“Integrative Health Care” incorporates the best of our scientific knowledge from a wide range of sources. We use innovative and expanded diagnostic approaches to figure out what is going on “beneath the surface.” Our aim is to provide you with a treatment program that will address the causes of your illness, allergies or pain, leading to lasting relief of your symptoms.

Northampton Wellness Associates is an interdisciplinary team of specialists. We offer our patients innovative medical services and therapies that may not be available elsewhere.

We are committed to providing you with information about your health care choices, and we help you choose the safest and most effective treatment options. In this way, we serve as educators and facilitators, so that our patients can learn to heal themselves as partners in the healing process. (Click here for Dr. Elson’s article on Healing and Self-Healing.)

When conventional medications are required, we will prescribe them -- but only as a last choice if safer, more effective remedies are available.


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"I’m a new patient. On my first visit, I felt really listened to, understood, and heard. In my experience, this has been rare. I’m really encouraged to have found such a great doctor [Darren Lynch, MD] with good people skills." Barb S.

Some of the natural therapies we provide:


FOR ILLNESS

Dietary counseling

helps you make positive changes in your dietary habits to cure and prevent a wide range of chronic conditions, such as: obesity, chronic fatigue, diabetes, high cholesterol, heart disease, bowel disorders, arthritis, and food allergies.

"Candida control has helped me lose weight, lessen toxins, think more clearly. Now I have more energy." William A.

Nutritional and herbal (“nutriceutical”) supplement therapy

provides you with specific recommendations for safe and effective natural therapy. This can make dangerous medications unnecessary. It is based on the a vast portion of scientific literature which the drug salesmen won’t show your doctor!

"Vitamin C IV therapy was the most important ingredient in my recovery from Chronic Fatigue." Dea S.

Intramuscular and intravenous nutrient therapy

can deliver healing nutrients directly to the cells in your body. In difficult cases, these nutrients need to go directly into the bloodstream, to help jumpstart sluggish biochemical processes and bypass impaired intestinal absorption—often producing a dramatic healing response.

"IV nutrient therapy is like a can of spinach for Popeye!" David D.

"When my doctor gave up on me, I came here for IV’s. It’s the only thing that is helping. It’s nice knowing people who really care that the atmosphere is always positive – the IV people are just a great team." Sarah

Chelation therapy for heart and vascular diseases

is a therapy that can open up blocked arteries in people with heart disease, or blockage in the blood vessels which feed the brain (strokes) or legs (claudication). It is considered “experimental” by some, but is supported by a significant body of medical literature. It is currently being researched for this purpose by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), but is available now.




Chelation therapy for heavy metal toxicity

cleans out excess mercury, lead, arsenic or cadmium. This can reverse problems with mental function, memory, balance, hyperactivity, autism, chemical sensitivity, fatigue and other conditions.




Natural hormone therapy for aging and menopause/andropause

uses “bio-identical” hormones (just like you had when you were younger) and plant-based therapies to reverse loss of bone, sexual function and stamina in women and men. This can be a natural remedy for osteoporosis, night sweats, hot flashes, mood changes and fatigue after menopause. It is very different from conventional hormone replacement therapy, with a far superior safety profile.



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FOR ALLERGIES
Optimal-dose neutralization therapy

is based on individualized testing in our allergy laboratory (which is actually a fairly relaxed and comfortable place!). We use the results of this testing to produce customized allergy therapy which consists of a tiny dose of the substance you are allergic to. It comes in three forms for you to choose from:

• sublingual drops (placed under the tongue) for use at home;
• allergy shots, which you can receive weekly at our office;
• we can provide treatment vials for your primary care physician to administer. The correct dose of antigens will just “match” the individual’s level of antibodies and eliminate the development of symptoms when taken regularly. It is likely that your level of reactivity will gradually decrease over the course of therapy, until the point where treatment becomes rarely needed, if at all.

"Dr. Elson was instrumental in helping me battle longstanding chronic allergies." B.K.

