Deborah Epstein, ND

I went to Deb Epstein because everything I ate bothered me. She diagnosed me with leaky gut. Over the next 20 months or so, I spent somewhere between $5,000 and $7,000. I improved somewhat, but never did the reactions to everything I ate cease, or even come close to it. She never suggested retesting me, or that perhaps there was something else.

Additionally, every time I complained about something (depression, headaches, insomnia) she would sell me supplements for that as well. At one time, I was taking 40 supplements a day for 6 different things and not getting better. Every visit was $400-$500 and I'd leave with a grocery bag full of supplements. I finally literally couldn't choke down all those supplements, or the money she was perfectly happy to have me keep spending, or the fact that I really wasn't getting better after going on two years.

I recall one time when I started talking about personal issues, and then suggested I talk about my medical issues, but she said it was interesting and she wanted to hear it. She still charged me her regular rate, $210 an hour, double the cost of a real therapist.

I had a different ND suggest I might have acid reflux, so I went to a GI and got an endoscopy. Turns out I have ulcers, which I'm now healing with advice I found on the internet.

***update in response to Dr. Deb's 3/25/16 response to my review***

I have yet to receive a message from you, and this review is not remotely fraudulent.

I saw you from January 2013 through August 2014, and you did indeed charge me thousands and thousands of dollars at $210 per hour for your time and bags and bags fulll of supplements. At one point you were treating me for leaky gut, high cortisol, headaches, insomnia, depression and anxiety. BTW, I also turned out to have incredibly low iron levels which were a major source of my headaches.

If it makes you feel any better, half a dozen other ND's fell down on the job as well, treating me for candida and food allergies and telling me I'd get better if I ate warm, cooked foods and did acupuncture.

I can't see addressing this with you directly, as I would never again let you treat me, the clincher being you simply never sat down with me and said something like "Wow, we've been treating you for an awfully long time, and you should be a lot better by now. Let's explore why you're not." (I also had a parasite, d. fragilis, something else you never checked me for.)

Bottom line for other prospective patients: see for yourself, maybe you'll have a better experience, but if you're not improving, then move on.

I have been seeing Dr. Epstein for seven years. She has helped me with fertility, diet, mood, and immune support over the yrs.
It is so nice to work with a doctor who knows me, knows my family, who I can ask all kinds of questions (without extra charges!) and meet with for a half hr, forty-five minutes, or a full hour depending on what I need.
Working with a naturopath has totally changed the way I think about diet and nutrition, health and illness. Now when I have a problem, rather than than taking a drug, as is so often the answer elsewhere, Dr Epstein helps me get to the source of what is going on using natural remedies and supports. I highly recommend her if you have health issues you'd like to investigate and heal.

I have been seeing Dr Epstein for over a year after a diagnosis of celiac. She immediately put me on the right diet which made a huge difference. I'm still in the midst of healing, but feel 100 times better. She has been very flexible with scheduling and working with my budget. I recommend her often to family and friends.

Dr. Deb is the bomb. I've been to see a couple naturopaths over the years, and she's far and away the best. I've had a number of annoying complaints (fatigue, skin itchiness, anxiety, etc.) since forever, and I just love her attitude, knowledge, and ability to help me with feeling better on some issues right away, and taking care of a bunch of medium- to long-term issues in the meantime. She's no-nonsense and I feel like I get a ton of info for the money, not to mention real caring and guidance in all areas of my life. Go see her!I

I went to see Dr. Deb just over a year ago because I was struggling to heal from lifelong food sensitivities, leaky gut, and a number of other symptoms as a result. I literally could not eat anything without having a "reaction" of one kind or another. I had been to holistic doctors, dietitians, a Chinese medicine doctor, an Ayurvedic doctor, an accupuncturist, other naturpaths and to several MDs who put me on drugs that made my symptoms worse. Although some symptoms lessened, no one was able to figure out the core issue until I met Dr. Deb. I was exhausted by getting my hopes up each time I went to a new doctor only to be disappointed when treatment was not successful. I shared my whole health history with Dr. Deb and told her I could not/would not do another elimination diet. It's time consuming, inconvenient and difficult if you eat out because there's no way to know exactly what's in your food. I was willing to participate in my own healing; however, the approach needed to be managable as I work long hours and don't always have time to prepare my own food. She understood and gave me other options. I chose the one that I felt I could manage and I began following the Specific Carbohydrate (SCD) Diet . Dr. Deb was right! My body struggles to digest sugars and starches. She suspected that from day one. She is very knowledgable in this area. More than I've ever seen before. When I stay away from sugars and starches, my body is normal and symptom free. I never thought that could happen. I appreciate that Dr. Deb is flexible and always provides me with options. She doesn't have an agenda. She's focused on what I want to accomplish in each appointment and checks in with me to ensure treatment options are working. She listens and really looks at my whole health and well being. She is resourceful and has provided me with great referrals when I needed treatment that was out of her scope of practice. I still see Dr. Deb for secondary issues, i.e., changing hormones and general health maintenance. She truly is the best!

Dr. Deb helped me heal my gut while suffering ulcerative colitis, headaches, and low motility. Her knowledge and personalized feedback was critical to my recovery, and she was always extremely understanding about my treatment preferences and budget. I can't believe how different my quality of life is a year after I started seeing her. Thank you, Dr Deb!!

I originally came to Deb last year with chronic pain & discomfort associated with digestion problems-- I was at my wits end after already consulting 3 other naturopaths and not seeing any improvement in my condition. Deb really took the time to understand me, my health challenges, and how they were impacting the quality of my life. Unlike other doctors & naturopaths I had seen, she really listened to me & took the time to understand what I had already tried, treating me like a partner in the process. Since I began seeing Deb, I have seen marked improvements in my health. If you are looking for support with digestive problems, there is no better naturopathic doctor in Seattle, in my opinion. Deb is incredibly knowledgeable and is committed to help you change your life & find some relief!

Deborah is simply fantastic. Her understanding of the systems of the body, their interrelation and well being is nothing short of voluminous, and she has the listening and diagnostic skills needed to put that knowledge into practice. Highly recommended!

I don't remember how I found out about Dr. Epstein, but I know that I was exasperated and at the end of my rope with my IBS issues. I had been to countless M.D.'s and the result was always the same, prescription medication that DIDN'T work. I made an appointment with her hoping that at least, I'd have some sort of minor improvement. After the first visit, I felt so at ease and so confident with her knowledge and ability as a practitioner - I even remember her telling me that in a year's time, she was sure I'd be back to "normal", and that she sees patients like me heal all the time! It's been almost two years (wow!) and I continue to see her regularly. Not only has she helped me with my IBS (which is completely gone and I AM back to "normal!), but she has helped with my adult acne, irregular menstrual cycles, energy levels and overall mental stability and well-being. I can't sing her praises high enough. Love her!