patients with multi-system conditions where the root cause is not clear, because the whole-body perspective helps connect symptoms that conventional specialists might address separately.
Does PMC also have conventional medical doctors on staff?
Yes. PMC's clinical team includes board-certified MDs with expertise in internal medicine, emergency medicine, gastroenterology, and oncology. Our physicians are also trained in integrative and functional medicine, including non-narcotic pain management, nutritional medicine, oxidative therapies, and environmental toxicity. The combination of conventional and naturopathic expertise under one roof is what makes PMC's care model different.
Do I need a referral to see a naturopathic doctor at PMC?
No. You can schedule a consultation directly by calling (770) 676-6000 or booking online. Your initial consultation with a physician will determine the right care team and treatment direction for your situation, and naturopathic care will be incorporated as part of your personalized plan.
Is naturopathic medicine covered by insurance?
PMC is out-of-network for all insurance providers, but we provide superbills that you can submit to your insurance company for potential reimbursement. Coverage varies by plan and state. Cherry Financing and CareCredit are also available. Visit our Insurance and Financing page for details on payment options.
Ready to Experience Root-Cause Medicine?
Schedule a consultation and find out how naturopathic and conventional medicine work together at PMC. Your first visit is a consultation with a physician ($250 standard, $450 for cancer patients). No referral needed.