Not everyone can afford to come to Los Angeles to see Dr. Stuart Garber, and some simply don't want to brave L.A.'s notorious traffic. For those patients, Dr. Stuart Garber, a homeopathic physician and natural supplements guru, provides consultations via Skype.
"In the past, phone consultations with patients who could not come to the office in person were less than optimal," Garber explained. "Now, with technologies like Skype available, there doesn’t have to be any compromise. I do Skype consultations with patients across the country and around the globe."
Garber has a Ph.D. in homeopathy and serves as the president of the California Homeopathic Medical Society. His line of biotherapy formulas, called Dr. Garber's Natural Solutions, are available online and in stores like Whole Foods. However, Garber's Skype consultations raise an interesting question: Can anyone get a Skype account and call himself a homeopathic physician?
Before you dedicate yourself to any so-called "holistic doctor" with a Skype account, take some time to research the practitioner's background. Look for qualifications such as a Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine (N.D.) degree from a program accredited by the Association of Accredited Naturopathic Medical Colleges.
In 16 states and the District of Columbia, naturopathic doctors have to have a license, which they earn by getting an accredited doctoral degree and passing the Naturopathic Physicians Licensing Examinations (NPLEX).
Additionally, check for memberships in recognized national associations, like the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians and the American Holistic Medical Association, and in state associations like California's Naturopathic Medicine Committee.
Some people suspect that homeopathic medicine doesn't work at all. James Randi, who works to debunk pseudoscientific and paranormal claims, once took a "fatal" does of homeopathic pills onstage during a TED lecture to prove that the pills were a fraud.
Still, if homeopathic medicine interests you, just make sure that you perform due diligence before you end up Skyping an imposter.
Edited by
Alisen Downey
