6Jan, 2016

Anxiety and Depression

Anxiety and Depression are symptoms we often shy away from talking about. We shouldn’t! There is nothing to be embarrassed about. Natural Medicine Center cares for thousands of individuals every year and many of our clients struggle with these symptoms. You are not alone. We can help.

Most people feel anxious or depressed at times. Life situations such as losing a loved one, getting fired from a job, going through a divorce, and other difficult situations can lead a person to feel sad, lonely, scared, nervous, or anxious. These feelings are normal reactions to life’s stressors.

Some people experience these feelings daily or nearly daily for no apparent reason, making it difficult to carry on with normal, everyday functioning. These people may have an anxiety disorder, depression, or both.

It is not uncommon for someone with an anxiety disorder to also suffer from depression or vice versa. Nearly one-half of those diagnosed with depression are also diagnosed with an anxiety disorder. The good news is that these disorders are both treatable, separately and together.

For some, restoring their mood is as simple as eliminating the physical pain that is frustrating the individual. This is something we specialize in this at the Natural Medicine Center of Lakeland (NMC). For others who struggle with clinical depression, anxiety or compulsive disorders, the challenge may be greater to treat. Rest assured that NMC is eager to help you overcome these challenges through:

Acupuncture
Massage
Hormone therapy
Nutrition
Professional mental health counseling
Prescription Drug counseling

Understanding the facts of anxiety and depression is a great first step.

Please contact us today and get started on the road to better health.

Add to cart

Natural Stress Relief – Xiao Yao Wan
$19.50

6Jan, 2016

Chronic Headaches

Do You Suffer from Chronic Headaches?

Tension Headaches, Sinus Headaches or Migraines

More than an occasional headache, chronic headaches often interfere with the ability to live your life and can be caused by many things. Conditions that may cause non-primary chronic daily headaches include:

Chronic Emotional, Environmental, Family or Work Related Stress
Lack of sufficient sleep
Lack of proper hydration – not drinking enough pure water
Consuming too much caffeine, sugars or alcohol
Lack of proper nutrition
Lack of physical activity
Inflammation
Infections

Many people take over the counter medications on a daily basis, others rely on migraine medications just to survive. Some are surprised to hear that there are natural approaches to treating headache issues. Our clients often experience profound improvements in their symptoms.

Thinking that it will just go away is a common mistake. The cause of chronic headaches is complex and often require a multi-approach that might include:

Homeopathic herbal remedies
Dietary supplements
Prescription and Over-the-Counter drug evaluation consultation
Thyroid Function testing and therapies
Hormone testing and therapies
Nutritional Counseling
Acupuncture
Massage Therapy

Medication overuse headache

This type of headache usually develops in people who take too much pain medication. If you’re taking pain medications — even over-the-counter analgesics (which include Acetaminophen / Tylenol) — more than two days a week (or nine days a month), you’re at risk of developing rebound headaches.

Please contact us today to learn how we can help you with your headaches.

Add to cart

Calm ES – capsules (100 Count)
$50.00
Add to cart

Cordyceps 3 – Capsules (100 Count)
$36.50
Add to cart

Magnolia Clear Sinus – Capsules (100 Count)
$25.36
Add to cart

Pueraria Clear Sinus – Capsules (100 Count)
$25.36

6Jan, 2016

Stuffy Head Sinus Allergy Allergies Homeopathic Remedy Holistic Natural Medicine Center Lakeland Central Florida

Allergies – Finding Relief

Allergies got you down?

Allergies occur when the immune system mounts an aggressive response to a harmless substance. Determining the offending substance or allergen can be very valuable, allowing you to avoid that substance as much as you are able.

Here at the Natural Medicine Center, we offer Allergy Testing.

Complete elimination isn’t always possible, like in the case of many environmental allergies, but there are allergens that can be eliminated, and if done, can greatly improve one’s life. Though there is no cure to allergies, Natural Medicine Center offers acupuncture, massage therapy, nutritional counseling and medical thermal imaging (Thermography) to help aid in the reduction of allergy symptoms.

Please contact our office today and learn how we can help you manage allergies.

6Jan, 2016

Chronic Fatigue

Do You Have Chronic Fatigue?

Tired, drained, exhausted, and depressed?

These are symptoms commonly known as chronic fatigue.
Fatigue is a sign that your body is enduring physical or emotional stress.

Typical causative factors are poor diet, emotional stress, thyroid dysfunction, medications, lack of activity, and spinal stress.

Thinking that it will just go away is a common mistake. The cause of fatigue is complex and often require a multi-approach that might include:

Homeopathic herbal remedies
Dietary supplements
Prescription drug evaluation consultation
Thyroid Function testing and therapies
Hormone testing and therapies
Nutritional Counseling
Acupuncture
Massage Therapy

Natural Medicine Center is uniquely equipped to help determine and treat your symptoms of fatigue. Please schedule an appointment with one our doctors today and we will help you get the energy back in your life!

