Holistic Medicine Offers Integrated Healing and Growth

The Center for Holistic Medicine, located in Riverwoods/Deerfield, is a full-service medical clinic where patients can get help with anything from allergies to anxiety. Dr. Jerry Gore, M.D., medical director and his wife, Carol, purchased the business from another practitioner in 1994 and founded the center at its present location in 1997.

Gore attended medical school and had a private psychiatry practice, but when he took an apprenticeship at the Himalayan Institute, he saw a different way to practice medicine. “We wanted a place that treats the mind, body and spirit, and offers medicine that was non-harmful and had fewer side effects. At the time, there were very few places that offered holistic medicine,” he says.

Presently, there are 15 specialists at the center, including doctors of internal medicine, osteopathy, family practice, holistic psychiatry, naturopathy, naprapathy and chiropractic. Other specialties include counseling and psychotherapy, energy psychology, homeopathy, acupuncture, myofascial release therapy, pain relief, bodywork and yoga. There are also experts in nutrition, weight loss and wellness lifestyle counseling. Gore says, “We treat a broad range of problems, including eczema, gastrointestinal issues, attention deficient disorder, headaches, infertility, ear infections, prostate issues, osteoporosis and many more.”

Most patients that come in are seen by Gore or one of the other medical doctors, and then referred to a specialist that can help them further.  “If somebody comes in for eczema, I might have them see a naturopath for nutritional help or the homeopath for a natural remedy. For stress, I might send them to a counselor or yoga instructor,” says Gore. Doctors and specialists at the center are focused on helping the whole person, not just treating their symptoms. “If someone gets acupuncture for a headache, we are going to find out what’s causing the headache and offer lifestyle changes that might prevent it from recurring,” he says.

There are two board-certified internists on staff, so the center can truly use an integrated approach in treating patients. “Our vision is treating symptoms, educating patients about their health and helping them grow and be a better person,” says Gore. Someone may come in with asthma, get a bronchodilator treatment and leave, but that would be a short-term fix. “Instead, we’ll look at the patient’s overall health, teach them how to use diaphragmatic breathing and suggest diet changes like avoiding dairy and gluten. Chances are, their breathing will improve dramatically. That’s growth,” says Gore.

Like many people that work in holistic medicine, Gore’s interest in part comes from unsatisfied experiences with traditional Western medicine, and he prefers the results of an integrated approach. Unlike many holistic doctors, the center accepts Blue Cross/Blue Shield PPO and some other insurance plans. They want as many people as possible to have access to a different kind of care. “People are not used to relating medicine to growth. Here at the center, our patients walk in desperate and walk out with hope. It’s a beautiful thing to be a part of,” says Gore.

The center puts a strong focus on educating their patients and the community in general. Every month, they offer a free community lecture, with topics such as digestive health, breast cancer prevention, good and bad fats and holistic approaches to depression and anxiety. Gore maintains a blog with posts like “Hurray for Broccoli!” and “Congress, Community and Blessings: A Lesson Here?” so patients can stay up-to-date on trends and treatments. They also have an apothecary on-site that offers doctor-researched supplements, vitamins, Chinese herbal remedies, nutritional enzymes and more. Their in-house staff can create homeopathic remedies on-site and answer questions that patients might have. The next Meet the Doctors Q&A session will be held from 7 to 8 p.m., May 18.

The Center for Holistic Medicine is located at 240 Saunders Rd., in Riverwoods/Deerfield. For more information, call 847-236-1701 or visit Holistic-Medicine.com. 

Carrie Jackson is an Evanston-based writer and frequent contributor to Natural Awakenings magazine, and the chair of recruitment for the  Chicago Walk to End Alzheimer’s. Connect at CarrieJacksonWrites.com.