New holistic health center in AF

Prescription medication may be the most common choice to cure a medical ailment, but the new Phoenix Holistic Health Center, located in the Ahwatukee Mercado Shopping Center, has brought together a team of professionals that will help Ahwatukee Foothills residents achieve wellness through less conventional methods.

Gayle Palms, owner of the health center and a colon hydro therapist, has brought a nutritionist, acupuncturist, holistic practitioner, live blood analyst, esthetician and several yoga instructors together to work in her clinic.

"I wanted some of the best people in their field who are passionate about what they do," she said. "I knew they would benefit the community."

Palms moved to Phoenix from Seattle where she had a successful holistic clinic with 27 practitioners and 64 rooms.

"People were driving 60 miles to come to my clinic in Seattle," she said. "During that time I learned a lot about how to run a clinic and about colon hydro therapy, which is what I practice."

The Phoenix Holistic Health Center has been open for almost a month, and Palms has had people come to her clinic that are curious about yoga and holistic medicine in general.

"When people come here looking for preventative medicine they often don't know where to start," she said. "We typically start them off with our nutritionist and then go from there."

Ghada Sweiss, the health center's certified nutritional consultant, starts working with each patient by finding out what their current diet consists of.

"I like to get a diary of what they eat and find out what their weaknesses are in eating," Sweiss said. "I also need to know what they are pre-disposed to genetically."

Sweiss also stresses the importance of exercise to her patients and helps them develop diets that will lead them to a healthier lifestyle.

"If someone has anxiety or they've been eating a horrible diet I have a great network of other professionals right here in the office," Sweiss said. "For example, if someone had unhealthy foods stuck in their digestive system I would send them to Gayle for a cleansing."

The clinic will also have a consultant that can accompany patients to grocery stores to help them learn how to read nutrition labels and look for good deals.

"I want people to be able to find affordability and nutrition at the same time," Sweiss said.

The health center has also landed the services of Dr. Zen Liu, who practices acupuncture and Chinese medicine.

"Chinese medicine looks at the eyes, pulse and tongue because you can read symptoms on a body - the body doesn't lie," Palms said.

Live blood analysis is another realm of holistic medicine offered at the clinic. Toni Strand, a live blood analyst and RN, uses a pin prick of blood from patients to uncover information about their nutrition and digestive system.

"I can see gout or arthritis in patients before symptoms appear by looking at their blood sample under a microscope," Strand said.

The Phoenix Holistic Health Center, located at 4747 E. Elliot Road in the Ahwatukee Mercado Shopping Center, offers wellness packages as well as corporate packages. The center is open to people of all ages. For more information, call (480) 753-0888.