The capabilities of Anasa Personalized Medicine to provide exemplary naturopathic and functional medicine care are expanding. This fall, the Providence, Rhode Island-based practice will welcome a fourth naturopathic doctor, a massage therapist and a dedicated nutritionist to its team which currently includes owner Dr. Chrysanthi Kazantzis (“Dr. Kaz”), ND, MS; Dr. Noelle Cardarelli, ND, DAc; and Dr. Brenda Bithoney, ND. Further, Anasa is adding four treatment rooms to its current space to accommodate more patients and help provide the new services which will include lymphatic drainage massage therapy, escharotics and enhanced nutrition planning.  

The new doctor will apply advanced education in clinical nutrition, herbal medicine, homeopathy and lifestyle medicine to provide personalized treatment plans. They also add complementary services, such as massage, reiki, craniosacral therapy to help relieve stress, which in and of itself causes disease.  

Lymphatic drainage massage applies light pressure and rhythmic movements to encourage lymph drainage, as opposed to Swedish massage which promotes relaxation, loosens up tight muscles, and improves circulation. Lymphatic massage helps to restore a healthy immune system and eliminate toxins by moving them back into circulation where they can be cleared by other organs. This gentler form of massage helps reduce swelling caused by lymphedema, a situation where excess lymphatic fluids collect in the body, usually in the arms and legs and often a result of surgery or injury. 

Escharotic therapy is a topical treatment of the cervix, relying on bromelain and zinc chloride along with a more gentle, botanical formula. Naturopathic doctors use this, in conjunction with lifestyle, diet and nutritional supplementation recommendations, to treat cervical dysplasia. This is a condition in which abnormal cells grow on the surface of the cervix and is commonly caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV).

Nutrition is the essence of good health, and Anasa provides each patient with a personalized diet based on current health concerns, medical history, family history and functional lab testing. The latter function identifies metabolic imbalances, nutritional deficiencies and environmental factors that promote disease. Testing indicates vitamin and mineral levels, heavy metal presence, food sensitivities, genetic predispositions, gastrointestinal bacterial counts and much more.  Personalized remedies, nutritional plans and recommended lifestyle changes combine to bring both body and mind back into balance.

At Anasa, patients are introduced to the most up-to-date research and receive expert guidance and access to the newest functional lab testing and high-quality supplements and natural products. With a strong passion for helping people, the doctors are attentive and explain everything clearly in a way that is easy to understand. Over the course of treatment, a trusting relationship develops as doctors support their patients’ health journey, always inviting questions along the way. 

Naturopathic doctors embrace the practice of collaborative care. “Increasingly, we are coordinating care with medical doctors,” says Dr. Kaz. “Come to Anasa, and we’ll help you put all the pieces together and move toward achieving optimal health.” Anasa Personalized Medicine specializes in digestive conditions, thyroid issues, Lyme disease, mold toxicity, diabetes and nutrition, chronic illness, mood disorders, prenatal, pregnancy and postnatal health.

Wendy Nadherny Fachon is a frequent contributor to Natural Awakenings magazine.