Take a moment to fully consider this statement from the US Environmental Protection Agency: “All molds have the potential to cause health effects. Molds can produce allergens that can trigger allergic reactions or even asthma attacks in people allergic to mold. Others are known to produce potent toxins and/or irritants.”

What are some of the most commonly found types of molds in homes and businesses? Yes, there are multiple types, and they include Stachybotrys (black mold), Aspergillus, and Penicillium – three of the most dangerous and commonly found indoor toxic molds.

We have a very inexpensive kit (around $5) you can use to see if your home or business is infected with mold. If it is, you should consider taking the steps necessary to eliminate it, especially if you are constantly feeling sluggish and sick and cannot figure out why – because mold could very well be the culprit.

However, I would also urge anyone who experiences pain and discomfort from any kind of injury or illness to come see us first, rather than looking upon alternative medicine as something to try once every other medical methodology has been exhausted.

I am not saying that there isn’t a time and place for conventional medicine. I am merely pointing out that alternative medicine physicians have the ability to access treatments regular doctors are not privy to.

Also, because of my own experience a former pharmacist and emergency room doctor, I have a unique perspective from which to treat my patients.

That’s why I can often diagnose a problem long before a conventional doctor is able to. Then, once diagnosed, we offer unique treatments that have had positive impacts upon the lives of many people.

By doing these things, patients are often saved from a great deal of unnecessary pain, discomfort and expense.

Don’t think of alternative as a last resort. Instead, think of it as something that could very well be your best opportunity to get the help you need.

Quite a few would probably say it’s because they have a friend or loved one who experienced improvement after discovering all that alternative medicine has to offer. Others might say they were either dissatisfied with their primary care physician’s treatments or, worse yet, they suffered some kind of adverse reaction or side effect to what was prescribed to them.

Then there are those who would say they’d gotten a not-so-positive prognosis from their regular physician and simply aren’t ready to accept such negativity as the gospel truth until they have exhausted all options. As such, they’ve come to me with an open mind and a willingness to do whatever it takes to get better.

Whatever your reasons are, I’m glad you’re here – and you have my word that I will do my very best to put my knowledge and experience to work for you, to the best of my abilities.

It’s the overall atmosphere at Heathrow Anti-Aging & Wellness Center that she enjoys most. “Because we take the time to get to know our patients, it doesn’t take long before they become our friends, too,” she said. “It is exciting to see them be able to improve their quality of life. I also really enjoy being able to learn something new about alternative medicine almost every day.”

Look no further than Kathy for a ringing testimonial, because she’s not only the Office Manager, she’s also a patient who has received incredible results. “I’d had a weight problem all my life and still did when I started here,” said Kathy. “We (Dr. King and I) found out about a weight-loss treatment, and both of us had amazing success with it. First, Dr. King lost 18 pounds in three weeks, then I lost 25 pounds in less than 60 days. Later, I lost another 15 - and I’ve been able to keep it off!”

You’ll be able to see the “before and after” photos of Kathy in a future blog, when the subject of how to lose weight is discussed in more detail.

I would like to use this forum as one more way to thank Kathy for her hard work and dedication. Our patients love her, and I cannot say enough good things about her, too.

As an ER physician, I saw people with all kinds of hardships … people who had been shot, stabbed, had heart attacks or strokes, been in car accidents … you name it, I’ve probably seen it. If you are in an urgent or life-threatening position, then the emergency room certainly is the place to go.

However, if you are not in a life-or-death situation, exposure to alternative medicine is often a real eye-opening experience to my patients. It’s different in many ways, but here is the fundamental root reason why: The “regular” doctor is trained to prescribe drugs for almost everything, which in effect often only treats the symptoms rather than the actual root of the problem. The alternative medicine physician goes into greater detail and, wherever possible, finds other ways to effectively treat the cause of the issue.

Both my parents are classic examples. When my father complained of digestive problems, his doctor told him to take both over-the-counter and prescription-strength antacids. Just before he was finally correctly diagnosed with laryngeal cancer, he was given a very strong acid blocker, which only made the situation worse. In the case of my mother, a well-known neurologist diagnosed her with ALS and told her she had less than a year to live. Fortunately, I’d already begun my Alternative Medicine practice, so I knew the value of what it could do. I took her to an alternative neurologist in Naples, FL, who correctly discovered she had a magnesium deficiency. With the use of magnesium supplements and other treatments, my mother went on to live another five years – despite a lot of damage already being done (because a great deal of time passed before she was being treated correctly).

Perhaps now you can better understand why I am so passionate about what I do, and as I said in my last blog, why I take such great care with every patient I see.

First and foremost, I truly care about the health and wellness of every patient I see – but it goes well beyond that. I understand that every aspect of a person’s life plays a part in their health. As humans, we are more than just physical beings; we’re emotional and spiritual beings, too. That’s part of the reason why I spend so much time with everyone. I ask questions and listen carefully to the answers, because finding out what’s happening in a person’s life assists me in determining the best way to help someone.

Here is what I mean: Let’s say I find out while speaking with a female patient that her life is more stressful than usual. Knowing this information about her is invaluable to me. That’s because, during times of extreme stress, it’s vital that women keep their immune systems at peak efficiency. If this is not done, it is a time when cancer could begin to get a foothold on the patient’s body because the immune system has been weakened by so much stress. Example: You would be amazed at the number of women who get breast cancer just 2-3 years after a divorce.

That’s why it’s of utmost importance for you to be open and honest about what’s happening with you during your office visits. My goal is to help you be the best you can be and, working together, we can achieve this.

Most of you know that my title is Linda G. King, D.O., but I’d like to explain more about what that means. D.O. stands for Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine. This benefits you because I have specialized training that goes well beyond the spectrum of what “regular physicians” study.

Osteopathic Medicine places an extra emphasis on the entire body as a whole, so we have a comprehensive understanding of the correlation between the structure of a person’s body with their overall health. We also use manipulation to treat a variety of conditions, something not often done in the office of an M.D.

I look forward to telling you more about myself and my practice, as well as giving you details of the products and services we offer in future blogs.

Have a great day!