Southwest Florida's Health and Wellness Magazine Health and Wellness Articles
In October we focus on celebrating Breast Cancer Survivors, and rightly so considering all that these women (and men) have endured through their treatment and surgery. But we often forget to focus on recovery, healing and maintaining a healthy lifestyle to either stave off future disease or to simply thrive in the healthiest state that we possibly can.
In today’s educated world, savvy patients want organic products, holistic procedures, advanced treatment options, and alternative methods to keep them and their loved ones healthy, energetic and vibrant.
Getting Well & Staying Healthy Naturally is the philosophy of practice that has earned Florida Integrative Medical Center (FLIMC) the reputation as the premier destination for holistic and integrative healthcare on the Gulf Coast.
Florida Integrative Medical Center treats the full spectrum of chronic health conditions including aging, chronic viral illness, immune system regeneration, autoimmune conditions, chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, and more. Their diagnostic and treatment services help to promote healthier cells and tissues for a better quality of life by improving energy and promoting overall wellbeing.
Katie McCloud, P.A., specializes in multiple disciplines including psychiatry, OBGYN, pediatrics, internal medicine, surgery, emergency medicine, aesthetics, and integrative medicine.
Katie became interested in health and wellness from a very young age. After being diagnosed with MS (Multiple Sclerosis) at 16, Katie made it her mission to research ways to heal the body through alternative methods. She earned a second masters degree in health education and works with her patients on tailored dietary plans along with detailed diagnostic testing and treatment options.
We caught up with Katie to discuss some of the methods Florida Integrative Medical Center offers.
Q: What is IV therapy?
A: A key component of functional medicine is IV therapy. This type of treatment option, administers high dose vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and other essential nutrients to fight disease, eliminate symptoms, and alleviate associated effects.
Many individuals have digestive malfunctions and liver complications that prevent oral medications and supplementations from getting into the bloodstream and to the appropriate cells in the body.
A few examples of IV therapeutic treatments are Alpha Lipoic Acid, Chelation, Glutathione, High-Dose Vitamin C, Meyer’s Cocktail and Magnesium. These IV treatments help with countless issues from asthma, arthritis, diabetes, cholesterol, hormonal disorders and so much more. Glutathione is one of the most potent antioxidants and is a master at detoxifying and healing the body.
The health and integrity of your skin, speaks volumes about the underlying health of your body. IV Therapy is also used for its excellent anti-aging effects. Poor diet, chronic stress, insomnia, disease, illness, environmental stressors, and a sedentary lifestyle can all contribute to premature aging, wrinkles, loss of skin elasticity, age spots, hyperpigmentation, dullness, cellulite, and weight gain.
High doses of IV infusion therapy containing enzymes, vitamins, minerals, phytochemicals, antioxidants, and amino acids can repair damaged skin and make you look years younger.
Q: Speaking of Anti-aging, what is the PRP facial?
A: PRP injections are an alternative to Botox and fillers. Platelet Rich Plasma is taken from the patient’s own blood, spun down and reinjected into the face just like a filler to create and stimulate your bodies own growth factors. PRP produces collagen, hyaluronic acid, elastin, and plumps the skin.
With just four to six PRP treatments over a two to four week period, patients are seeing results that last for up to 2 years, so over the long-term, it’s very cost effective and 100% safe. You don’t have to be concerned about toxins or chemicals with your PRP.
We also offer stem cell rejuvenation, which is injected in the same manner. These can be taken from the patient’s adipose tissue or from Haematopoietic stem cells that are strictly regulated and cleared by the FDA.
Q: What other treatments are you utilizing?
A: We offer numerous beneficial medical treatments. Many patients want to simply stay healthy, regulate their hormones, or control their autoimmune disease; while some are concerned with one specific disease state, many individuals are dealing with multiple disorders.
We take in-depth history and physicals, and we run extensive full panel labs on our patients. We test everything from hormones, thyroid function, genetics, heavy metals, infectious disease, and neurotransmitter communication to food sensitivities.
For women and men, many have hormonal imbalances, and most people are very low in testosterone levels. This happens in women because estrogen dominates the testosterone. These imbalances can lead to issues like hot flashes, night sweats, anxiety, depression, brain fog, weight gain, heart disease, loss of muscle, irritability, and diabetes. We utilize bio-identical hormones.
In the U.S., Bioidentical Hormone Therapy (BHT) has been used since the 1930s. And based on hundreds of current medically thorough studies, the results for patients overall quality of life and dramatic changes in their hormonal symptoms are astounding. Bioidentical hormones are equal to our body’s natural hormones on a molecular level. The difference between synthetic and identical hormones is that synthetic hormones do not match human hormones on a biological level. We offer creams and pellet therapy.
Because of my interest in nutrition and the role that it plays in health and recovery, I tailor specific dietary plans for each patient. For example, if someone is dealing with an autoimmune disease or symptoms, the physicians and I will run numerous panels of tests on mold toxicity, leaky gut syndrome, Lyme disease and much more, so that we can get to the root cause of their illness and treat that instead of just treating the symptoms.
Q: What one thing do you want patients to know?
A: If you are not feeling well or are fighting a disease or breast cancer, or even if you want to look younger and feel more energetic, standard medicine is not going to be the entire answer you need. Integrative medicine is becoming more and more recognized for its focus on the whole patient. That’s what our mission is, and we work one on one with each individual to diagnose and treat his or her mind, body, and health from the inside out.
To find out more about Florida Integrative Medical Center or to schedule an appointment please contact them today at (941) 955-6220.
Join us for our next open house on Oct 17th, 6-7PM
(941) 955-6220 | flimc.com
2415 University Pkwy, Suite 218
Sarasota FL 34243
