Center is alternative to conventional medical treatment

by Kris Ann Hegle

SBJ Contributing Writer

Patients who come to the Alternative Healthcare Center in Springfield have different health problems, but most of them have one thing in common: Traditional medicine hasn't given them the results they were seeking.

Alternative med-icine has become increasingly popular. Vitamin, mineral and herbal supplement sales are on the rise as are the numbers of homeopathic and holistic doctors in the United States. The latter-day alternative medicine movement is ascending at the close of a century whose greatest gift to humanity, some historians say, is scientific medicine.

The patients of Alternative Healthcare Center complement or supplant that orthodox medical treatment with the care given there.

This is evidenced by the more than 2,000 patient charts that can be found at the Alternative Healthcare Center.

Dr. David Trybus, a chiropractor, opened his practice here in 1990 and serves as the center's sole physician. Before moving to Springfield, he worked at practices in southern California that stressed holistic medicine.

Unlike more traditional forms of medicine, holistic medicine emphasizes the interdependence of the body's systems, Trybus said. Consequently, when a person gets sick, a holistic doctor will examine and treat the patient's whole body as opposed to only its afflicted part.

Alternative Health-care Center uses a variety of holistic approaches to treat patients, including chiropractic methods, applied kinesiology, homeopathy, acupuncture, neuro-emotional techniques, nutrition counseling and massage therapy performed by a licensed massage therapist.

Although Trybus doesn't prescribe drugs to his patients, he said he does refer those who should be on medication to a medical doctor.

In turn, he said, some local medical doctors refer patients to him. In fact, many of the patients who seek out treatment at Alternative Healthcare Center have chronic musculoskeletal problems such as headaches, back pain, knee and foot pain, shoulder pain and carpal tunnel syndrome. He treats fibromyalgia, arthritis and chronic fatigue syndrome.

"We don't focus on the disease," Trybus said. "We focus on giving people the tools they need to strengthen their body so their body can fight off the disease."

To accomplish this goal, first-time patients fill out a health-appraisal questionnaire that helps Trybus determine which systems in the body are affected. If needed, a patient may receive a work-up based on Eastern medicine practices, which involve examining the nails, skin, tongue and pulse points. In addition, each patient receives an examination, which usually focuses on the spine and nervous system.

Once the problem is diagnosed, a treatment plan is developed. While the treatment plan may range from acupuncture to chiropractic adjustments to homeopathic medicines or nutritional counseling, all of the therapies focus on removing blocks that prevent the body from healing itself, according to Trybus.

In addition, Trybus said he focuses on educating each patient to take responsibility for his own health, both physical and emotional.

In most cases, patients also take responsibility for the financial aspects of the care they receive.

Many insurance companies don't cover alternative health care practices. Despite this challenge, business is growing, according to Trybus.

Most newcomers are referred by former patients. Others seek out the Alternative Healthcare Center after attending one of Trybus' seminars, which are held periodically throughout the year.

"Some of the people seek us out because (of the experience) they've had with conventional medicine and managed health care," Trybus said. "Other people are just curious. I tell everybody when they're sick and tired of being sick and tired, it's time to try an alternative when it comes to their health care."