I am a Doctor of Oriental Medicine in Clearwater, Florida. Initially trained in acupressure, then in massage therapy, I finally ended up with a Master’s degree in Oriental Medicine in 2004 from the East West College of Natural Medicine in Sarasota. My approach combines acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine and high quality nutritional supplements, if needed, with a whole-foods, plant-based nutrition recommendation. I also utilize massage therapy and cupping therapy for musculo-skeletal pain conditions. In practice since 2004, I see many women for endometriosis and fertility related health conditions, as well as cancer patients who are currently undergoing conventional cancer treatments, or who have recently completed their treatments. Of course, plant-based nutrition is a top recommendation for all of my patients, especially those with any sort of chronic and/or degenerative health condition. 

Having been through my own journey of seeking a healthy way of living the vegan lifestyle out of compassion for the animals and Mother Earth, I determine to be the champion for the voiceless, both the animals and the Inner Doctor. I am the first vegan acupuncturist to ever climbed Mt Kilimanjaro and am the founder of Center for Healing By Design, a 501c3 non-profit organization with the mission to empower people worldwide with revolutionary self-care education, experience, and tools, to help them get in touch with their Inner Doctor and live healthy and compassionate lives in harmony with Mother Earth and all living beings. I use the most organic and non-invasive ways of diagnosing and treating while informing and empowering vegan/vegetarian change leaders and professionals to take control of their own lives by overcoming their health challenges and taking their health to the next level without compromising but more powerfully champion their compassionate values. 

Jessica Blanchard is a registered dietitian, dedicated Ayurvedic practitioner, and yoga teacher. She’s on a mission to help you use food, yoga and wellness to super-charge your health— without forcing you to stick to one set of rules or another. She owns Balance Yoga & Wellness center in New Orleans, and offers online nutritional counseling and writing at www.stopfeelingcrappy.com

At Salus WellCare, our physicians focus on the prevention, treatment and reversal of chronic illness by understanding and treating the underlying causes. We know that food is our medicine and most chronic illness can be prevented and reversed by incorporating a whole food, plant-based nutrition plan as a healthy lifestyle change.

I utilize the intelligence and abundance of nature to bring individual beings to balance….For me Food IS medicine!

I am part of a team of functional I am part of a team of functional medicine practitioners. We help guide our clients towards a balanced lifestyle addressing physical, emotional, nutritional mental and spiritual needs. We are also a manufacturer of organic herbal products and use these in conjunction with health services including custom made supplement packages to address the imbalances in the body

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I am a plant based acupuncturist and chinese herbalist. We specialize in pain management with acupuncture and massage, we accept many forms of insurance.

My goal is to educate individuals in truth that they may come to living healthy, happy lives devoid of outside intervention.

Integrated and Nutritional Medicine

Dr. Ritamarie specializes in using plant-based nutrition along with functional medicine assessments to get to the root cause and restore balance, with a special emphasis on the hormones that contribute to chronic illness – thyroid, adrenal, and insulin imbalances. We offer practitioner training programs empower health and nutrition professionals — including health coaches, physicians, nutritionists, nurses, and others — to use functional assessments and plant based nutrition to unravel the mystery of complex health challenges.

Traditional Ayurvedic medicine and also Chinese medicine both teach that the root cause of all disease lies in digestion. “We are what we eat” is more than a euphemism. The foundation of my work as a doctor is to help people connect what they’re eating with what they’re feeling. I try to support my patients in finding the joy of eating whole foods that nourish their cells. I believe wholeheartedly that a whole foods, plant based diet is the key to long term health, regardless of genetics or the specific disease present. Each person is at their own unique place on their journey so I aim to meet my orients exactly where they’re currently at. Whether it is simply including more fruits and vegetables or cutting out animal products all together, I help my patients find recipes and meal plans that will work for their schedule and budget. I have seen so many lives transformed, including my own, by aligning the values of compassion and non violence with the daily eating ritual.

Herbalist/Acupuncturist

Chinese Medicine & Naturopathy