The human body is an incredibly complex organism with systems inextricably connected. One parti- cular issue can be caused by a completely different part of the body. A knee pain could be traced to something as simple as iron deficiency, which could be caused by digestive issues which are impacting the overall structure of the body. Piecing the various parts of the puzzle together is what Ottawa Holistic Wellness (OHW) aims to do. The clinic has a team of professionals specializing in an array of services, from chiropractic, osteopathy and nutrition to allergy testing and acupuncture, from Reiki to massage, hypnosis and light and colour therapy, just to name a few.
“We’re all about helping people find out why they’re sick or have health problems,” says Sue Taylor, Natural Allergist and Energy Healer at OHW. “It’s not about me simply fixing you. It’s about opening doors and creating a lifestyle where you actually remain well and continue to improve and regain optimum health, if possible.”
Today, people are taking their health into their own hands and seeking alternatives or complementary care for traditional medical practices. Taylor says she wants to empower people with education, to give them tools to really help themselves as well as to provide advice on treatments.
This genuine philosophy and work ethic is shared among the entire team at OHW. With its zen-like environment in the clinic on MacLaren Avenue, the OHW is a place where people can go who are looking for a more personalized experience outside of a sterile hospital.
“We want people to know they can trust us,” says Dominick Hussey, an Osteopathic Manual Practitioner at OHW (also Taylor’s husband). “Patients know I will listen and understand them. If I can’t figure it out myself, then I have a great team to consult and help them.”
Both hail from London, England. Taylor is a former police officer, while Hussey comes from a business background. He decided to pursue his interest in natural medicine and graduating from the British College of Naturopathy and Osteopathy. Taylor completed a course in Natural Allergy Therapy at the College of Naturopathic Medicine in London.
“I stumbled across allergy treatments when Dominick was studying,” explained Taylor. “He treated me and now I can eat everything I couldn’t before. That sparked my interest.”
For Hussey, his practice has evolved to include investigating allergies.
“Sue was my guinea pig in the beginning,” he joked. “I saw a huge connection between food and diet and physical problems. I began to dig into gluten and food sensitivities and how they affect people.” In fact, Taylor and Hussey practice what they preach, following a gluten-free, paleo diet. Both have had their own personal health issues, including cancer in Taylor’s case.
“Ottawa is the allergy capital of North America,” said Hussey. “It’s a big valley and a lot of people who come here from the far East or developing countries get sick and acquire allergies. One of those reasons is because there is more wheat and gluten here than Europe as well as fluoride in the water and mould in spring.”
By working together with clients, the team at OHW hopes to help as many people as possible improve their health and lives.