Philosophy

“We resolve health problems people are having, without using synthetic chemicals,” says Powell, “and we don’t do major surgery. Other than that, we are general practitioners, with concern for the entire family. We are licensed by the state to diagnose and treat patients, using the same tools and tests used by M.D.s. We refer patients to other physicians when there is a condition beyond our scope or that requires a synthetic drug.”

Patients come from two groups, says Fleming: “people who are looking for an option to traditional medicine because they feel they are not getting the help they need, and those who are naturally inclined and want no toxins induced or ingested into their bodies. As you can imagine, we do a lot of patient education.”

The education starts with an explanation of naturopathic medicine by Fleming.

It stems from the words “nature cure,” she says, a popular movement in Germany around the end of the 18th century that incorporated the idea of living a healthy lifestyle through diet and nutrition, and used herbs, health spas and hydrotherapies to achieve its goals. About the same time, a German physician developed homeopathy, a specific modality that uses herbs, minerals, salts and minute amounts of some animal products such as hormones or bee venom, which are made into “natural” remedies. Both modalities together make up naturopathic medicine.

“What’s neat is that we offer an eclectic service,” says Powell. That includes acupuncture, ultrasound, manipulation of the spine, herbal, dietary supplement and nutrition information, hypnosis, biofeedback, homeopathy, hypnotherapy – Powell is an experienced hypnotherapist – or frequency-specific microcurrent, a state-of-the-art treatment for nerve and muscle pain, one of Fleming’s specialties. Both Fleming and Powell are experts in the proper use of herbs, give support treatment to cancer patients, work with food sensitivities and allergies, and do full physical and gynecological examinations.

The physicians see a full rage of maladies in the course of a day. “One of the biggest differences people find with our practice is that we take half an hour or more with each patient,” Powell says. “In traditional medicine, doctors today spend an average of six and a half minutes with each patient. Taking the time to observe and listen to patients makes a huge difference in the quality of care.”