TIME FOR A RECOMMITMENT TO BALANCE AND WELLNESS

Time for a Recommitment to Balance and Wellness: Q&A with Dr. Laura Korman

by Mary-Elizabeth Schurrer

Whether you’ve felt less energized or more exhausted than usual, gained some extra pounds you cannot seem to lose, or just noticed an overall decline in your well-being, these last two years have not been conducive to physical or mental health. But as these final months of 2021 round the corner, now is the ideal time to recommit to your own wellness goals.

This could mean you want to develop more nutritious eating habits, find relief from chronic pain or illness, learn how to manage stress and anxiety, or lose that stubborn quarantine weight. Whatever the case, health must be a priority in order to maintain your resilience for the next season ahead. That’s why for this month’s edition of The Community Spotlight, I wanted to hear from none other than Dr. Laura Korman, DC, DACBN.

A functional medicine practitioner and Chiropractic physician who has served the Southwest Florida area for more than 30 years, Dr. Korman is a resident authority on helping others achieve wellness in their bodies, as well as balance in their lives. I think you will find her insights and expertise in the Q&A below both informative and beneficial.

Natural Awakenings: Would you start by summarizing your areas of expertise and what kinds of treatments or modalities your practice offers? Dr. Laura Korman: I have been in private practice as a Chiropractic physician for almost 32 years, and I am one of only 300 physicians nationwide to earn a post-doctorate diplomate status from the American Clinical Board of Nutrition.

As a result of my own health challenges, I have in-depth experience treating women who suffer from thyroid issues such as Hashimoto’s, weight gain, irritable bowel syndrome, bloating, food sensitivities, indigestion, leaky gut, eczema, psoriasis and chronic fatigue.

In addition, I have been an adviser in local “Biggest Loser” contests, and I’ve written a number of articles for the Charlotte Sun on various health related topics. I am also the founder of the INNATE28 and GEARED2bewell lifestyle programs. In my clinic, I work with patients who suffer from fibromyalgia or chronic shoulder, knee and lower back pain.

I use a natural, whole body approach when treating a patient with chronic pain or fatigue to address the metabolic or nutritional imbalances. I do this with state-of-the-art regenerative therapies such as a class IV deep tissue laser used by athletes to speed the recovery of injuries, by stimulating the mitochondria to produce energy and promote cellular regeneration.

I use decompression modalities for the neck or low back for patients with arthritis, stenosis or disc problems. I also offer another decompression modality for the knees as well—which I believe is the first of its kind— for patients with chronic or bone-on-bone knee pain who want an alternative to surgery.

My newest therapy is a Pulsed Electromagnetic Field Therapy (PEMF) machine which emits negative ions into the body to promote cellular “respiration,” or the intake of nutrients and release of toxins. This is like a battery charger for the body to help patients who suffer from chronic fatigue or toxic overload. It’s also FDA-approved to heal bone fractures.

NA: What are the components of functional medicine, and how does this approach to wellness benefit the whole person, from the inside out? Dr. Korman: I am trained in functional medicine which is different from traditional medicine in that it takes into account that illness does not exist in isolation or affect just one organ. Disease is systemic and impacts the entire body.

As such, functional medicine treatment does not repress the symptoms of a failing tissue or organ system. Rather, it looks at the patient as a whole with a unique set of

health-related circumstances. Th is unique “health blueprint” includes everything from inherited genetics, to learned lifestyle habits, nutritional intake, exercise, sleep patterns and stress management behaviors, as well as histories of infection and environmental toxic exposures.

Th e goal is to identify the root cause of illness before it becomes life-threatening. Th is is accomplished with functional medicine testing that goes beyond traditional annual blood tests. I usually request six to eight additional blood tests which are markers of a person’s infl ammatory levels. Infl ammation is known to be the driving root cause of all chronic illness.

I oft en run extensive urinary and stool tests as well to check for hidden infections and to determine if a patient has toxicities or nutrient defi ciencies. I also test for autoimmune conditions and sensitivities to gluten or other foods that cause fl are-ups to occur. concerned about the extra weight they have gained and their subsequent inability to lose it. I explain to them that we’ve all been off our normal routines, so it can be diffi cult to regain control of our health.

Last fall, I ran my fi rst free 5 Pound Challenge which I led participants through a fi ve-day online program with simple daily nutrition and lifestyle instructions on how to quickly start losing their body fat and improving their health overall. Th is challenge includes interaction, support and accountability through a private Facebook group, as well as professional support from both myself and the rest of my team. I also provide easy recipes, fun prizes and live Q&A sessions along the way. I plan to run these challenges on a periodic basis throughout the year. You can learn more information on my website, where you can also register for the next challenge.

NA: Will you share what the “5 Pound Challenge” that you developed entails, and how can our readers join this initiative if they want to? Dr. Korman: In light of the stressful and unprecedented last couple of years we have all been through, several of my patients are Dr. Laura Korman is a Doctor of Chiropractic and a Diplomate of the American Clinical Board of Nutrition. Her private functional medicine practice, the Korman Relief and Wellness Center, is located at 16954 Toledo Blade Blvd., Port Charlotte. To register for her next 5 Pound Challenge, visit DrLauraKorman.com. Mary-Elizabeth Schurrer is the Managing Editor of Natural Awakenings Sarasota–Manatee. She also works as a freelance writer, blogger and social media marketer. Her personal blog HealthBeAHippie.Wordpress.com features tips for embracing an active, nutritious, balanced and empowered lifestyle.

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