We often talk about alternative forms of allergy relief, including NAET and acupuncture. For some, it’s an obvious choice. For others, it may be sort of going out on a limb to try a non traditional practice. For anyone going this route, it is so important to find a licensed, certified, knowledgeable practitioner. It seems like it may be a little easier to know for certain that your medical doctor is reputable, but with an alternative practitioner, it may be a bit easier for the not so reputable ones to slip by. Here are some tips on finding an alternative practitioner who will be qualified, licensed and highly regarded.

• Use references. If you know someone who has been to an alternative practitioner and been happy, go to that one. Referrals are how many business people stay successful. The best ones don’t need to advertise. Ask around, you may be surprised how many people you know have tried.
• Once you have found some possibilities, ask for credentials. Often they have websites and you can check their licensure for credibility. If they have something on there that you can’t find anywhere else, it should throw up a red flag. If you can easily find their credentials elsewhere, that’s a good sign.
• Look at websites like www.naet.com for lists of licensed practitioners in your area.
• Ask for a consultation. Many do this by phone or with a short office visit. It gives you a chance to describe your condition and see how familiar they are and what their recommendations are. You can also talk fees as most insurance plans don’t cover alternative health.
• Ask them about their experience and training. These are important factors and you should get that information.
• Look around the office (that’s why an in-house consult is good). Check for cleanliness and general state of the office. Ask about hygienic practice, especially if acupuncture needles are involved.
• If they are trying to sign you up for things or sell you expensive “cure-all” pills, they probably aren’t who you want to be seeing. Sometimes they will offer an herbal supplement, tea or tonic, but gauge the price and the way it is presented. If it’s a cure-all, it’s probably bogus. If it can “aid in your health plan,” it may be worth trying.

Just like anything else, do a little research. Many of these practices are worth trying because they are non-invasive and won’t interfere with your other allergy treatments. You just want to make sure that who you are seeing is a legitimate practitioner.