See our article on Adrenal Fatigue – Chronic StressResponse.

Do You Want to Feel Better?

Book Appointment Now

29Dec, 2015

Homeopathic Medicine

Homeopathic Medicine – The New Medical Model

The Homeopathic Medicine Model is a departure from the “push a pharmaceutical pill” drug-based approach of contemporary Western conventional medicine. The Homeopathic Medicine approach treats the whole patient and utilizes natural herbs, plants and remedies along with lifestyle and diet / nutritional changes to enable optimal health.

Based on new discoveries, it addresses the primary causes of illness rather than treating symptoms alone. The New Medical Model also focuses on restoring the body’s own innate healing mechanisms to naturally restore immune function, detoxification capacity, and mind-body communication for enhanced mood, cognition, and well-being.

Homeopathic Medicine

Modern homeopathy, which could also be described in part as micro-dose pharmacology, can have a significantly positive impact on reprogramming the neuro-immune-endocrine axis that in large part is responsible for regulating mood, emotions, detoxification capacity, and our health in general.

Homeopathic micro doses of cytokines, hormones, and neurotransmitters, at the same concentrations as found in the cell, and specific homeopathic remedies, can be used to balance the function of the nervous, immune, and endocrine systems without the side effects associated with stronger drugs.

Homeopathy is a form of energy medicine that takes advantage of water’s capacity to store information. Our bodies are roughly seventy percent water and that water acts as a communication medium as well as a source of hydration. The information that water stores is in the form of resonant frequencies, or vibrations that serve as a form of cellular communication. While our bodies communicate with nerve signals and chemical messengers, the most efficient form of communication in the body is energetic, or frequency based. Stress, toxicity, and trauma have a way of interfering with and deregulating normal frequency based communication resulting in symptoms, loss of normal mind-body functioning, and if not addressed in a timely fashion, ultimately disease states.

With homeopathy, new frequency based information can be introduced to the body through the use of appropriate remedies. The restorative frequencies that are carried in the remedies support cellular communication in returning to normal. As balance is restored on a cellular level, symptoms generated during the imbalanced state begin the process of resolution.

Why Choose the Homeopathic Medicine Approach

100% Natural
No drug interactions
Non-habit forming
They can be taken by nearly anyone at any time, from children to adults.
Effective for Acute and Chronic Illness
High margin of safety
No side effects
Inexpensive

People are turning to natural homeopathic medicine remedies for common ailments.

According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), prescription drugs are killing more people than illicit drugs, such as heroin and cocaine. In fact, every 14 minutes a person dies from prescription drug overdose. This equates to more than 35,000 deaths (2011 data) each year and is actually more than homicides, suicides and car crashes.

Mercola.com, a natural health website, and even the London Guardian call this phenomenon “Pharmageddon” because it appears that medicines and medicine produce more ill-health than health.

In a world where most of the chronic diseases are caused by a lack of physical exercise, poor diet, toxic food ingredients and nutritional deficiencies, prevention could very well be the key to a healthy lifestyle.

Homeopathy is a 200-year-old system of healing that uses remedies made with very small amounts of natural substances from the plant, mineral, and animal kingdoms to stimulate the body’s ability to heal.

While Classical homeopathic medicine assists the individual one ingredient (remedy) at a time, combination homeopathic medicines (more than 1 ingredient) are commonly used in our increasingly polluted world for our complex health problems whether seasonal or chronic. Since there are no side effects with homeopathy, remedies can be safely combined, working together to strengthen and support organs to speed up the body’s response and recovery.

Homeopathics are based on the principle of “Like Cures Like,” and the smallest particle size that will obtain results and that will treat like challenges in the body, kind of like allergy shots. According to Dr. Hahnemann, the founding father of homeopathy, “Each individual case of disease is most surely, radically, rapidly, and permanently annihilated and removed only by a medicine capable of producing (in the human system) the most similar and complete manner of the totality of the symptoms.” In other words, the same substance that in large doses produces the symptoms of an illness, in very minute doses relieves it.**

Homeopathic medicine remedies are prepared through a process of diluting with pure water or alcohol and succussing (vigorous shaking). According to the principles of homeopathy, the more diluted it gets, the more potent it becomes. Homeopathic remedies are regulated and manufactured under strict quality controls by the United States Food and Drug Administration-FDA.

The More Dilute the Remedy, the Greater Its Potency

Most people believe that the higher the dose of a medicine, the greater the effect. But the opposite holds true in homeopathic medicine where the more a substance is diluted, the higher its potency. Dr. Hahnemann discovered this Law of Infinitesimal Dose by experimenting with higher and higher dilutions of substances to avoid toxic side effects.

More and more people are turning to homeopathic natural home remedies because they have tried orthodox (conventional/allopathic) medicine and it has either failed them completely or they have had to cope with unpleasant or even serious side effects from these drugs.

