Free Phone Consultation: 603.718.8328
Can I get lab tests and results without a referral?
Yes! The LabShop @ AIMA Functional Medicine provides you with quick and easy access to 3000+ lab tests and specialty testing for hormones, gut health, allergies and sensitivities, genetics, and basic bloodwork. Get the tests you want, when you want, and without a referral. Rupa Health will arrange drop ship of your test kit to your home or workplace with instructions included and coordinate phlebotomy services if they are needed. You will receive the results automatically via email as soon as they become available. Rupa Health accepts HSA and FSA cards, credit cards, and debit cards. Rupa Health staff is responsive and available for questions or assistance along the way, and happy to help!
What is Functional Medicine?
Functional medicine, or “functional diagnostic medicine”, is a systems biology-based approach that focuses on identifying and addressing the root cause of a patient’s health concern rather than only addressing isolated symptoms. It is highly investigative and personalized medicine specifically tailored to you, your lifestyle, and your biometrics.
To learn more, please see: What is Functional Medicine.
What kind of education is required to practice Functional Medicine?
Functional medicine certification is available only to licensed healthcare professionals who hold a higher education degree obtained from an accredited university in a health-related field.
Functional medicine providers may include professionals with the following designations: Medical Doctor (MD), Doctor of Osteopathy (DO), Doctor of Chiropractic (DC), Naturopathic Doctor (ND), Dentist (DDS or DMD), Pharmacist (PharmD), Nurse Practitioner (NP), Physician Assistant (PA), Acupuncturist (LAc), Occupational Therapist (OT), Physical Therapist (PT), Registered Nurse (RN), and Registered Dietitian (RD or RDN).
“Certified Functional Medicine Provider” and “Certified Functional Medicine Practitioner”, are examples of designations used by licensed providers who have been given the privilege to use that designation after completing a structured and focused functional medicine educational program that culminates in obtaining a professional certificate in functional medicine after passing examinations.
Becoming certified is crucial for mastering the skills and providing functional medicine services. A certification in functional medicine reflects your provider’s commitment to the profession and it is a credential that verifies the knowledge, skills and abilities necessary to offer functional medicine services.
Practitioners may advertise that they provide functional medicine and may learn some of the techniques of the practice through coursework and on the job experience, but obtaining certification is critical for best practice. Certification in functional medicine is evidence that your provider is committed to mastering the skills and knowledge in delivering high quality functional medicine services.
What if I’m healthy? Can this help me stay healthy?
Yes. Here in the United States, we tend to seek treatment only when problems arise. Functional medicine is well suited to keep you in good health for optimal aging and healthy longevity, and acupuncture has traditionally been used as preventative medicine. Maintaining your health is the most important aspect of preventing illness!
What do all of those letters after L. Cindy Theroux-Jette’s name mean?
The letters indicate the academic degrees and certifications that have been earned and professional designations. “Ph.D.” stands for Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated for the Latin philosophiæ doctor, meaning “teacher of philosophy”. It is a degree that designates the title “doctor” based on research and differs from M.D. which stands for Medical Doctor. “OT/L” stands for Licensed Occupational Therapist, and “L.Ac.” stands for Licensed Acupuncturist. “CFMP” stands for Certified Functional Medicine Provider, and “CHPCA” stands for Certified Hospice and Palliative Care Acupuncturist.
How do I book a free phone consultation?
Free phone consultations with a 15-minute maximum are provided during office hours Tuesday – Thursday from 10AM to 5PM. If you are interested, contact us at recepton@aimaofnashua.com and please provide the best phone number to reach you. A specific call time cannot be guaranteed and will be made from our main office number 603-718-8328 anytime during regular office hours.
How do I book an appointment?
Appointments are available to adults over the age of 25 and senior adults. Existing appointments can be managed by patients via the secure portal, and new patient appointments and waitlisting are available only to those who have completed the intake process. The first step to securing an appointment is to create a secure patient portal account, and submit all intake paperwork under the “forms” tab in your secure portal. We’ll receive and process your intake, and if you are admitted to the practice we’ll be in touch with an initial consultation appointment or let you know you’ve been waitlisted for an appointment.
