Living Wellness Medical Center

Empowering Wellness Naturally

Call 480-588-6856 to schedule a FREE brief meet and greet with a naturopathic doctor.

Patient Portal
MENU
  • HOME
    • Contact Us
    • Living Wellness Philosophy
    • Naturopathic Medicine
    • Scope of Practice for NDs
    • In the Press
    • Testimonials
    • Free Naturopathic Resources
    • Living Wellness Blog
    • Close
  • PHYSICIANS
    • Living Wellness Team
    • Dr. Leila Turner
    • Dr. Sarv Varta Khalsa
    • Dr. Lauri Brouwer
    • Dr. Olivia Watkins
    • Dr. Marianne Marchese
    • Contact Us
    • Close
  • CONDITIONS TREATED
    • Women's wellness options, such as annual well woman exams, help you take charge of your health.WOMEN’S WELLNESS
      • Women’s Health Care
      • Menopause
      • Low Libido
      • Gynecology Conditions
      • Fertility
      • Abnormal Pap Smear/HPV
    • Live well naturally with services such as a naturopathic evaluation to help you age gracefully.INTEGRATIVE MEDICINE
      • Thyroid Conditions
      • Digestive Disorders
      • Cardiovascular Health
      • Cancer Care
      • Allergies/Asthma
      • Auto-Immune Conditions
    • Men's wellness treatment options, such as prostate exams, can help you keep on top of your health care needs.MEN’S WELLNESS
      • Men’s Health Care
      • Andropause
      • Erectile Dysfunction
      • Prostate Problems
      • Low Libido
      • Urinary Health
    • Preventative medicine for wellness can help you prevent conditions with naturopathic methods.GENERAL MEDICINE
      • Fatigue
      • Hypertension/High Cholesterol
      • Asthma/Lung Conditions
      • Colds, Flus, and Chronic Infections
      • Pediatrics
      • Preventative Medicine
    • Close
  • LAB TESTING
    • Laboratory Testing
    • Specialty Lab Testing
    • Close
  • NEW PATIENTS
    • Getting Started
    • Tour Living Wellness
    • FAQ
    • Testimonials
    • HIPAA – NOTICE OF PRIVACY PRACTICES
    • Contact Us
    • Free Naturopathic Resources
    • Living Wellness Blog
      • Adrenal Function
      • Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy
      • Digestion
      • Herbs
      • Hormones
      • Healthy Recipes
      • Menopause
      • Naturopathic Therapies
      • Naturopathic Wellness
      • Supplements
      • Thyroid
      • Close
    • Close
  • SERVICES & THERAPIES
    • Naturopathic therapies allow you to feel healthy and revitalized with herbal medicine, homeopathy, and more.NATUROPATHIC THERAPIES
      • Naturopathic Evaluation
      • Homeopathy
      • Acupuncture/Cupping
      • Bioidentical Hormones
      • Herbal Medicine
      • Natural Pain Relief
    • Specialty therapies can help with specific conditions, and include: bio-identical hormones, custom compounding, and more.SPECIALTY THERAPIES
      • Detoxification & Chelation
      • Hormone Pellet Therapy
      • Custom Compounding
      • Natural Aesthetics
      • Prolotherapy
      • Microcurrent
    • Nutrient therapies such as IV therapy and dietary counseling programs keep you feeling good, naturally.DIET & NUTRITIVE THERAPIES
      • Nutrient IV Therapies
      • Nutrient Injections
      • Dietary Counseling
      • Fasting Mimicking Diet
      • Weight Loss
      • Supplements
    • Specialty labs for specific conditions.SPECIALTY LABS
      • Adrenal Stress Panel
      • Toxic Metal Tests
      • Food Allergy Panel
      • Digestive Function & Dysbiosis
      • Micronutrient Panel
      • SIBO Test
    • Close
  • CURRENT PATIENTS
    • Patient Portal
    • Patient Portal Video Introduction
    • Patient Portal User Guide
    • Online Medicinary
    • Contact Us
    • Free Naturopathic Resources
    • Living Wellness Blog
      • Adrenal Function
      • Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy
      • Digestion
      • Healthy Recipes
      • Herbs
      • Hormones
      • Menopause
      • Naturopathic Therapies
      • Naturopathic Wellness
      • Supplements
      • Thyroid
      • Close
    • Close