Others have felt tired and below par for a long period of time, sometimes even for many years and their symptoms often precede a more serious disorder or condition, but despite many tests it has not been possible for a diagnosis to be made for them.

Since homeopathic helps the individual as a whole, rather than just the disease, it is possible to help people successfully who feel very ill or who are in pain with unpleasant symptoms, but for whom there is no allopathic/orthodox diagnosis as yet.

Homeopathy can help prevent the onset of many serious conditions. Many factors contribute to the disorder (e.g. toxic chemicals we are exposed to in day to day life, weaknesses or predispositions/inherited diseases, as well as any number of physical and emotional stresses. All these factors may result in the body`s natural healing powers failing. The body simply runs out of the energy to heal itself. Here is where the homeopathic remedy acts as a stimulus which boosts this energy and assists in the healing process.

Herbal Pharmacy

Homeopathic Medicine utilizing herbs have been used for centuries by ancient Chinese, Greek, and Egyptian civilizations to treat disease and promote health. Records of the first herbal prescriptions in China, date back to the third century and have been regularly updated since then. Much of our modern pharmaceuticals were originally derived from herbal sources.

Chinese herbal medicines differ from Western drugs in two important ways.

The first way is the intent. Contrary to Homeopathic Medicine, many Western drugs use a single biologically active compound to treat symptoms verses the root cause. Even drugs designed to treat underlying problems rarely restore optimum functioning to the body. Traditional Chinese medicine is based on a completely different model. Because TCM endeavors to diagnose and treat the underlying imbalances that are keeping the body from its fullest expression of health, Chinese herbs are prescribed not mitigate symptoms but to treat their causes.

The second difference is the medication itself. The potency of drugs produces side effects. Herbs contain natural energetic substances whose essence gently corrects underlying deficiencies or removes obstructions. The synergy of these substances produces their potent effects. The active ingredients are buffered by the whole plant and blended with other herbs, reducing their side effects. If you look at the composition of most Western medications at the molecular level, it’s easier to understand some of the problems that can arise when we try to apply these chemical substances in the natural environment of the body.

In the West, we are very concerned about research and much research has been done on the “active” ingredients contained within a herb. This myopic technique of validating whether something is effective does not take into account the whole function of the herb or its action when blended into a prescription. Herbs, when prescribed by a knowledgeable TCM doctor are completely safe and very effective.

28Dec, 2015

Medical Evaluation Forms

Medical Evaluation forms ensure we capture your health issues and concerns so that we can appropriately discuss options to assist you to reach your optimal health. Additionally they allow us to monitor and demonstrate your progress. Prior to your appointment, we ask that you answer some questions about yourself. The questionnaires are below for your convenience. Click the links to download the appropriate form, print it out, complete it and bring it with you to your initial consultation.

Prior to your appointment, we ask that you answer some questions about yourself. The questionnaires are below for your convenience. Click the links to download the appropriate form, print it out, complete it and bring it with you to your initial consultation.

General Patient Forms

If this is your first time coming in to the clinic we will send you a link to fill out an electronic form via docusign after your appointment is scheduled. These forms are also available in our office.

If you are interested in hormone replacement therapy, you can bring any of the following records to your first visit:

Mammogram or Breast thermography report within that past year.
Pap Smear report within the past 2 years
Hormone lab testing and CBC with diff blood test report within the past 6 months.

28Dec, 2015

Our Team

Meet Our team of Professionals at Natural Medicine Center of Lakeland

Catherine Onuoha
PhD, RPh, BCPP, CPh

Professional Thermographer and consultant pharmacist Dr. Catherine Onuoha was classically trained to appreciate Western Medical techniques at the Medical College of Virginia (MCV). The PhD she earned at MCV is a dual discipline doctorate in Pharmacology and Toxicology. After receiving her PhD, Dr. Onuoha pursued pursued a research position in the field of neuroscience at the Walter Reed Army Institute for Research (WRAIR).

Once her research at WRAIR was completed, Dr. Catherine found work in academia to be rewarding. Dr. Catherine held professorial posts for more than a decade, teaching within public and private institutions. Her teaching charge was to educate fledgling professionals across many medical specialties (Pharmacists, Nurses, Doctor of Orthopedics, Anesthetists, and Physician Assistants).

Throughout her academic years, Dr. Catherine dedicated some time each week to consultations with a patient base either within hospital clinics or in outpatient settings. Patient care continues to hold priority in Dr. Catherine’s work week. She is passionate about providing her patients compassionate, need-based medical care from a functional and natural healing perspective.

Although Dr. Catherine portends professorial work is meaningful, in fact, she loved it–a wee voice of intuition began working within her during 2014. To honor and trust this intuition, she began searching clinic work environments and was resolute in her quest to devote all of her time to patient care.

