The team at Natural Elements Health Center is pleased to share comments from some of our patients.
This is a letter of recommendation for Dr Christine Schlenker and Maria Werner. Through my birth story I would like to recommend Christine and Maria in the strongest possible terms to any pregnant woman as the benefits of their care are vast and amazing!
As a British Registered Midwife, I had many concerns about giving birth to my seventh baby in a new country where I was unfamiliar with the system.
I had planned to have a home birth from the beginning and quickly found a midwife to support me through my journey.
My pregnancy was uneventful (if you ignore moving halfway across the world in the seventeenth week). My previous pregnancies had been uncomplicated, with babies all born naturally ranging in weight, from 8lb 2oz to 9lb 13oz.
My labor this time, however, was unusual. I began to dilate at 39 weeks without being in labor. I requested that my midwife strip my membranes at that stage, as I had a history of going up to 2 weeks late and my midwife felt that the baby was a good size. At that stage I was 6 cm dilated, but not in labor. At 40 weeks I was checked again and was 8 cm dilated – not in labor! I was having some strong contractions, but with big gaps of 20 minutes, 1 hour, 2 hours. My midwife became nervous as her journey was 40 minutes door to door and we all knew that once I did start to labor there might not be much time.
However, there I stayed for 2 days, with violent contractions, transitional in their intensity, but no progress, becoming increasingly exhausted.
This is a difficult story to tell and in order to understand fully the pivotal role that Christine Schlenker and Maria Werner played I need to skip forward in time to the hours and weeks after the birth of my son and then return to the labor as knowledge of the former informs the latter.
When my son was born it was obvious that there was a problem. His head was a very strange shape and his jaw was deeply recessed. His head was long, front to back, like a football and measured 15 inches (the average being 13.7 inches). We hoped it was excessive molding and that it would settle with time, but at 10 weeks of age sagittal synostosis was confirmed by an MRI scan at Children’s hospital. Sagittal synostosis is where the saggital suture that should divide the baby’s skull front to back to allow the brain to grow in the first 18 months becomes fused during the pregnancy. The only solution is surgery, which my son underwent at 4 months and has completely recovered from.
So back to my labor and with the benefit of hind sight, I think what had happened was that my sons head had got jammed in my pelvis laterally with his face towards one of my hips and the longest diameter presenting side to side. Because my body has labored many times before, my cervix didn’t need that deep pressure created by the descending head to dilate, it got to 8 cm almost on its own, but then became stuck with no head pressure to finish the job and despite my bodies best efforts I could not dislodge my sons unusual shaped head.
Enter Christine and Maria at about 6:30 after an exhausting and perplexing day (remember we were unaware of the problem with my sons head at the point). They came and I don’t know what I was expecting, but for some reason it wasn’t the smart, professional, compassionate young women who turned up. I was very tired and not really receptive to new people entering my birth space, but Christine and Maria seemed like two angels who came and saved me from what I am sure would have ended as my first C section without their help.
The next three hours are a bit blurred in my mind. I just remember that as soon as they began to speak, I felt a calm creep over me. I knew that they could help me and I tried to do everything that they asked. I remember lying on the floor and having my body moved in lots of different ways. I remember standing at the end of my bed and being supported by these amazing women as I went down into deep squats. I remember talking a lot about my past and how some of those things were having an effect on what my body was battling with now. I remember wonderful fragrances as they used aromatherapy oils. But most of all, I remember the feeling of being protected and loved during the three hours that they spent with me. Then they left, silently into the snowy night and I got into my tub and I was alone in the candlelight and the silence and my contractions came every 2 minutes and suddenly I was in control again and an hour later I birthed my beautiful son. Despite his head shape, it was an easy birth and quite wonderful.
The main point of me writing this for Christine and Maria is that from a professional view point and with the full benefit of hind sight, I am in no doubt that both in England and here, without their magical intervention I would have ended up with a C section, which for me would have been very upsetting. I am sure that my son was well and truly stuck and nothing my body did could move his elongated head.
I owe Christine and Maria a huge debt of thanks for everything they did for us that night. But also, for their professional approach, their compassionate presence, their tenderness and understanding and their support. Being a midwife means literally to be ‘with woman’ and that is what inspires me to do what I do and for me Christine and Maria were truly with this woman when I needed them. Thank you both.
NB. I was unaware of the benefits of the sort of care offered by Christine and Maria prior to my labor. I have since witnessed the benefits enjoyed by women who access this care throughout their pregnancies and this would be both my recommendation to women in my care and my plan for myself should I consider number eight!
Victoria Edwards RM CPM
TRIPLICHOL
I am a 55 year old male. Although I bicycle ride 1,500 to 3,000 miles a year I have always had high cholesterol. For years my doctor has prescribed Lipitor, however hearing of the side effects I only used it for a short period. I did try niacin (on the advice of my pharmacist) but my numbers actually went up.
Last fall I went to Dr. Christine Schlenker, a chiropractor in Milaca, MN. She suggested I try Triplichol. I bought a 2 month supply and after had my levels checked. I went from 325 to 250 in 60 days. Even my doctor was impressed and I am a true believer in your product.