Immune Support: Colds, Flus and Chronic Infections

The immune system defends the body against infections. It is made up of white blood cells, antibodies, and other chemicals that help us fight infections. There are two main parts of the immune system. The ‘specific’ part that consists of lymphocytes (T cells and B cells) that produce antibodies that target specific viruses and bacteria for destruction. This part of our immune system builds immunity after we have been exposed to a particular virus. It continues to develop as we get older and are exposed to different microorganisms. Many different strains of viruses cause colds and flus, and that is why we don’t develop life-long immunity and can be vulnerable to getting these infections again each year. The ‘non-specific’ part of our immune system is our body’s first-line defense. It is made up of immune cells that are readily available in our blood and cells to immediately kill bacteria, viruses, parasites, and fungi. This is the part of our immune system that we are innately born with and is ready for action from the beginning. The specific and non-specific parts of the immune system work closely together to protect and rid the body of infections.

Our goal as naturopathic doctors is to support your body’s innate defense mechanisms by encouraging immune function instead of suppressing your symptoms with over the counter medications.

The most important aspect of health is prevention. Our primary focus at Living Wellness Medical Center is to prevent illness and disease. We support the body’s immunity by focusing on lifestyle factors such as dietary modifications, stress management, sleep, and exercise.

Naturopathic medicine also has many tools to help boost the immune system and treat infections with natural means rather than taking medications that can have harmful side effects.

Acute vs. Chronic Infections:

Acute infections: symptoms typically come on suddenly and resolve within a week or a month. The symptoms can be mild or severe, and treatments focus on boosting the immune system and killing the bacteria or virus, causing the symptoms. Patients usually make a full recovery without any long-term issues.

Chronic infections: symptoms can come on suddenly but more typically develop slowly over time. Symptoms last longer than a month and even for years in some cases. Treatments focus on boosting the immune system and, if possible, killing the virus, bacteria, parasite, or fungi that are causing symptoms. EBV (Epstein-Barr virus is an example of a virus that can become more chronic. Acutely EBV causes Mononucleosis (Mono), which typically causes fever, sore throat, swollen glands, and fatigue. These symptoms will usually resolve within a week or two, but in some cases, they don’t. Some people can also have a reactivation of the EBV virus years after their initial exposure, which can cause symptoms like fatigue.

At Living Wellness Medical Center, we are skilled in treating both acute and chronic infections. Treatments are always individualized according to our patient’s needs.

Immune Support

  • Vitamins & Minerals
  • Herbs – there are numerous herbs used to upregulate and downregulate the immune system. Your Living Wellness physician will customize your immune protocol using herbs based on your specific situation.
  • Probiotics – The immune system is largely mediated by the gut microbiome. Beneficial bacteria in the gut help to support the immune system by reducing harmful bacteria in the gut. We encourage our patients to increase their probiotic dosage if they are prescribed antibiotics. Talk to your doctor about which strains and how much of them your probiotic supplement should contain.
  • Mushrooms – Cordyceps, Shitake, Maitake, Coriolus, and Reishi are rich in beta-glucan, a phytochemical known for its immune-supporting properties.
  • High dose Vitamin C (IV) – A powerful antioxidant, vitamin C is a staple for immune support. Higher doses of vitamin C can cause loose stool. If you experience looser stools with vitamin C, decrease your dose by 1 gram or until loose stools subside. We also offer high dose Vitamin C IV’s for immune and anti-viral support.

Nutritional IV Therapy

When nutrients are delivered intravenously, the digestion is bypassed, and 100% absorption of those nutrients is achieved. Many illnesses and conditions are associated with digestive problems, food sensitivities, and intestinal inflammation. IVs bypass the digestive system, which sometimes blocks the absorption of nutrients. The intravenous method targets nutrients directly to where they are needed: the cells. Introducing nutrients in this way immediately opens the circulation to all parts of your body so all the cells can be flooded with life-giving nutrients and antioxidants in a way you can’t get with oral supplements or even exercise. Read more about IV Therapy and its benefits here: IV Therapy and Injection Treatments.

B Vitamin Injections

B vitamin injections are effective treatment tools to enhance energy, metabolism, focus, and immunity. Vitamins administered intramuscularly, bypass liver metabolism. Bypassing the liver allows the vitamins to be absorbed by the blood and have an instant, active effect. Similar to nutrient IVs, vitamin injections don’t contain binders, fillers, or additives commonly used in vitamin supplements. With IVs and injections, you get pure, therapeutic dosages of the good stuff!

Engystol Immune Shot

Engystol is an all-natural homeopathic remedy given as an injection once a month as a preventative for flu season. It has scientifically proven anti-viral activity and is effective in treating and preventing viruses such as influenza, herpes simplex 1, rhinovirus, and RSV (Human respiratory syncytial virus). Learn more about Engystol here: Get Your Homeopathic Flu Shot.