In January of 2015, Dr. Catherine joined Carol Chandler D.O.M. at the Natural Medicine Center of Lakeland. The two formed an easy collaboration since they share a similar vision of homeopathic healthcare in accordance with Natural and Alternative Healthcare methods.

Carol Chandler, D.O.M. and Dr. Catherine collaboratively have continued the tradition of utilizing Thermography as a powerful discovery tool to help clients far and near our community to achieve optimal health. Dr. Catherine is professionally trained to use Thermography as a unique tool to transduce physiologic changes. Dr. Catherine secondarily completed a rigorous training regimen under Dr. Carol Chandler a Doctor of Oriental Medicine and Master Herbalist.

Since April of 2015 Dr. Catherine has assumed responsibility for running the Natural Medicine Center of Lakeland and seeing patients here at this clinic. While Dr. Catherine sees patients here at NMC and runs the day to day operations, she is assisted by her physician supervisor Doctor Justin Strittmatter who oversees medication/treatment decisions.

Dr. William Cortes, PharmD, MBA, RPh, CPh (“Will”)

Will Cortes started providing professional services at Natural Medicine Center of Lakeland, Holistic Care and Recovery in May of 2021 as a Compounding Pharmacist for IV Nutritional Therapy.

He graduated with his BS in Pharmaceutical Management from Rutgers University then earned his MBA and Doctor of Pharmacy degrees from Fairleigh Dickinson University in 2017. Will was born and raised in New Jersey and moved to Lakeland in 2017 to start his career in community pharmacy.

After working at flagship sites for two major pharmacy chains and filling hundreds of prescriptions daily while only getting to speak directly to a handful of patients every day. It was apparent to be “sick-care” not healthcare and Will became disillusioned with this traditional healthcare. This is when he turned to Dr Catherine, for direct mentorship and training in a Functional Medicine. He also began gaining clinical experience while working as a pharmacist at Central Florida Health Care in 2021 and continues to work there full time, where he sits on the Chair of the Pharmaceutics and Therapeutics Committee, Antimicrobial Stewardship Committee, and has lectured Physicians and Nurse Practitioners about safe and effective medication therapy uses for obesity and diabetes management.

Also, taking into account profit drivers for pharmaceutical companies, and first hand experience dealing with third party payers and drug manufacturers that can have detrimental effects to patients health; William chooses rather to be a true advocate for patients and focuses on enriching lives through patient care in functional medicine/pharmacy. He has dedicated his time over the past two years to over 140 hours of continuing education to earn multiple specialty certificates in Self-Care, Integrative Pharmacy, and Food to Pharmacy Connection. William is currently completing an Individualized Medicine program with the Mayo Clinic for integrating pharmacogenomics into clinical practice.

He is licensed in Florida as a Consultant Pharmacist, with advanced practice certifications in Test and Treat, Immunizations, and Collaborative Practice.

“I am looking forward to making a positive impact on patient care and building relationships that will contribute lasting outcomes.,” stated Will. “As a bilingual Consultant Pharmacist, I hope to establish a safe and trusting environment that creates patient loyalty to improve understanding of their conditions and implement a plan of action to help reduce the number of prescription drugs needed.”

William strives to provide an individualized approach to identify and assess potentially inappropriate medication use for optimization or possible discontinuation of therapy.

Will said he looks “forward to be able to continually develop myself professionally with continuing education and establish relationships with patients to help foster this growth.”

He is passionate about providing genuine care as well as setting and accomplishing goals. “Through my practice, I notice the power of providing genuine care to engage patients and realize significant outcomes,” he continues to say that “my resiliency and determination to set and accomplish goals has been my lifelong passion.”

Will enjoys riding bicycles, hiking, gardening, yoga, cooking, and traveling when able. Will loves to spend time with family, friends, pets, and holds a true desire to support human rights and equality for all.

One of his favorite quotes is, “Where there’s a Will, there’s a way!” This ties into his belief and lifelong goal to set and accomplish his goals through sheer will power.

Darla Willmore
B.A., Clinical Thermographer

Darla earned a Bachelor’s degree from Saint Xavier University and spent 7 years in Sales and Business Marketing. Darla joined the Natural Medicine Center as a Clinical Thermographer in April 2015. Darla performs most of the thermal scans done at MyLife Preventive Imaging and The Natural Medicine Center. She is also trained in natural living and herbal medicine. Darla is the Case Manager at MyLife Preventive Imaging and handles the Marketing Department at The Natural Medicine Center. Darla is currently working toward a holistic nutrition certification. She hopes to provide cutting edge and ever-growing nutritional services and advice for the company for years to come.

27Dec, 2015

Massage Therapy

Benefits of Massage Therapy

Throughout this page we’ve referenced several benefits to the specific massage therapy style. We tailor your massage session to best address your health issues and current health condition. For more benefits, don’t take our word for it, check out the information from the studies provided through the links here:

National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health studies:

What is Trigger Point Therapy?

