1. Consulting for the Herbal & Nutritional Industry

Michael Ford, M.S., has been providing research as well as designing and developing products for the herbal and nutritional industry for over 13 years. Years of experience and natural product research go into our product development in a cost effective yet very detailed manner. Customer confidentiality is assured.

2. Consulting to Physicians, Pharmacists, Herbalists, Healthcare Professionals & Legal Profession

Apollo Herbs, Inc. provides consulting services to physicians, pharmacists, herbalists, and other healthcare professionals interested in utilizing herbal therapies with their patients. Practitioners can be billed in as little as 30 minute increments and services include clinical consultations for discussing specific patients, reviewing existing patient protocols, reviewing herbs and other medications for possible herb/drug interactions, as well as consultations to the legal profession as an expert witness in cases regarding herbal medicine, ie. plant-drug analysis and positive identification, quantification, pharmacology, etc.
Michael Ford, M.S., through Apollo Herbal Educational Programs, is also available for lectures, workshops, and practitioner trainings. He is a well respected educator, speaking at symposia, medical & pharmacy schools, universities, and for professional organizations (hospitals, continuing education pharmacy & nursing seminars, etc.) and is comfortable speaking on a wide range of topics. Selected presentations have included:
Brown University Medical School, Providence, RI
University of Rhode Island College of Pharmacy, Kingston, RI
Morton Hospital, Taunton, MA
Hands of Light Herbal School, Fitchburg, MA
Please contact us at MichaelFord@apolloherbs.com for rate information on any of the above services.
 

3. Herbal Consulting to Individual Clients

The initial visit will review your medical history, lifestyle, age, hobbies, allergies, current medications (prescription, over-the-counter, and herbal), family medical history, and so on in order to get to know you. All of this information is confidential. We do NOT provide diagnostic tests and are NOT legally allowed to prescribe or treat any medical conditions. Consultations are for educational purposes, enabling the client to make informed, sound decisions regarding his/her own health. Recommendations are professional opinions, but each client is responsible for making their own choices and must be willing to be responsible for the consequences of the choices they make about their own health and medical situations. Each client will be required to sign a liability waiver, which states that it is understood that the consultation is for educational purposes and that the client, alone, is responsible for any consequences that may ensue from the information or recommendations obtained there within. Recommendations may consist of herbs, nutritional and dietary changes, exercise and stress management, advice on supplements, warnings about herb and drug interactions, even bits of research on your problem from our medical library. Sometimes, you may be referred to an allopathic doctor for orthodox therapy if it seems appropriate, or another form of alternative therapy. We recognize that each system of therapy has its limitations as well as its benefits and encourage a complementary, integrative medicine approach. We do not make outrageous claims or promises and do not attempt to cure any serious, life-threatening or incurable disease states.

If it’s maintenance of good health that you are inquiring about, we will be taking the same case history from you that we would if you were experiencing difficulties. Again, this is in order to know you and your situation in order to best serve your interests. After the initial information exchange, you will receive suggestions that you can practically and affordably put to use.

Office and telephone consultations are available by appointment only. Office consultations can be billed in 30-, 60- or 90-minute increments.

Contact: Michael Ford, M.S. e-mail: MichaelFord@apolloherbs.com phone (401) 595-8722

Rates for Office Consultations:
$45.00 for 30-minute Consultation
$75.00 for 60 minute Consultation
$100.00 for 90-minute Consultation

Cancellations must be made within 24 hours of appointment to avoid $25 cancellation fee.

Rates for Telephone Consultations
$35.00 per half hour.

A half hour minimum is required for all telephone consultations, no exceptions. Credit card information must be provided prior to each telephone consultation . This can be done on-line at www.apolloherbs.com by choosing the item, “1/2 hour telephone consultation” from our webstore.

Code of Ethics (adopted from The American Herbalists Guild)

Informed Consent/Full Disclosure. I shall provide clients and potential clients with informed consent/full disclosure information outlining scope of practice, services rendered, experience, training, client expectations, practitioners expectation, payment structure, etc.

Confidentiality. Personal information gathered in the herbalist/client relationship will be held in strict confidence by the AHG member unless specifically allowed by the client.

Feedback Forum. A Feedback Forum has been created at www.apolloherbs.com where you can leave feedback about your consultations, share testimonials and read other clients’ feedback.

Peer Review. I welcome a peer review of my publications, lectures, and/or clinical protocols. Peer review is a primary means of enhancing our level of knowledge and expertise and should be encouraged. Peer Review is available through the Apollo Herbs Feedback Forum at www.apolloherbs.com

Referring Out. I shall recognize my own limitations when I feel a condition is beyond my scope of expertise and practice as an herbalist, or when it is clear that a client is not responding positively to therapy.
Avoiding Needless Therapy. Recommendations shall be based solely on the specific needs of the client, avoiding excessive or potentially needless supplementation.

Sexual Harassment. I shall not use my position as teacher or consultant to seek sexual encounters with students or clients.

Michael S. Ford, M.S.
Botanist/Natural Product Chemist