  • Relieves cold and flu symptoms including runny nose, sore throat, muscle aches, and mild fever
  • Reduces the duration of viral infections
  • Scientifically and clinically proven effective
  • No known side effects, contraindications or interactions
  • Boosts your white cell blood count by as much as 41%

Ozone Therapy

The oxidative property of ozone makes it a powerful therapeutic agent in the body. Ozone promotes increased production of one of our antioxidants, glutathione. We call glutathione the “master antioxidant” of the body. Glutathione is not only our strongest antioxidant, but it also serves to recycle and restore other antioxidants in our bodies, like vitamin C, vitamin E, selenium, and alpha-lipoic acid. We administer ozone either through an IV or an intramuscular injection. Read more about ozone and its many health benefits here: Subcutaneous Ozone Injections.

Call 480-588-6856 to schedule a FREE
brief meet and greet with a naturopathic doctor.

  • K S.K S.Yelp

    Dr. Brouwer has been my doctor for two years now. I have never felt better! She is such a great doctor!! She was able to quickly get my hormone levels... Read More

  • Shagun M.Shagun M.Yelp

    I see Dr. Marchese at this practice - I followed her from Longevity Medical Health Center and have been seeing her since 2014. She is AMAZING! She is... Read More

  • Albert SandovalAlbert SandovalPowered by Google

    My wife has seen Dr. Watkins since last year after having stomach issues. After her first visit with Dr. Watkins she had a plan of action. After the first couple of weeks of following her plan, she started noticing a big positive shift in her symptoms and after a few months, many of the issues had gone away. Above all, the support that she received from Dr. Watkins and Living Wellness has made all the difference. This place is truly a life-changing experience and has changed our perspective on healthcare. We love Living Wellness!

    Read More
  • jennifer williamsjennifer williamsPowered by Google

    I have seen Dr. Watkins for almost a year. She has addressed many issues including digestive, menopause, and hot flashes. Dr. Watkins was attentive to my needs, she also listened. I highly recommend her, she really cares about her patients. I was thankful she could help me, she can help you too.

    Read More
  • Erika GrandeErika GrandePowered by Google

    I am so grateful to have met Dr. Watkins! It is not often that you meet a doctor that desires to get to the root of an issue AND genuinely cares. I am a detail-oriented person, and she recognized that and explained how things should function vs how things were functioning for me, all at a level that was easily understood with the right amount of technical information. Dr. Watkins is smart as well as intuitive – rather than throw prescriptions at me for individual ailments, she treats the overall body, connecting my various medical issues and guiding me through the process to healing. She is a breath of fresh air, and she makes it easy to talk to her about anything.

    Read More
  • Michelle B.Michelle B.Yelp

    I started at Living Wellness Medical Center about a year and a half ago. My biggest regret is that I didn't start sooner! I had been resistant to... Read More

  • Carey MillerCarey MillerPowered by Google

    I began to see Dr. Watkins for some general Women's Health issues and she was incredible to work with. She helped my body become more balanced, pain was relieved naturally, and my body was prepared for a healthy pregnancy. She is kind, knowledgable, and very supportive!

    Read More
  • jay wilcoxjay wilcoxPowered by Google

    I have been working with Dr. Olivia Watkins for over two years now. She is truly a partner in my ongoing health care. Her smart and inquisitive approach means that we get to the root cause of issues sooner with better results. She is open to alternative approaches and has laughed with me every step of the way. I am grateful for a health care provider that cares as much as Dr. Watkins does, I truly believe she has my best interests in mind.

    Read More

Medical Disclaimer

All material on this website is for informational and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for the advice provided by your healthcare professional or physician.

Living Wellness Medical Center

The American Association of Naturopathic Pysicians Arizona Naturopathic Medical Association

Living Wellness Medical Center
4440 North 36th St. #110
Phoenix, AZ 85018
Get Directions

Phone: 480-588-6856
Fax: 480-307-6019
Mon-Thurs (9-5) & Fri (9-2)
Click to Email Us

Phoenix Magazine Top Doctor

Living Wellness Medical Center on Yelp Dr Turner on Google+Living Wellness Medical Center on TwitterLiving Wellness Medical Center on PinterestLiving Wellness Medical Center on Facebook

Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Disclaimer

Copyright © 2021 · Outreach Pro on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

Copyright © 2015 Living Wellness Medical Center