the book, Why Do I Still Have Thyroid Symptoms? When My Lab Tests Are Normal: A Revolutionary Breakthrough in Understanding Hashimoto’s Disease and Hypothyroidism, by Dr. Datis Kharrazian. Using functional blood chemistry tests that identify six pat- terns of low thyroid function, Gilliland applies Kharrazian’s clinical approach, considered outside the traditional model, to assess and support patients with thyroid disorders. Deborah Post, a


board-certified advanced nurse practitioner and owner of Wellbridges, Inc., also practices func- tional medicine. Post’s 25 years as a nurse practitio- ner in primary care medi-


Deborah Post


cine and psychiatry and 10 years as an ICU nurse in several Boston hospitals led her to focus on physiology, rather than a disease or syndrome. “Working within an integrative medical approach and using a variety of complementary techniques, including medicinal her- bology and nutritional and health edu- cation, my clients and I work together to achieve maximal individual learning and approaches to health,” says Post, who believes that her patients should be educated.


“I recommend several books: 7-Day Detox Miracle, by Peter Bennett, Sara Faye and Stephen Barrie; Testos- terone for Life, by Abraham Morgen- taler; and What You Must Know About Women’s Hormones, by Pam Smith. I also recommend websites, such as Mercola.com, EWG.org (Environmental Working Group) and ConsumerLab. com, where clients can quickly get a good education from credible sources.” Post also lectures at Hodges University, Food & Thought and The Ritz-Carlton Spa, Naples, which has created spa development classes that reveal secrets to a longer, healthier life.


Emphasizing Ongoing Education Integrative health care providers agree that continued education is a necessary component for both patient and practi- tioner. John Patton, an acupuncturist, licensed


John Patton 38 Collier/Lee Counties


mental health counselor and owner of the Healing Arts Center, spent many hours researching formulas for his private label supplement line. “I started thinking about it 10 years ago, because I found such inconsistencies in the over-the-counter commercial formu- las my patients were taking. I needed a true, therapeutic-grade supplement that could help me get the results my patients expected. I rely on a blood chemistry analysis to assess what is go- ing on in a patient’s body and to deter- mine nutritional deficiencies, which we balance with supplements and diet,” explains Patton, who shares his office three days a week with Phyllis Weber, also an acupuncturist, who receives referrals from several area chiropractors and neurologists.


Weber, who owns Gulf Coast Acupuncture, with offices in Naples and Fort Myers, suggests that her patients visit a doc- tor when she thinks it’s necessary. Occasionally, a patient comes back to say


who says many of his patients are referred by physicians. “Many also do their own research,” adds Lovett, who believes in treating patients, rather than just the teeth in their mouth. Taking a whole-


William Lovett


Phyllis Weber


that the doctor won’t work with them if they use the services of an acupunctur- ist. “I can’t call the doctor to discuss the patient unless the patient signs the HIPPA authorization form and gives written consent,” says Weber, who notes that she has worked with patients receiv- ing care at the Whittaker Wellness Insti- tute Medical Clinic, in Newport Beach, California. “It’s the largest alternative medicine clinic I know of, where 19 of the most widely recognized comple- mentary therapies are offered under one roof,” she advises.


Another board-certified holistic health practitioner that relies on blood chemistry tests to personalize treatment and wellness programs is Germain Tarquino, one of the experts at the St. Paul’s Holistic Institute, based in Bo- nita Springs. At the institute, Tarquino works closely with a board-certified integrated/alternative medicine and naturopathic physician, as well as a doctor of chiropractic. If patients show high levels of mercury toxicity, he refers them out to biological dentists that can safely remove their mercury fillings. Mercury-free dental services are a specialty of William Lovett, D.D.S.,


swfl.naturalawakeningsmag.com


health approach to restorative dentistry, he takes time with each patient to learn about their lifestyle and health concerns and educate them about the connection between their mouth and overall health. “The more my patients know, the more likely they are to prac- tice preventive measures that reduce bacteria levels in their mouth, which is directly tied to the likelihood of heart attacks and strokes,” he notes. From Lovett’s perspective, mer- cury-free restorations should be an integral part of aligning oral health with whole-body wellness. “It has been known since the1960s that mercury was dangerous in an aquatic envi- ronment with sediment, and that’s a perfect description of the mouth,” says Lovett, who suggests that patients have their mercury fillings removed prior to seeing a chelation doctor, such as Gary Gallo, medical doctor at the Chelation Center of Naples.


“Mercury attacks the nervous system, kidneys and heart,” says Gallo. “The presence of heavy metals in the body also helps free radicals to form. This can lead to the build-up of plaque in the


Gary Gallo


arteries, as well as irregularities in heart rhythm, arthritis-like joint pain, chronic fatigue, motor dysfunction and the decline of mental acuity.”


Shifting to Preventive Strategies Other preventive health measures, such as in- travenous and injection vitamin therapies, became accessible beyond a doctor’s office in South- west Florida when Dr. Brent Agin opened the Naples’ Trim Wellness Café in 2010. A physician that specializes in wellness and anti-aging medicine, Agin au- thored Healthy Aging for Dummies and


Brent Agin


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