Food allergy diagnosis and dietary avoidance

starts with blood tests and/or elimination/rechallenge diets to help you figure out your food allergies. Some of these symptoms might not appear until several days after you eat the food, making it difficult to figure out what you’re allergic to without blood testing. In our own laboratory, IgG RAST tests help us figure out these delayed sensitivities; IgE RAST tests determine your more immediate reactions. Special medical foods (UltraClear and UltraCare for Kids) are available to make elimination diets much easier. We can provide treatment for underlying bowel conditions, allergy therapy, and advice regarding meal planning and preparation. Fixing food allergies can provide relief from a wide range of troubles, including headaches, arthritis, asthma, congestion, bowel symptoms, and fatigue.

"I have gained insight into the complex interactions of gluten intolerance, malabsorption, dehydration, and pancreatic insufficiency." David D.

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FOR PAIN RELIEF

Chiropractic care

uses traction techniques to gently open up and free the spine to relieve pain from arthritis and disk disease. Our chiropractic physician performs:

• spinal adjustments (precise manipulation to realign the spine and restore full range of motion, relieving nerve root pressure to enhance organ system function)
• sacro-occipital technique (gentle and precise pelvic and cranial adjustments to restore balance and optimal function)
• deep-tissue release (targeted massage to relieve specific areas of muscle pain and tension).

Trigger point injection therapy

uses tiny doses of sterile salt water or a local anesthetic to break up muscle spasm and relieve pain in the muscles and surrounding tissues. This technique is especially helpful for patients who have fibromyalgia, myofascial pain syndrome, or chronic muscle strain.



Therapeutic massage

Our licensed massage therapist offers a variety of techniques:

• Swedish massage is helpful for both physical pain relief and stress reduction.
• LaStone Therapy, which combines the use of heated basalt stones with energy balancing massage techniques.
• neuromuscular massage applies pressure to problem muscle areas, increasing flexibility and relieving spasm.
• foot reflexology stimulates pressure points in the feet to energize and balance the entire body.
• chair massage combines elements of Swedish and Acupressure Massage. It is soothing to the neck, back, arms, hands, and shoulders. It is best suited to brief sessions, while you are fully clothed.

Exercise rehabilitation

is individualized instruction in therapeutic stretching, yoga, Pilates® and aerobic exercise techniques to improve your flexibility, relieve pain and fatigue, protect your heart, and strengthen your bones and joints.



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"Northampton Wellness Associates is a brilliant and loving team. They are saving my life. I don’t know what I would have done without them in such a difficult time. They are empathetic and gracious. Preventive and restorative therapies are the cutting edge in health care. NWA’s awareness is an oasis in an unfeeling mainstream medical game. I greatly respect them all. Choose wellness instead of a life filled with medications!" Donna R.

WE ALSO OFFER PREVENTIVE AND BEHAVIORAL MEDICINE


Stress management and counseling

might include various methods, tailored to your needs:

• mindfulness-based stress reduction, which utilizes the moment-to-moment awareness of breath, bodily sensations, and mental activity.
• psychotherapy
• eye-movement-desensitization (EMDR), a psychotherapeutic technique that teaches an accelerated form of information processing. It utilizes aspects of cognitive therapy along with bilateral stimulation of the eyes or ears to foster healing from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.
• strategies for coping with illness or other life transitions

Weight loss programs

are medically supervised diet plans and exercise programs, with the support you need to make permanent changes which will last. We offer specific nutritional supplementation, metabolic support (including thyroid therapy, if needed), hypnosis and self-hypnosis training, and food allergy management to enhance your body’s ability to loose weight quickly and safely.







Childbirth preparation classes

help you to have a healthy pregnancy and birth experience, and a good start in parenthood. Our small, friendly classes emphasize confidence, strength, joy, and making informed choices about your health care.



Pregnancy care

is offered by Certified Nurse Midwives (CNM’s) from Midwifery Care of Holyoke (in affiliation with Holyoke Hospital). The midwives offer prenatal, postpartum, and gynecological services at our office.



We also prescribe conventional medications and therapies as needed.

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