Rain Shadow Integrative Medicine
Who: Carolyn N. DeSalvo, MD
Where: 346 N. Sequim Ave., Sequim
Phone: 360-504-3243
Website: www.rainshadowintegrativemedicine.com
Hours: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Wednesday, 12-8 p.m. Thursday
When a patient calls a new medical practice specializing in women’s health care, one person makes the appointment, takes vital signs, listens to the chief complaint and prescribes treatment. At Rain Shadow Integrative Medicine, Dr. Carolyn DeSalvo believes less is more.
“I’m a micro-practice so it’s very personal and I’ll call back with lab results, too. It’s kind of old-fashioned in a way. Traditional medicine does a great job with acute illnesses but in the management of chronic illnesses, it does less of a good job.”
Integrative medicine focuses therapy more on the mind/body/spirit triad when compared to traditional medicine, she said, noting practitioners also look deeply into how a patient’s lifestyle and nutrition contribute to or detract from her health.
DeSalvo earned her medical degree in obstetrics/gynecology from the University of Kansas, completed her residency at the University of Texas, returned to Kansas in private practice and became interested in integrative medicine while working at a college in women’s health. She completed a fellowship in the field a year ago at the University of Arizona. This past June, she and her husband, Frank DeSalvo, moved to Sequim from Kansas, after his retirement. Rain Shadow Integrative Medicine opened in early November and is accepting new patients.
“Integrative medicine looks at the mind, body and spirit and tries to form a partnership between the patient and provider to work toward optimal health, not just the absence of disease,” DeSalvo said. “I spend a long time with my patients, usually an hour initially, to get their nutritional, medical, family and stress management histories. I want to get to the root of the problem. In traditional medicine, I had no nutrition courses but integrative medicine sees food as medicine — what’s put in our bodies is so important.”
Along with their positive properties, some foods, unknown to the patient, can cause systemic inflammatory responses, too, so DeSalvo guides the patient away from those foods and toward others that act as natural anti-inflammatory agents.
Consultations take place over tea and talk in a cozy room with soothing grey walls. She also has an exam room for medical evaluations. A major focus is on changes in diet and exercise.
“I do talk about supplements but I think we should get most of our supplements from our diet. I always like adding food to a diet rather than adding another pill,” DeSalvo said. “Integrative medicine helps people take personal responsibility — it’s more of a partnership of making goals which I think is missing in traditional medicine. I can go either way on (ordering) labs. I’m willing to do it but it’s really expensive.”
For example, if someone came in with chronic gastrointestinal complaints, instead of doing a lot of tests initially, DeSalvo would tend to prescribe probiotics and a diet high in fiber, fruits and vegetables. She also emphasizes increasing Omega-3 fats and decreasing Omega-6 fats by eating plants, such as avocados, and fish. Also key to stasis in the body is maintaining an even blood sugar, she said, rather than having wild glucose swings after eating by switching from processed to non-processed flour in carbohydrates. DeSalvo explained that processed flour is absorbed quickly, leading to a glucose spike.
For example, instead of the ubiquitous breakfast sandwich at the drive-thru, make one at home without the muffin and sausage, but with an egg, pile of spinach and cheese. Or whip up a smoothie with fruits and vegetables.
DeSalvo also is a licensed gynecologist in Washington and said she really enjoys taking care of peri-menopausal and menopausal women with symptoms and polycystic ovarian syndrome, which she called a common hormone problem.
“I’m very excited to get to know people and I think I’m fairly unique here,” DeSalvo said. “I really want to hear people’s stories and have them get out of the experience what they want to get out of it. I want to keep my patient roster small but I’m definitely accepting new patients. It’s a challenge but I think with some help people can make changes for a big difference.”
DeSalvo said she does not contract with insurance companies but will provide a super-bill with a diagnosis code and charges for the patient to file — she is considered an out-of-network provider.
Rain Shadow Integrative Medicine, at 346 N. Sequim Ave., just south of Olympic Theatre Arts, will have a ribbon-cutting at 5 p.m. during the First Friday Art Walk on Jan. 8, followed by an open house from 5-8 p.m.
