Quakertown expands integrative healthcare options

Quakertown Integrative Healthcare Center has added new faces and services to its Lewes practice.

An open house will be held from 3 to 6 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 29, at Quakertown on Savannah Road, to allow the public to meet new and familiar practitioners.

Founded in 2007 by Sally Laux, the health center offers alternative medicine such as, massage therapy and, through its partnership with Silver Lotus Training Institute, provides yoga and tai chi.

“It was my vision to get integrative healthcare to the beach area,” said Laux, who previously practiced in Washington, D.C. “We are now going through an evolution at Quakertown.”

The open house will allow the public to learn how integrative care could benefit them, Laux said.

“We hope residents will come and explore new ideas and meet the practitioners,” Laux said. Light refreshments will be served, and door prizes will be awarded.

Experiencing new growth

Laux hopes expanding services will attract new clients who are willing to explore all that alternative medicine has to offer.

“I wanted to bring alternatives to the community,” Laux said. “I have always been looking for a diverse group of people to be located here at the center. All of these people bring different gifts, and all of us are partners and advocates for our patients.”

Laux has a nursing degree, but she decided to get her masters degree in acupuncture.

Laux said Quakertown differs from conventional medical practices because it considers many factors that influence health, embracing mind, spirit and community, as well as body.

“We operate under an integrative philosophy, which means we use natural, effective and less-invasive interventions whenever possible,” she said.

This does not mean Quakertown rejects traditional medicine. Instead the practitioners hope to work with traditional medicine while offering alternatives, said Laux.

“Our practitioners are trained to be models of health and healing. They are committed to the process of self-exploration and self-development,” she said.

Kim Furtado, a trained naturopathic doctor, has joined her practice with Quakertown. The Rev. Sue Greer, who has worked with Furtado for years, has also made the transition to the Lewes health center.

Furtado has had a private practice at Lewes Healing Arts for 11 years. She focuses on restoring the body’s natural functions through natural remedies and treatments.

After finishing her premedical studies at George Washington University, Furtado traveled to Washington State where she completed training as a naturopathic doctor.

She moved to the Lewes area in 2001 to work with patients who experienced health issues as a result of environmental factors, such as pollution and heavy metals.

Furtado said she hopes the Quakertown location will better serve clients.

“Many of us are educators, so we believe healthcare is a lot of education and learning,” Furtado said. “We want to help people have awareness. We want them to become empowered so they feel they are doing the work of healing.”

Furtado said she works with clients to find out specific ways to help them heal. Treatments include: using food as medicine, detoxification, hormone balancing, homeopathy and hydrotherapy.

Greer, a bio-energetic healer and shaman, worked with Furtado before moving to Quakertown in June. She specializes in energy medicine.

“I’ve been doing this since I was 14 after I studied with my grandmother and learned to meditate,” Greer said.

An ordained interfaith minister, Greer worked in Washington, D.C., before relocating to the Lewes area 10 years ago.

“I often deal with people in trauma and help them find deeper resources,” Greer said. “Many of my clients suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder or have a chronic illness.”

Greer works with clients in the United States and worldwide.

Gina Bini, a holistic health coach, will work with patients to create a nutritious meal plan that supports the immune system. She founded Vibrant Living, a company dedicated to helping clients meet health and wellness goals for disease management.

Bini is also a certified cancer support coach.

“I explore alternative cancer treatments,” said Bini. “I also look at the psychological part of the disease to help clients take control of the illness.”

A New Jersey native, Bini spent 12 years doing clinical trials for a pharmaceutical company. She left that job to pursue options for patients beyond of medicines.

“I want to educate and support my clients by working with them to find their inner doctor,” Bini said. “I support their decisions and work to improve their energy during treatment.”

Bini works with her clients’ doctors as well, integrating natural remedies with traditional treatments.

She holds a bachelor of science degree in biology from Montclair State University in New Jersey, and a health degree from the Integrative Institute for Nutrition in New York City.

Acupuncturist Shira Dobretz is the newest addition to the group. After graduating from Southwest College in New Mexico, Dobretz eventually landed at a pain management practice in Lewes.

She joined Quakertown because she found her passion was integrative health. An artist and yoga teacher, Dobretz hopes to expand her skills at the wellness center.

“I think it is important for the patients and the caregivers to have a network like the one here at Quakertown,” said Dobretz, who hopes to expand her patient base by adding clients from other practitioners at the health center.

In addition, the center has added two new massage therapists.

Kim Blanch is a nurse who uses massage therapy to offer a more comprehensive approach to medicine. After completing a nursing degree, Blanch attended Baltimore School of Massage. She worked for 16 years as a private massage therapist before she joined Quakertown. She offers therapeutic massage and hopes to offer yoga classes in the future.

Karyn Jennings has worked as a massage therapist for 16 years after she graduated from the Baltimore School of Massage. She completed classes at the Acupuncture & Integrative Medicine College in Berkeley, Calif. and is a licensed acupuncturist. A Lewes native, Jennings has worked at Quakertown for two years.

“I specialize in acupressure, reflexology, aroma therapy, massage and raindrop therapy,” said Jennings.

Bonnie Schuyler, Reiki master and massage therapist, is entering her fourth year at Quakertown. She specializes in raindrop therapy, which uses essential oils dropped down the spine with a soothing massage technique. She said this type of massage releases bacteria and viruses while relieving back inflammation and releasing emotions stuck in the body.

She also offers Bellanina facelift massage, which she says beautifies and restores.

A graduate of Baron and Butler School of Massage, Schuyler always wanted to help people feel better.

“Besides massage, I also got into Reiki to help people heal themselves,” she said. “I came from the corporate world, and I am now doing what I am passionate about.”

Deborah Dobias, Reiki master and massage therapist, founded Hands and Harmony Massage. She is also an experienced lay midwife. For 12 years, she has focused on integrative health in Delaware by offering acupressure, shiatsu, reflexology, deep tissue massage, ear candling, Swedish massage and visualization techniques.

Susan Hamadock, director of Silver Lotus, a partner of Quakertown Wellness, will lead, with a team of teachers, demonstrations of various forms of tai chi and yoga practice throughout the event. Lauren Mund, Joyce Houston, Marianne Walch, Joe Mirabella and Barbara Spears also teach classes at Silver Lotus. For more information or a class schedule, go to silverlotustraininginstitute.com.

For more information on Quakertown or to see a list of services and rates, go to www.quakertownwellness.com.