COLUMNIST BUSINESS TALK Practising in matrimony I Chiropractic and Naturopathy, married to each other BY DR. ANTHONY J. LOMBARDI would like to formally welcome our newly expanded readership. Naturopathic medicine has played a star-ring role in my personal life and I am thrilled that this publication has merged both chiropractic and natur-opathy together. Appropriately, I was able to interview Dr. Ernie Bagnulo and Dr. Laura Imola who are a chiropractor and naturo-path respectively, and are also married to one another. They own and operate WIN (Wellness Institute of Niagara), with locations in Niagara Falls and Fonthill. This interview provides our readership with a snapshot of how this multi-disciplinary office functions and provides helpful ideas for practitioners thinking about adding another discipline to their practice. Lombardi: Give our readership a brief outline of the path you both took to your respective professions and what influenced your journey. Ernie: I wanted to be a chiropractor since I was in high school. I had a cousin who was a chiropractor and being an active and athletic teenager, I sought out his services and always had positive results. I wanted to do the same thing for a living; I enjoyed the ability to make a difference with manual therapy, almost immediately. It’s a wonderful ability to change someones circumstance in a positive manner from the first visit. Laura: I knew I wanted to help people in their health, however I didn’t feel the conventional health professions were a fit for me as a career goal. I realized naturopathic medicine was a fit when I learned that naturopathic doctors offer a number of treatment options to address health con-cerns. In addition to helping to keep people healthy, a sig-nificant part of care involves health education, proactive health care and preventative medicine. Lombardi: Dr. Imola, how do your apply naturopathic medicine to your practice? Is there a particular sub-set or group of condi-tions that your practice has a special interest in? Laura: In my practice I listen to the health concern of the patient and combine this with the patient¹s health his-tory, diagnostic testing, physical assessment and usage of pharmaceutical medication to create an individualized treatment plan that is the best fit for that patient. I utilize an eclectic approach to naturopathic medicine, with a focus on regulating the physiology of the body and promoting optimal health. My approach involves practicing all funda-mental naturopathic therapeutics which includes nutrition, herbal medicine (Eastern and Western herbs), homeopathy (biotherapeutic drainage), nutritional supplements, acu-puncture (Eastern and Western models), hydrotherapy, and lifestyle counselling. This eclectic approach has enabled me safely and effectively treat patients of all ages and in all health situations. Through my approach over the last 17 years, I have kept my practice largely a general practice where all patients, whether they are presenting acute or chronic concerns or looking to live healthier lives, they can receive care. Lombardi: Dr. Bagnulo, how do your apply chiropractic medicine to your practice? Is there a particular sub-set or group of condi-tions that your practice has a special interest in? Ernie: In our practice we utilize a model of chiropractic that identifies functional limitations. We attempt to seek out why the function exists and try to correct those reasons – whether it’s a traumatic issue or one of repetition or poor adaptation. We utilize techniques and practices that are www.Cndoctor.ca ANTHONY LOMBARDI, DC, is a private consultant to athletes in the NFL, CFL and NHL, and founder of the Hamilton Back Clinic, a multidisciplinary clinic. He teaches his fundamental EXSTORE Assessment System and practice building workshops to various health professionals. For more information, visit www.exstore.ca. 12 Chiropractic and Naturopathic Doctor July/August 2020 © graja / Adobe Stock
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