By David L. Podos
Barbara Drake is an acute care nurse practitioner with a doctorate degree in nursing practice. She has worked in cardiac surgery and critical care for about 25 years. While she comes from a traditional medical background, she said she always had an interest in alternative medical protocols.
“I always had an interest in holistic medicine, functional medicine and integrative medicine. So my business is a blend of those philosophies with a strong basis in traditional medicine,” she said.
She is quick to mention that many of her patients have gone through the “traditional route” in treating illnesses.
“The therapies and treatments that New Hartford Wellness offers are in addition to the traditional medicines and therapies that patients are already receiving,” she explained. “Additionally, for those patients who have exhausted all avenues with traditional medicine and are not receiving the outcomes that they hope for, we offer them an alternative.”
When asked if the treatments she provides are evidence-based, she confidently said, “Yes. There is a lot of research out there that supports the effectiveness of the modalities that we provide and are FDA-approved, like our weight loss system for example, which is called Ultra Slim. It is a completely noninvasive treatment for weight loss using the power of red-light therapy.”
Evidence-based research is a very important component of any medical treatment and therapy that health care professionals offer. A University of Tulsa blog, written by the University, (July 5 2023), comments on the importance of health care professionals utilizing evidence-based research in their practices. The blog clearly states that evidence -based practice acknowledges that health care is an ever-evolving field that demands practitioners stay up to date on the latest research findings to ensure their practices align with the most effective and efficient approaches.
Practitioners can access evidence through various channels, such as, peer-reviewed journals, online databases and professional organizations.
When asked what kind of health problems she is seeing when people come to her clinic, she said they are numerous.
“For example, we see many people (both men and women) coming with weight loss issues, chronic pain issues like arthritis, auto-immune disease, fibromyalgia, cancer-related pain, chronic fatigue and Lyme disease to name just a few. While we treat many people with these conditions, we also have therapies for those who are dealing with mental health challenges. Many people suffer from a variety of mental health problems such as clinical depression, anxiety, PTSD and obsessive-compulsive disorders. We can address all of these as well,” she said.
The treatments that New Hartford Wellness offers would be hard to find in most “standard” medical facilities and are quite unique. For instance, they offer a number of I.V. vitamin infusions that offer holistic support for health and wellness. Each infusion is formulated to offer specific support such as reducing stress, increasing energy, increasing mental acuity and detoxifying the body. Others are specific in helping with PMS and menopause symptoms, as well as bloating, irritability, low back pain and abdominal pain — and that is only mentioning two of the 10 specific targeted infusions that are available for patients. They also offer hyperbaric oxygen therapy, which is FDA-approved. For those seeking professional advice on health and wellness, visit this website at https://formulawellnesscenter.com/.
“We are one of only a few clinics in the area that have this treatment,” she said.
This therapy has wide application and is used for many health issues, far too many to name in this article. However, one of the major uses is to promote wound healing. This is accomplished by helping your body grow new skin, blood vessels and connective tissue.
She said many athletes use this kind of therapy to enhance recovery after an intense workout or injury. In fact, many NFL players will be placed in a hyperbaric oxygen chamber if they suffer injuries. The treatment increases the production of mitochondria inside cells. This will increase cell energy which accelerates the healing process.
Integrative and alternative medicine seems to have taken on deep roots as an alternate protocol in health care treatment in America. Approximately 15 years ago the term integrative alternative medicine started to become part of the lexicon in health care, but now has blossomed exponentially.
According to the National Institutes of Health, nearly 40% of adults in the United States use some form of complementary or alternative medicine.
New Hartford Wellness can be reached at 315-444-3355. More information about their services can be found on www.NHKIC.com