Balanced care

In the first part of this two part series focused on a conventional medical doctor who incorporates complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) into her practice.

The second part will look at other options of CAM available in Hernando County. They can range from naturopathic options, including herb and vitamin shops, exercise clubs, dental practices, spas, eye, ear, to other osteopathic doctors who incorporate anti-aging and other CAM therapies into their practices.

Chiropractors often partner with conventional medical doctors, herbal remedy providers, and other naturopathic specialists.

All employ a holistic approach, working with patients toward the goal of balanced care for the body, mind and spirit.

Dr. Timothy Terlep would certainly agree as his practice Terlep Chiropractic is truly integrated.

Terlep utilizes cutting edge technology in concert with naturopathic therapies to help patients not only heal from a particular physical pain, but to achieve overall wellness.

The practice also employs board certified physicians, along with physical and massage therapists. Terlep said their MDs are on the same page, trying to keep people out of the hospitals.

"People's lifestyles aren't perfect," Terlep said, "there are times you need a medical doctor."

Terlep's "whole person" approach looks for the underlying causes of a disturbance or disruption. He helps patients make lifestyle adjustments to optimize conditions for normal function.

"We're moving the body toward facilitating what it's doing anyway: healing," he added. "My job is to remove the obstacles or interferences to the body's normal expression of healing."

Terlep enjoys explaining the concept of salutogenesis, the body's movement toward health despite stressors.

He asks, "Do we know how to heal a cut, mend blood vessels, form a baby in the womb, or convert food we eat into brain cells? No. Our body knows how to do that automatically. It's moving towards health. We help the body do what it's doing anyway."

For Terlep, adaptation is the one-word definition of health.

"Through the nervous system, the body adapts neurologically to the stressors of daily life," he explained. "Health is the body's ability to adapt to both its external and internal environments in a positive manner. We do this through our master control system, our spine. It's the junction box between the brain and body."

Terlep's practice makes recommendations for nutritional supplements, has in-house products and will also send patients out for other products as needed, as well as referring them to surgeons within the community when necessary.

"Some people do have more of an allopathic mentality," Terlep concluded. "They think, 'If I'm not sick, I must be well.' That's what the heart attack victim said ten minutes before lying on the floor. Do you want to be not sick, or truly well? Me, I opt for well. I'll be going at it until I take my last breath."

Terlep Chiropractic is located at 8468 Northcliffe Blvd. in Spring Hill for additional information, call 352-666-2222 or visit www.drterlep.com.

Yoga is a spiritual and ascetic discipline widely practiced for thousands of years, for health and relaxation. Qigong is a Chinese system of physical exercises and breathing control related to Tai Chi.

Jaya (Diana) Reed and Padmani (Kathy) Kowalski are the lightkeepers (owners) of Spring Hill's Gaya Jyoti: House of Light, dedicated solely to the practice of yoga. When they opened this past March, Pundit Ram Ramrattan was there to perform a Puja (blessing) at the studio.

Kowalski offered this definition: "Yoga is both an ancient and modern path to physical health and spiritual and emotional balance. Through its methods of breath control, meditation and postures, a student transforms trapped or 'stuck' energies into a free flowing river of peace, wellness and ideal health."

Reed added that yoga reduces stress, eases arthritic pain, strengthens bone and muscle, aids weight loss and helps those recovering from surgery or injury. She described the practices employed at their studio:

Ashtanga is a powerful practice that strengthens and promotes flexibility, great for weight loss or strength building. Hot Yoga detoxifies and strengthens through breathing exercises that build internal heat and it promotes weight loss through postures that squeeze and mold the body.

Vinyasa is revitalizing. It uses deep lengthening that extends into all the joints, improving range of motion. Hatha or Integral Yoga is great for those recovering from injury or surgery. It uses slow concentrated movement, elongating the body and building strength through holding and breathing in poses. Chair Yoga is designed for older adults. The chair is used for support and balance.

Deep breathing in yoga increases lung capacity, while great focus and concentration aids in mental toughness. Students leave with a centered mind.

Students at Gaya Jyoti range in age from 18-90. Yoga is available to everyone in any condition, at any size or fitness level. Students typically practice two to four times per week. The studio also has workshops, drum circles, meditation classes and other special events.

Gaya Jyoti is located at 2129 Mariner Boulevard in Spring Hill. They can be reached at 352-610-1083 or visit www.gayajyotiyoga.com.

There are many places to purchase vitamins and nutritional supplements, either in person or online. But knowing what to buy can be extremely confusing. Spring Hill's Rainforest Remedies is run by David and Ana Philipsen. Ana is a Brazilian physician who used many herbal remedies in everyday practice.

The Philipsens recently installed a Hyperhealth Terminal in their store where customers can research natural and pharmaceutical compounds, finding ingredients, information on interactions, and lists of what to take and not to take for specific diseases or conditions.

"Misinformation and a lack of information is a big problem," David stated. "We get a lot of people looking for a natural alternative to an expensive prescription. They may have no insurance, and they need answers. We often can suggest supplements that can help put back enzymes that certain prescription drugs deplete. There's a lot to it."