A trigger point is a tight area within muscle tissue that causes pain in other parts of the body. A trigger point in the back, for example, may produce referral pain in the neck. The neck, now acting as a satellite trigger point, may then cause pain in the head. The pain may be sharp and intense or a dull ache.

Benefits of Trigger Point Therapy is that it is used to treat the cause of specific pain. Depending on the severity of the pain and the trigger point acuteness the duration and number of treatments. It is typical for patients to feel better after each treatment. As noted in the video it is possible to augment the professional treatments with self-treatment to assist the healing progress. The video demonstrates using a rubber ball (we find Tennis Balls to be excellent) against a sturdy wall. We have found that using the floor is another great method and allows for a wider range of trigger points to be comfortably accessed.

Trigger point massage therapy is specifically designed to alleviate the source of the pain through cycles of isolated pressure and release. In this type of massage for trigger point therapy, the recipient actively participates through deep breathing as well as identifying the exact location and intensity of the discomfort.

The results and benefits of trigger point massage are releasing constricted areas in the muscles thus alleviating pain. You can experience a significant decrease in pain after just one treatment. Receiving massage with trigger point therapy on a regular basis can help naturally manage pain and stress from chronic injuries.

What is Swedish Massage Therapy?

Massage Therapy Private Comfortable Rooms

As the best-known type of bodywork performed today, one of the primary goals of the Swedish massage technique is to relax the entire body. This is accomplished by rubbing the muscles with long gliding strokes in the direction of blood returning to the heart. Swedish massage is exceptionally beneficial for increasing the level of oxygen in the blood, decreasing muscle toxins, improving circulation and flexibility while easing tension.

A study (referenced below) conducted by the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, and published in The New York Times, found that volunteers who received a 45-minute Swedish massage experienced significant decreases in levels of the stress hormone cortisol, as well as arginine vasopressin-a hormone that can lead to increases in cortisol. Volunteers also had increases in the number of lymphocytes, white blood cells that are part of the immune system, and a boost in the immune cells that may help fight colds and the flu.

Swedish Massage Techniques

Additional Swedish massage techniques include circular pressure applied by the hands and palms, firm kneading, percussion-like tapping, bending and stretching. Before and during your Swedish massage session, communication is encouraged with your professional massage therapist so that your massage is customized to your specific needs.

What is Deep Tissue Massage Therapy?

Deep tissue massage therapy is similar to Swedish massage, but the deeper pressure is beneficial in releasing chronic muscle tension. The focus is on the deepest layers of muscle tissue, tendons and fascia (the protective layer surrounding muscles, bones and joints).

A study in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine found that people’s blood pressure fell after a single 45 to 60-minute deep tissue massage. Additionally, a 2010 meta-analysis in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry found that massage modalities like deep tissue reduce stress hormone levels and heart rate while boosting mood and relaxation by triggering the release of oxytocin and serotonin.

Please talk with your professional massage therapist to see if a deep tissue massage therapy would be beneficial for you.

Do You Want to Feel Better?

Book Appointment Now

Benefits of Sports Massage Therapy

Sports massage therapy is geared toward athletes of every kind, from world-class professionals to weekend joggers. The therapy focuses on areas of the body that are overused and stressed from repetitive and often aggressive movements of the client’s choice sport. Athletes and trainers have discovered that specially designed sports massage promotes flexibility, reduces fatigue, improves endurance, helps prevent injuries and prepares their body and mind for optimal performance.

One of the key benefits of Sports massage therapy compared to other modalities is its ability to target muscle-tendon junctions. A 2010 study in the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research found that even a 30-second massage improved hip-flexor range of motion. According to Health and Fitness Magazine, several new studies conclude that the massage encourages venous blood flow back to the heart enhances blood flow, which delivers fresh oxygen and nutrients to the tissue and promotes the removal of waste products and toxins. Thanks to the relaxed state you’re in during and after the massage, your heart rate lowers.

Benefits of Reflexology Massage

Foot Reflexology massage (Click on Image at right for a larger view) can be a deeply relaxing and therapeutic modality for those suffering from plantar fasciitis, ankle injuries or even everyday work and play. Reflexology Massage will incorporate Swedish and sports massage techniques to the foot, calf and upper leg. This will not only help relieve toe pain, ankle pain, plantar fasciitis and common forms of arthritis but can also decrease stress and anxiety in the entire body. In addition, a variety of stretches can be beneficial. With pain and sensitivity in the foot, heel and calf areas, be sure to communicate your pain levels with your massage therapist during your treatment.

Foot Reflexology for Diabetes

Diabetes restricts blood flow to the feet, which can cause problems including numbness, tingling, calluses, and foot ulcers. Many diabetics are unable to find relief from these symptoms. Reflexology can help by improving circulation and reducing the risk of neuropathy. Some patients are so relaxed during a session that that their blood sugar drops.