Do I need to have any tests done as part of my care?
Yes. The information below is required as part of your initial consultation. If you do not have some or all of this documentation, the appropriate tests will be recommended during your first visit:
• Your most recent routine lab work within the last 1-2 years including CBC, CMP, thyroid panel, lipid panel
• Your most recent imaging reports within the last 1-2 years including endoscopy reports, colonoscopy reports
• Your most recent specialty testing and additional testing within the last 1-2 years, including allergy/sensitivity, gut health, adrenal, anemia panels, Vitamin D 25-OH, and Vitamin B12
We partner with Rupa Health and Fullscript for laboratory testing and laboratory fees are paid directly to Rupa Health and Fullscript. Lab test fees may be paid with a credit card, HSA cards, and FSA cards. You will not be able to utilize your insurance benefits for lab testing. Rupa Health and Fullscript offer a three month interest free payment plan. AIMA Functional Medicine does not set the costs for lab tests, this is set by each individual lab company.
How do I know if AIMA Functional Medicine is going to be the right fit for me?
The first thing to know is that the practice focus at AIMA Functional Medicine is evaluation and treatment of the gut microbiome to address multiple organ systems and overall health. We treat adults over the age of 25 and senior adults only, and we do not provide hormone replacement therapy, compounding services, or prescription weight loss medications. An initial consultation visit is a time when you can ask questions and learn what the next necessary steps might be if you are a good fit with us.
What are the average costs of care?
Our fee schedule is specific to services offered. We do not take or bill insurance. Functional medicine is personalized medicine and costs are individualized in accordance with your treatment plan. The estimated cost for an initial consultation visit is $375-$425. The estimated cost for a follow up functional medicine visit is $325-$375. The estimated cost for an acupuncture and integrative medicine follow up visit is $145-$195.
I’m interested in having acupuncture, too. What kind of education is required for acupuncturists?
A “licensed acupuncturist” or “acupuncturist” is a privileged title to be used only by those who are licensed by the New Hampshire Board of Acupuncture Licensing. These professionals have the most extensive training in acupuncture. The professional designation “L.Ac. or “Lic.Ac.” indicates that the individual holds professional licensure by the state of New Hampshire as a licensed acupuncturist and that they have attained the highest level of training available. Ask your provider if they graduated from an accredited degree program. This is the gold standard for education.
In New Hampshire, in order to claim the title of “licensed acupuncturist” the provider must first possess a baccalaureate, registered nurse, or physician’s assistant degree from an accredited institution and then have completed acupuncture education from an ACAOM (Accreditation Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine) accredited US school. Minimum requirements for accreditation of a master’s level acupuncture program state that the program must be a three year program consisting of 1905 hours of study. For Asian medicine a four year program totaling 2625 hours is required, and pre-med courses are a requirement for both.
The New Hampshire state statute specifies in RSA 328-G:9 which other licensed health care professionals may legally practice acupuncture in New Hampshire; namely, those licensed as physicians and surgeons under RSA 329 and those specially qualified naturopathic doctors certified under RSA 328-E:12. Many practitioners including physicians, naturopathic doctors, physical therapists and chiropractors are now adding needling therapy as an adjunct to their practice with minimal additional training of 100-500 hours; it is often called “dry needling” or “trigger point needling”. These are common techniques used by licensed acupuncturists who have received a minimum of 1905 hours of study.
Chiropractors and physical therapists can use needles as an adjunctive procedure only, but are not to be considered practicing acupuncture and cannot claim to do so. MD’s (medical doctors) and DO’s (doctors of osteopathy) may use acupuncture after successful completion of a brief certification program, and ND’s (naturopathic doctors) who have met the requirements of the Naturopathic Board can add acupuncture to their practice, as well.
Research and Efficacy