Rainforest Remedies also sells frozen yogurt that's high in pro- and prebiotics and is gluten and sugar-free, as well as healthful "smoothies" frozen drinks. Their customers come in all ages, sizes and states of health. "We try to protect people from the misinformation that's out there," Dave said, "and to suggest appropriate home remedies, lower cost supplements, or refer them to a homeopathic doctor when needed."

Rainforest Remedies in located 5240 Commercial Way in Spring Hill and can be reached at 352-293-8047.

Besides herbal supplements and vitamins, many people use specific foods for health purposes. The owners of Spring Hill's Desh Bazaar Indian Grocery (352-666-0101), Sita and Pundit Ram Ramrattan, sell a lot of spices and other grocery items from India, Trinidad, Guyana, Jamaica and other Caribbean countries.

In particular they say many customers ascribe to the health benefits of turmeric and curcumin, two common ingredients in curry. The Ramrattan's keep a counter display describing the benefits, including that curry may reduce joint inflammation and help protect against cancer, Alzheimer's and heart disease.

Ram said other popular items that some customers buy for their health benefits are fresh yucca and the many types of dal (beans) that are sold loose by the pound. Ram said his grandfather "ate dal every day, lived to be 104, and was never sick."

Desh Bazaar Indian Grocery is located at 10509 Spring Hill Drive in Spring Hill. They can be reached at 352-666-0101.

Spas are another example of naturopathic therapies. There are many in Hernando County that offer specialty massages and other therapies. The treatments at Spring Hill's Addome Bella include therapeutic, Swedish and relaxation massage, mineral mud body wrap, detoxifying seaweed wrap and cranberry bog body wrap (a de-aging treatment).

Addome Bella is located at 4270 Lake In The Woods Drive in Spring Hill. They can be reached at 352-596-7772 or visit www.addomebella.com.

The Center for Alternative Healing offers Swedish and pre-natal massage, deep tissue and neuromuscular therapy, cranio-sacral therapy, hot stone therapy, reflexology treatment, and salt or sugar skin scrubbing.

Center for Alternative Healing is located at 8103 Balm Street in Weeki Wachee. They can be reached at 352-596-7885 or visit www.bodymindspirit.be.

In early 2010, Spring Hill Dental Associates began treating qualifying patients with a new Oraspa system for dental hygiene. The system combines state-of-the-art dental hygiene with six natural healing elements to create an anxiety-free environment for "dentist-phobic" patients and a more enjoyable visit for those who embrace the spa atmosphere.

During an Oraspa treatment, a patient is "cocooned" in a crisp white cotton sheet and given a heated neck roll and eye covering. The room includes a fountain with quietly running water, plants, soft lighting, music, and the scent of customized essential oils.

Spring Hill Dental Associates is located at 11025 Spring Hill Drive in Spring Hill. They can be reached at 352-683-1838 or visit www.springhilldentalassociates.com.

Dr. Keith B. Stolte, M.D., F.A.C.S. of Stolte Eye and Hearing Center, practices rejuvenative medicine, cosmetic treatments and hormonal balancing.

"The eye receives the most blood flow of any organ in the body," Stolte explained. "All the vitamins and nutrients needed for eye and brain function require a physician to treat the whole body rather than just the condition."

Stolte is currently pursuing his Fellowship and Master Program in Functional Medicine at the American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine (A4M) to gain greater expertise with hormonal imbalance, metabolic function and proactive, patient-centered healthcare as a way to prevent disease.

Stolte Eye Center is located at 11115 County Line Road in Spring Hill. They can be reached at 352-666-9990 or visit www.stolteeyecenter.com.

Michael W. Higgins, DO, a Spring Hill orthopaedic surgeon was the first surgeon in Hernando County to become board certified by the American Board of Anti-Aging and Regenerative Medicine (ABAARM). The ABAARM is a certification program of the A4M.

Higgins says achieving optimum health and wellness at any age should include watching out for the precursors to disease, adding that using anti-aging and regenerative options can positively impact orthopaedic longevity.

Hernando Orthopaedic & Spinal Surgery is located at 4055 Mariner Boulevard in Spring Hill. They can be reached at 352-688-6035 or visit www.hernandoorthospine.com.

Another way Hernando County residents are keeping up with the national trend is fitness for older Americans. At the Fun Fitness Factory, owners Keith and Jane Elliot have many members age 50 and up that are referred by their physicians for "after rehab" fitness.

The Elliot's explain that there are not a lot of options once a person's insurance says they're done with physical therapy following an injury. Jane, a certified physical personal trainer, has designed a series of routines incorporating yoga and other fitness moves to help people return to better health of mind, body and spirit.

She said they have dozens of success stories of people living happier, fuller lives after engaging in the social and physical fitness activities she creates. Jane also created DVDs for clients to use at home when they are unable to make the trip to the Factory.

The Fun Fitness Factory is located at 1285 Kass Circle in Spring Hill. They can be reached at 352-556-4807 or visit www.funfitnessfactory.com.