Benefits of Cranial Sacral Therapy

Cranial sacral therapy (also known as craniosacral therapy) is a gentle, noninvasive form of bodywork that addresses the bones of the head, spinal column and sacrum. The goal is to release compression in those areas which alleviates stress and pain.

Cranial sacral therapy seeks to restore the natural position of the bones and can decrease stress from chronic injuries as well as provide relief from migraine headaches, neck and back pain, temporomandibular joint disorder (the inflammation of the joint that connects the lower jaw to the skull) and more.

According to the National Headache Foundation, approximately 28 million Americans suffer from migraine headaches. Often, migraines are triggered or exacerbated by stress and poor sleep. In a study published in the Annals of Behavioral Medicine, researchers found that participants who received bodywork like Cranial Sacral Therapy had better quality sleep and fewer migraines than participants who didn’t. Effects even lasted up to three weeks after therapy ended.

What is Hot Stone Massage Therapy?

Hot stone massage therapy melts away tension, eases muscle stiffness and increases circulation and metabolism. Each 1 ½ -hour hot stone massage therapy session promotes deeper muscle relaxation through the placement of smooth, water-heated stones at key points on the body.

Everyone who has had a sore muscle has likely been told to “use a heating pad” to sooth the muscles and increase blood flow to flush the muscles with fresh blood bringing needed oxygen. The hot stones work on the same premise with a more localized approach incorporating the gentle massage to access deeper muscle layers and release trigger points. The hot stones have a sedative effect that can reduce chronic pain and stress as well as promote deep relaxation.

Benefits of Geriatric Massage Therapy

Geriatric massage therapy is designed to address the specific needs of the elderly population. This type of massage for the elderly uses gentle and light application of massage techniques and a light oil or lotion to permit the muscles to be worked on without causing excessive friction to the skin. These techniques can help increase joint mobility, improve posture, combat depression, improve blood circulation; balance and flexibility, and reduce the pain of arthritis.

Geriatric massage can be especially helpful for maintaining and improving overall health as we age. It also has been shown to relieve anxiety and provide comfort, especially to touch-deprived elderly clients.

27Dec, 2015

Thermography

Medical Thermography can Image the whole body.

What is Thermography?

Thermography is a very important and unique Health Discovery Technology. It provides thousands of patients with peace of mind when they are confused about new or unusually concerning health symptoms. Thermography is backed by an ever-growing body of research studies demonstrating its effectiveness and benefits.

Infrared Thermography detects thermal abnormalities and inflammation which is often the first sign of a developing disease and is a safe and painless procedure as no radiation is used in the imaging process. Thermography Test can also assist in the discovery of the state of health in general.

It has also been effective in visualizing the following: (not an exhaustive listing)

Metastatic abnormalities, Deep Tissue Lesions or Cysts
Thyroid Gland Function
Sinus Issues
Headaches (e.g. vascular, sinus, allergy)
Dental Issues (e.g. gingivitis, failed root canals)
Stroke
Breast Health Monitoring (e.g. tumors, cysts, lymphatic congestion)
Back & Spinal Issues
Diabetes
Inflammation
Nerve Function Issues
Faults in Blood Circulation (e.g. phlebitis)
Allergic conditions (food or environmental)
Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy
Urology Disorders
GI Tract / Digestion Disorders
Endocrine Gland Disorders
Liver Disorders
Autoimmune Disorders (M.S., Fibromyalgia, Vasculitis)
and much more

It can also be used to monitor the progress of treatments. By having a clear picture of the body before and after a treatment patients can utilize thermography to determine how effective a specific treatment has been.

Breast Thermography Reviews

Why use Thermography?

It has been determined through extensive clinical studies over the past two decades that inflammation is not just a result of sickness, but the actual CAUSE of serious, life-threatening diseases like heart diseases, metastatic abnormalities, and diabetes. Inflammation, most often caused initially by the biochemical results of stress, creates an environment that allows these kinds of diseases to establish and flourish. This condition is silent but not invisible. With a medical infrared camera and experienced thermographer much can be found safely and non-invasively. Knowledge offers the power to take control of your future health and the length and quality of your life.

Besides, it’s painless and affordable!

The Best Breast Test: The Promise of Thermography – Huffington Post

The most promising aspect of thermography is its ability to spot anomalies years before alternate screening techniques. Using the same data from the 10-year study, researchers H. Spitalier and D. Giruaud determined that thermography alone was the first alarm in 60 percent of the cases of women who were eventually diagnosed with serious breast disease.

Suzanne Shaw Interview on Breast Thermography

Dr. Saputo on Breast Thermography

How Thermographic Preventive Imaging approach can help you:

Once we can determine the state of your health at an exact moment through our high-resolution 3D imaging technique, we can guide you to take control by practicing a lifestyle that limits or even eliminates the risks caused by inflammation and stress.

