Clinic aims to treat problems, not just symptoms Docs hold seminar on holistic approach to treating illness BY KATHY CHANG Staff Writer WOODBRIDGE - Do you suffer from chronic pain and fatigue? Dr. John Reisert, Dr. Michael Rothman, and the team of doctors at Alternative Integrated Medical Services (AIMS) LLC, 150-A Tices Lane, East Brunswick, may have the solution with their whole-body holistic approach. The doctors said patients come to the AIMS clinic, which has been in business for over 35 years, suffering with chronic fatigue syndrome, insomnia, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and digestive disorders. Rothman and Reisert offered a free seminar for people inquiring about their chronic pain, fatigue, and sleepless nights, etc., at the Fords Public Library on July 30 through the Wellness Education Foundation, which is also based in East Brunswick. Approximately 30 people attended the event, seeking a solution to their pain. "When viewing chronic disease, it's important to look at all sides of the equilateral triangle," said Reisert, who is the co-founder of the AIMS clinic. "A lot of times, people will do only one side of the triangle, going to a chiropractor but not doing exercise, or vice versa." Reisert, who is a leader in chiropractic and has specialized in natural and preventative health care for the past 30 years, said it was important to train the core muscles to correct one's position. Reisert's approach to optimal health is to detect, reduce or remove nervous system dysfunction - also known as vertebral subluxation. "My goal is to empower others with the tools vital to making educated choices regarding their health," said Reisert, who provides programs for schools, organizations and merchants within the community. Rothman, who has spent the past 20 years helping his patients understand the "how and why" of their health as well as providing care utilizing natural, holistic, nontoxic methods, said he believes that medication that is given out these days is only a temporary fix to one's problem. "For example, when someone breaks their leg, crutches are temporarily used until the leg heals," said Rothman. "One may go to the doctor with a wheezing problem, and the doctor may diagnose that person with asthma. Or, one may go to the doctor and say their muscles hurt, and the doctor may diagnose them with fibromyalgia." Rothman said there is a problem with the doctors' diagnoses. "The person is not finding out what may have caused their wheezing or what may have caused their muscles to hurt," he said. "Yes, wheezing and muscles hurting can be treated by drugs, but rather than treating the symptom, we [at the AIMS clinic] treat the problem." Rothman said his goal is to find the imbalances in a person and fix those imbalances rather than focus on the symptoms. The doctors said it was important for people to not take at face value the things they're told are "good for you." "A lot of things that are touted as good for you might not be so good for you," said Rothman. "For example, taking too much calcium could block other vitamins and minerals, like vitamin D." Reisert added that a low-fat diet means a high-carbohydrate diet. "These things that are considered gospel are misinforming people," said Reisert. "The American Heart Association even endorsed grape juice, saying it would lower cholesterol, but the drink clogs arteries," he said. Rothman provided another example to represent the difference between treating symptoms and treating the problems. "A person's vehicle stalls at a stop sign, so the person takes their vehicle to get serviced," said Rothman. "The repairman says the problem with your car is the idle meter on the speedometer is too slow. So after your car is repaired, your car does not stall again, but another problem arises. Now your car's idle meter on the speedometer is going too fast." Rothman said the vehicle has problem after problem, side effect after side effect, from just treating the symptom. "It gets ridiculous," he said. "But if the repairman just looked under the hood of the car, he would have found the source of the problem." Rothman said the doctors at the AIMS clinic would give a more integrated holistic approach to their patients. "This is not a quick fix, and this approach is not for everybody," he said. "The first thing I ask my patients is, 'What did you eat today?' When you come to the clinic, we look at you as a whole person. We can't promise anything, but I have seen an 80 to 90 percent significant improvement in my patients." Reisert said the reason the approach is not for everybody is because people have to also give up some things they might not want to give up. "I had a patient who did not want to give up bread, but the patient had a yeast infection, and I had another patient who did not want to give up coffee," said Reisert. "It's not going to be easy, but we provide education for our patients. And if you are already sick, we will guide you to be well." The doctors also said they don't believe in the saying "It runs in the family." "There was a group of Pima Indians who were warriors and nomadic people," said Reisert. "They lived in the desert in New Mexico. The average age these people lived to was 77 years old. They said the reason why they lived so long was because they had incredible genes." That was 100 years ago. "Now, their average age of living is 44 years old," said Reisert. "The reason why is because of obesity and diabetes. We are living in a different environment of McDonald's and Burger King. It doesn't mean it runs in the family." For more information about the AIMS clinic, visit www.aimsclinic.com or call (732) 254-5553.