Our Services

Naturopathic physicians are licensed in the state of Washington as primary care practitioners with the ability to provide a wide range of healthcare options for people of all ages. A naturopathic physician is a highly trained professional with an educational background similar to a MD's, including course work in anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, pathology, microbiology, immunology, pharmacology, cardiology, dermatology, urology, gynecology, psychology, geriatrics, rheumatology, clinical/lab diagnosis, and neurology. In addition, our clinicians have specialized training in various natural medicine modalities, which are outlined on our Integrative Therapies page.

Having a naturopathic physician as your primary care doctor offers several benefits. Perhaps the most important is their ability to look at your medical issues in a larger context. Because naturopathic physicians spend more time consulting with you, they are better able to understand the implications of your history, lifestyle choices, and previous medical treatment. This often allows for greater diagnostic insight and more customized, less invasive treatment options.

Another advantage is that naturopathic physicians naturally include wellness and prevention as part of their treatment planning. Rather than simply focusing on symptoms or pathology, naturopathic physicians make time to address and educate you about how to prevent diseases that you may be at risk for.

Finally, naturopathic physicians recognize the importance of a medical team approach in the practice of primary care medicine. When prescription drugs or surgery are the appropriate therapy of choice or when another health care practitioner can better serve the needs of our patients, a timely, well-directed referral will be made. This is particularly true in the case of hospital admission, since naturopathic physicians in the state of Washington do not have hospital privileges as part of their scope of practice.

Dr. Thomas is an expert in women's health care with over a decade of successful practice. She provides care for most common medical conditions that affect women, including menopause, osteoporosis, diabetes, PMS, mental health issues, migraines, endometriosis, fibroids, menstrual disorders, fibromyalgia, ovarian cysts, autoimmune disease, eating disorders, and hypothyroidism. Dr. Thomas was one of the first practitioners in the Wenatchee Valley to understand the importance of bio-identical hormones and offer them in her practice. She continues to study this complex area, updating her knowledge through ongoing reviews of the medical literature and attending various professional seminars.

Dr. Thomas also provides all of the relevant diagnostic services of a primary care provider, including blood and chemistry panels, PAP smears, bone density testing, breast exams, and hormone testing. To learn more about Dr. Thomas's approach to issues involving cancer, please see Adjunctive Natural Cancer Care.

Dr. Thomas also sees children for a variety of common childhood ailments such as colds and flu, behavioral problems, food allergies and intolerances, and developmental issues. Issues that are not handled in-house, such as specialty care and vaccinations, can be handled through the Center's extensive referral network.

It has been widely reported that women access the medical care system more consistently than men. One study noted that seven out of ten Americans who have not visited a doctor in the last five years are men. One outcome of this is that men's health care services are often less developed than services for women. At the Alpine Valley Wellness Center, men and women's issues are given equal attention and prominence. Issues that affect men, such as prostate disease, cancer, cardiovascular disease, androgen deficiency, depression, insomnia, hormonal therapy, and reproductive concerns are addressed in a professional and supportive manner.

Acupuncture is actually part of a larger system of medicine currently known as Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Just as surgery is one part of conventional medicine, so acupuncture is only one part or modality within TCM. In mainland China and Taiwan, TCM is considered an integral part of the health care system. According to Wikipedia, "Unlike other forms of traditional medicine which have largely become extinct, Traditional Chinese Medicine continues as a distinct branch of modern medical practice, and within China, it is an important part of the public health care system. In recent decades there has been an effort to integrate Traditional Chinese Medicine with scientific medicine. One important component of this work is to use the instrumentation and the methodological tools available via Western medicine to investigate observations and hypotheses made by the Chinese tradition."

Dr. Piscopo is one of a small number of clinicians in the Northwest who has been trained not only in naturopathic and Traditional Chinese Medicine, but also has extensive experience working with conventional medical hospitals. For more information on acupuncture, please visit the Acupuncture article page.

Please note that, due to ongoing concerns about adulteration of health products imported from China, we do not currently use Traditional Chinese patent medicines in our practice. We do use Chinese herbal formulas made by American companies who have met our quality control standards.

Complex medical problems often require a team of medical professionals, working together, to maximize outcomes. This is commonly the case with issues that involve cancer, surgery, mood disorders, autoimmune diseases, and several others. For patients who already have a primary care provider, specialist, or team of providers that they work with, input from a naturopathic physician can often help take a therapeutic program to the next level. Our staff is well trained in co-management and team communication in order to coordinate with your providers. Please feel free to contact us if we can be of service in this way.

Living with pain, especially chronic pain, can be a tremendous drain on the quality of your life. As supported by recent research, the inclusion of natural medicine options can provide a strikingly effective advantage in pain management. After an initial assessment to determine the nature, intensity, and impact of your pain, a pain management protocol is created to comprehensively deal with your pain issues. This can include modalities such as acupuncture, natural anti-inflammatory agents, stress management techniques, and physical medicine interventions such as electrotherapy. If appropriate, we also refer to other medical professionals in our referral network who commonly address pain issues such as neurologists, physical therapists, rheumatologists, chiropractors, and massage therapists. Ample time is also given to provide education and tailored lifestyle interventions.

Sleep is one of the three "pillars" of physical health, along with diet and movement/exercise. Problems with sleep organization, poor sleep habits, or actual sleep disorders such as insomnia or sleep apnea can be the source of significant medical issues. Dr. Piscopo has done extensive research on sleep issues and is the author of a published article on sleep apnea. He works with medical specialists in the field of pulmonology and neurology to provide comprehensive interventions that effectively address sleep issues.

For most of us, life expectancy is less of an issue than health expectancy - the number of healthy years we can expect to live where our quality of life is high. According to Lorna Layward, former research manager at the charity Research into Aging, "What we really want is our health expectancy to be as close as possible to our life expectancy, so that we live long and die quickly. In other words, we [want to] compress the time we are ill at the end of our lives."

An integrative approach to optimizing the aging process that includes natural medicine options is better positioned to address health expectancy than conventional medicine. Naturopathic physicians are well versed on areas that promote optimal aging such as nutrition, movement, and effectively addressing stress. In addition, they are experts on anti-oxidant therapies, hormone optimization including bio-identical hormone replacement, cancer and chronic disease prevention, detoxification, and lifestyle interventions.

A cancer diagnosis is as devastating as it is complex. In forming a team of medical professionals to address your medical needs, a naturopathic physician can be an important advocate and ally. Dr. Thomas devotes a significant amount of time and study to staying abreast of natural medicine interventions for cancer patients. Often times, the addition of botanical medicines, nutritional interventions, and professional-grade supplements can increase the efficacy of cancer treatment, decrease the inevitable side effects, and support optimal organ function. Dr. Thomas takes the time to listen to the requirements of each of her cancer patients and develop a specific protocol for their individual needs.