Alternative route: Complementary medical practices abound in the Flathead

The Flathead Valley is fortunate in many ways, especially medically. With two hospitals among the best in the Inland Northwest and dozens of independent medical practices, Flathead residents are well-served for a rural area.

On the tail of this medical boom in the valley are the alternative or “complementary” medical practitioners available.

Lynn Troy, a naturopathic doctor, is one of these practitioners.

“My initial approach with patients is to do a detailed diet analysis,” she said. “And then, if it is appropriate, I recommend herbal supplements and diet supplements before other medicine.”

Troy is a naturopath, a licensed physician in Montana who prefers nutrition, natural medicine and vitamins over prescription pills. She works with the Montana Center for Wellness and Pain Management (a part of Kalispell Regional Healthcare) and one of their “modalities.” Other modalities include radiographic evaluation, psychology, massage therapy, mental health and physical therapy.

Troy, who has been with Kalispell Regional for three years, works with patients to find natural remedies for what ails them.

She’s far from the only alternative practitioner in the valley. Troy is one of five naturopaths in the Flathead.

Kali Gillen, on the other hand, is one of nearly 40 local chiropractors. 

“The basis of chiropractic care is that your body has the ability to heal itself,” she said. “We all have the potential to be over 100 years old.”

Gillen, who runs a practice with fellow chiropractor Stacy Livingston, recently gave a presentation to the seniors of the Kalispell Senior Center on how to improve quality of life and increase pain management.

“Basically, we ask what their idea of healing is,” Livingston said. “It’s about getting them to think with a more open mind.”

Gillen and Livingston are practitioners of a science that has been largely accepted by the medical community. That wasn’t always the case, and there still are controversies surrounding the effectiveness of manipulating the musculoskeletal system to treat patients. Part of the controversy with chiropractic care is the variety its practitioners use in treatment. 

“We still get doubters,” Gillen said. “Everyone has different techniques. It really depends on what time they went to school for it. The older ones still maintain the body will heal itself.”

With alternative medicine, studies proving the effectiveness are far and few between, so diversity in the practice can be commonplace.

But some practitioners, such as Melissa Pfannenstiel — a licensed acupuncturist — subscribe to a tried-and-true method.

“Acupuncture does date back 2,000 or 3,000 years,” she said. “Such a long-standing medicine has proven its worth.”

Pfannenstiel has a private practice in Whitefish, but spends one day a week at Glacier Medical Associates and is on call at North Valley Hospital. Similarly to naturopathy and chiropractic practices, she asks medical questions to help discover the source of pain or stress.

A typical session with her involves between 20 and 35 needles inserted on the front and back. She specializes in other ancient Chinese techniques such acupressure and “cupping” — using cups and suction to “draw out stress.”

“Sometimes [the patients] come to me as a last resort,” Pfannenstiel said. “They’ve tried everything else. I get people afraid of needles. If they come in and are rigid, they are not as able to receive the benefits.”

She said acupuncture is a cumulative healing process and even the most open-minded person might not see results after the first visit. She believes Flathead Valley residents want to see local businesses succeed, even if they don’t necessarily adhere to practices like acupuncture.

Jennifer Munyer, a yoga therapist, agreed.

“It’s an emerging field,” she said. “People are willing to give it a shot, but part of the process is educating people to let them know what the benefits of yoga therapy are.”

Munyer is teaching a six-week workshop at Imagine Health in Columbia Falls. Her workshop includes looking for “metaphors” in the body that can be indicative of larger health or mental-health issues.

Her field, which combines the physicality of yoga and her own psychology background, is indicative of many alternative medicine practices. As a yoga therapist, she believes the body is intelligent and seeking balance. Imbalances are what cause diseases and stress on the body, according to much of alternative medicine.

Local hospitals have taken note. 

Both Kalispell Regional Medical Center and North Valley Hospital employ or contract with some of these complementary physicians and practitioners. Some doctors work side-by-side with the alternative practitioners.

“I like to work with medical doctors to get the best of both worlds,” Troy said. “We’re very accustomed to the idea that a pill is the best way to fix something and it isn’t always.”

Using these alternative medicines can be effective and cheaper than just pills, since many of them require openness to lifestyle changes.

And for the people of the Flathead, anything that can save money and improve health in the long run seems to be worth a little experimentation. 

Reporter Ryan Murray may be reached at 758-4436 or by email at rmurray@dailyinterlake.com.