Professional Medical Thermography Imaging Setting Patient Privacy Screens Compassionate Holistic Healthcare Natural Medicine Center Lakeland Central Florida

Professional medical thermography imaging setting equipped with patient privacy screens

We can help you reduce stress. Though we can’t control what happens to us during our lives, how we respond to what happens is the key to controlling stress and disease.

We can guide you to detoxify your body and how to control inflammation with food choices and so much more. Through this process, we can easily monitor your improvement!

Thermography is a Discovery Technology (DT) and the thermography professionals here at the Natural Medicine Center use this tool to advocate healing one’s body naturally. Our aim is to set or guide integrated body functions to an original (native) functional state. Our goal when imaging and interpreting results is to find the root cause of any bodily abnormalities and not to only treat the present symptoms.

The thermographic discovery approach is painless, affordable, non-invasive, and radiation-free.

Our knowledgeable team is well versed in the field of functional medicine. We do not endorse sequel additions of drug therapy after drug therapy. Our practitioners are advocates of preventive style medicine and natural healing. We also would work with your primary doctor when necessary or per client request.

What is Thermography?

Digital Infrared Thermal Imaging is a unique technology that takes a picture and creates a map of the infrared patterns of the body. It is different than other screening tools because it helps us to see function (physiology). MRI, X-ray, and other classical breast imaging techniques are different in that they pin point anatomical rather than functional changes. This means that differences in function are made clear by thermography because blood and lymph channels can be subtly changed during disease ontogenesis. A vital goal for integrative medicine practitioners is to observe functioning blood shifts (i.e. assess circulation in real-time). A second initiative, besides the desire to see circulatory shifts, is to view lymphatic shifts. Circulatory channels and blood flow rates are important. Many Americans do not recognize that the growth and development of blood vessels is important because the pathophysiology a number of serious illness involves neo-vascularization (also called angiogenisis). Lymph flow patterns are also important and many Americans do not recognize that lymphatic drainage leads directly to immune function. By tracking blood and lymph flow thermography has been shown to be effective in finding early signs of disease formation years before any noticeable symptoms begin to appear.

What Can Thermography Be Used For?

There are 3 areas that Thermography is useful:

Inflammatory Phenomena- This could include early detection of cardiovascular disease, arthritis, Fibromyalgia or trauma such as strains, sprains or chronic pain.
Neovascular Phenomena – Many disease are fed by the body’s own blood supply. This development of early vascularity is detected well before anatomical changes occur that will be detected with other screening tools.
Neurological Phenomena – Chronic regional pain syndrome, nerve irritation can cause referred pain in other areas. Circulatory deficits are easily seen in thermographic images.

Is It a Proven Technology?

Thermography has been comprehensively researched for over 30 years. While it is not a replacement for traditional imaging techniques, it may have many valuable assets including:

earlier detection of neovascular (blood supply) patterns
adjunct to inconclusive mammograms
improved detection for women with dense breasts or implants
An alternative for women who do not want to expose themselves to radiation

Fast facts:

In 1982, the FDA approved breast thermography as an adjunct diagnostic breast screening procedure.
Of the extensive research conducted since the late 1950’s, well over 300,000 women have been included as study participants.
The size of the studies are very large: 10k, 37k, 60k, 85k
Some studies have followed participants up to 12 years.
Strict standardized interpretation protocols have been established for 15 years to remedy problems with early research.
Breast thermography has an average sensitivity and specificity of 90%which means our screening sessions succeed in identifying breast tumors in 9 out 10 afflicted women [1].
A thermal Imaging that comes back from our trained medical doctors as suspicious (termed an abnormal thermogram) is 10 times more significant as a future risk indicator for breast disease than a first order family history.
A persistently abnormal thermogram carries with it a 22x higher risk of future breast disease.

Why Have I Not Heard About This?

Like many alternative diagnostic tools or treatments, the facts are not always disclosed. Thermography was summarily dropped from breast screening in the 1980’s after only 1 year of use. The reason Thermography was dropped was that it was said to have ‘too many false positives’ and therefore was not specific enough. We point to studies revealing, impressively, a 97% sensitivity with thermography to discern breast lesions [2] . In contrast to thermography’s 97% capture sensitivity, a meta-analysis rated mammographic screening accuracy to be only 69%; and the meta-analytic study compiled screening outcomes from three consecutive decades [3] . Authors for the meta-analysis concluded mammography is a poor predictive tool . In summary, we find that many conventional doctors are misinformed about thermography. Sadly, ninety percent of conventional doctors know nothing of the digital infrared thermal technology and the other 10% seem to quote research from 22 years ago from a few small studies and ignore the plethora of positive research—let this good news travel fast!

Is it accurate?

Yes, as a routine screening tool, it has been shown to be 97% effective at detecting benign vs malignant breast abnormalities. (for more specific results on Thermographies proven accuracy please refer to our collection of research here).