But lowering my cholesterol was not the only benefit; it seemed my sleep improved and I felt better over-all. Thank you for this combination of supplements!!!
My wife also has high cholesterol and has been taking Crestor for years. Although she suffers from a fair amount of muscle pain which may or may not be related to Crestor (she does have liver profiles done every 3 months to look for damage), after seeing my results she is willing to try Triplichol.
I did find a comparable combination at GNC but don’t really care for it because it made me shaky.
Feel free to use this testimonial.
Jim vonMeier
Within an hours time my daughter was smiling and cooing at me!
At about 4 weeks old my newborn daughter became increasingly fussy and was almost impossible to burp. As the days went on she became inconsolable from about 7pm-1 or 2am every night. My husband and I have 2 other children, so we know most of the tricks that parents use to console their children, but nothing was working. Her cries were actually starting to sound very painful and desperate. That’s when my sister and my good friend, both are patients of Dr. Christine, suggested I try having a chiropractor adjust her. I was very skeptical, but I was willing to try anything at that point.
Dr. Christine was at that time in the process of opening her Natural Elements Health Center, Inc,. So she made a house call. (I thought this was wonderful.) After a very thorough evaluation, Dr. Christine was sure she could help my daughter. She discovered that my daughter’s hip was being pulled out of place by some very tight muscles on her right side, probably trauma from birth. This was also causing her to constantly lean to the right and was binding up her tummy. Dr. Christine gently massaged these muscles, adjusted a number of spots in her back and was able to put her hip back in place. Within an hours time my daughter was smiling and cooing at me. She had not done this in weeks. It was great! That night she was calm and happy all evening. She was even able to burp with ease. Dr. Christine came to see us two more times and my child has been great ever since. She even started sleeping through the night within days of her last visit. I am definitely a believer and am now also a patient of Dr. Christine’s at her newly opened clinic. Natural Elements is a very peaceful and healing environment. She is a truly talented and caring person. I am lucky to have her caring for me and my family and would recommend her and her clinic to anyone looking for a natural way to relieve aches and pains or to just feel more relaxed and energized.
Thank you Dr. Christine!
Angela Alkire 3/8/07
After my first visit, I felt like a new person.
A friend of mine referred me to Dr. Christine when I was about five months pregnant. My back and ribs hurt so bad I could hardly function from day to day. The pregnancy was beginning to not be so enjoyable. I had been to other chiropractors before and had no results so I was very skeptical.
At my first appointment I knew right away that she was not like most chiropractors. Dr. Christine sat me down and spoke to me like I was an actual person, not just another patient on her schedule for the day. It was nice to know that the person I was putting my trust in to help me, actually had my best interest at heart.
After my first visit, I felt like a new person. And every appointment after that just got better and better. I was able to enjoy being pregnant again. Finally I could work a full day without being in constant pain. I could sleep a full night and not wake up crying in pain. The results were amazing.
The first half of my pregnancy was wonderful, and Dr. Christine made the second half just as wonderful.
No one should have to be in that much pain during their pregnancy. You should enjoy every day of what you only experience a couple times in your life. No matter how far along you are, whether its your first month or your last, I highly recommend getting regular adjustments. Being pregnant is uncomfortable the way it is, why would you want to be more miserable than you have to be? Dr. Christine at Natural Elements Health Center can help you enjoy every single day of this wonderful time.
Devon Baker
For the first time in years I don’t have weekly migraines…
I first became a patient at Natural Elements Health Center in June 2007. The Craniosacral Therapy was the best (& most effective) thing I’ve ever done to target the ill effects of my whiplash. For the first time in years I don’t have weekly migraines and tension headaches, by receiving monthly messages and craniosacral therapy.
I finally have a sense of balance and well-being. I’m more relaxed and no longer suffer with pain. I handle stress better and am able to articulate what I need for my life to be healthier.
Everyone at Natural Elements is extremely professional and welcoming to patients. They are group of caring individuals by giving your services back to the community by donating your talents to those in very stressful jobs. I love this place!
Judy Pearson
I became a patient a year ago, and have been happy with all of the experiences I have had with Natural Elements Health Center. My son even enjoys it and has been asking when we are comin g back!
The energy, the care and insight/knowledge that is brought from all members of Natural Elements, is wonderful. I feel more balanced in health, body, and mind since my visits, and have peace of mind that I am taken care of and that a family member was taken care of in a special way. It has improved my life by bringing balance in health from chiropractic adjustments to craniosacral therapy.
A.M. 11/21/2009
I first became a patient on 11/22/2009. I am happy with all the services but I especially liked the reflexology and massage. I will definitely be back for those and the other services as well.
Natural Elements is a calm place to be, where you will be taken care of. Since receiving the services I feel relaxed and comfortable in my own skin. I haven’t had the chance to share the benefits with the rest of my life yet, but I’m sure that being relaxed and feeling comfortable with myself will help me in all aspects of my life.
Mimi Peterson
11/22/2009