Is It Safe?

While a variety of studies have called into question the safety of cumulative exposures to radiation, this is not the case with Thermography. Thermography uses no radiation and is 100% non invasive. This all makes Thermography great for frequent screening with no chance of danger.

Who Reads the Images?

The images are sent via a secured server to Physicians Insight Clinical Interpretation where a professional group of physicians who are trained in the protocols of reading Thermal images interpret the images. A very formal interpretation is made and sent to us where we will review the results and make suggestions or referrals if necessary. You are given a copy of the report and frequently we send copies of the reports to physicians for their records.

What If I get Abnormal Results? What Do I Do?

Thermography is not diagnostic but gives early risk factors. This is great news because an abnormal result from a thermogram is usually so early that it often buys time so that natural interventions such as herbs, supplements and lifestyle changes can influence the outcome. At the least, the condition can be closely monitored safely until conventional interventions need to be applied. It is important to recognize that early detection is the key to a good outcome. We will make recommendations or referrals as necessary.

Do You Want to Feel Better?

Book Appointment Now

Why Choose Us

The Natural Medicine Center of Lakeland with it’s MyLife Imaging professionals certified by the industry standard setting iScanHD Medical Imaging Center. The mission of iScanHD Centers is to create a standard of excellence; utilizing thermography as a significant screening tool for preventative healthcare.
Our thermograms are interpreted by Physicians Insight MD’s, a network of Board Certified Medical Doctors who specialize in infrared imaging analysis.

Physicians Insight Medical Doctors Interpretations of Medical Thermographic Images for Natural Medicine Center Lakeland Central Florida Thermography detects sensitive and minute dynamic temperature changes of the skin. The skin functions as the communication hub for complex inter-connectivity of the body’s systems. Through infrared technology, (Thermography) the real-time story of the body can be revealed making Thermography ideal for preventive medicine. Early detection and the opportunity for timely investigation and intervention are key advantages for both patient and physician.

The standards we uphold:

Certified clinical thermographers trained to scan using strict protocol developed for best patient compliance and results.
Certified Active Member
The scan interpretations by only board-certified medical doctors who are trained and certified in thermography imaging
Most current technology with the newest camera available with he highest medical grade HD resolution camera
The most innovative analytic software

What does this mean for you?

The ability to detect problems early on is a tremendous advantage that is gained through technological advances in the medical field. The best possible preventative healthcare screenings of full body or regions of interest scans without radiation, no pain, noninvasive, and in total privacy. This is the standard we believe in for the preventative state of healthcare.

When selecting a medical thermography service, it is important to look for five criterias:

Camera – Hardware to capture the thermal image.
Software – Image analysis
Protocols and techniques – Follow strict standards for thermal image evaluation
Technicians – Training and certification qualifications
Interpretations of Images – From a MD board certified and trained in Thermology.

What Others Say

My appointment at Natural Medicine Center last week was wonderful. Winslow did a great job! My appointment was at the end of the day, so we had time to chat after my appointment. I found her to be very down to earth and very helpful. Mr. Ken was also great, and we had a great time just sharing things from our backgrounds. I would definitely recommend this team. I had not had an appointment since Dr. Onuoha took over and was a little apprehensive but was very satisfied with my appointment.

Nancy W. – Lakeland, Florida

Why am I opting out of mammograms and doing this [Thermography] breast cancer screening instead?

Breast cancer is over diagnosed and over treated. And yet paradoxically mammograms too often fail to detect cancers that kill. It's time for a radical shift

PLEASE, ladies, consider adding Breast Thermography to your screening.

It has changed my life.

Laura G. – Lakeland, Florida

I was grateful to finally have a thermography session. It was simple and easy. I was happy to learn about my breast health without having to radiate to determine. It was also useful to learn other things about my health that I now have the opportunity to address before they become more serious. I could learn about this worthwhile and safe diagnostic opportunity in Lakeland, Florida, which I would highly recommend to everyone.

Joy Pederson – Lakeland, Florida

"My imaging experience was simple, non-invasive and painless! I was back to my regular routine in less than an hour!"

Elisa S., Lakeland, Florida

"I was impressed with how ON TIME my appointment was. I'm used to waiting over an hour for medical tests. MyLife Preventive Imaging is different. The atmosphere is lovely, the people are great to work with and I had my results in about a week!"

Yvonne M., Winter Haven FL

27Dec, 2015

Shop

Shop for Natural Dietary Supplements, Homeopathic Supplements , Chinese Herbal Medicine, Vitamins & Minerals for Men, Women and Children.

We have a wide array of medicines that can help with Bone & Joint health, Cancer, Depression & Anxiety, Detox, Digestive Health, Energy & Fitness, Heart Health, Hormone Balancing, Immunity, Pain Remedies, Personal Care, Mind, Stress Management, Sinus & Allergy.

1 2 3