The NaturoMedica clinic in Sammamish is getting ready to celebrate its second anniversary.

NaturoMedica was founded by three naturopathic physicians — Dr. Tammy McInnis of North Bend, Dr. Jill Monster of Sammamish and Dr. Naomi Bryant of Issaquah. They met during medical school at Bastyr University, where they discovered they shared a similar philosophy on health care.

“We felt that people wanted a better solution for their healthcare needs – one that combines the best of what natural medicine and conventional healthcare have to offer, along with highly personalized service and modern technology,” Monster said. “We are passionate about our medicine and get tremendous satisfaction when we see improvement in our patients’ health.”

The type of medicine practiced at NaturoMedica can be described as “blended medicine,” where the doctors use conventional treatments along with natural therapies to treat the underlying cause, rather than just treating the symptoms. The NaturoMedica doctors often prescribe botanical medicines as well as pharmaceuticals.

While most patients want to minimize the number of medications that they are taking, “we also understand that medications can be a necessity,” Bryant said.

The three doctors don’t seem themselves at odds with conventional medical doctors.

“We are located right across the street from a Swedish physician facility and we find ourselves referring back and forth frequently,” Bryant said. “We all want to do what is best for our patients.”

NaturoMedica is a different kind of medical clinic — its lobby feels more like a stylish living room than a waiting room and includes a retail area with medical-grade wellness products. A patient’s first office visit typically lasts for two hours and follow up visits last for about an hour.

The three physicians agree that much of their time is spent solving medical puzzles. Many of their patients have seen multiple specialists before arriving with frustrating health conditions.

“Our patients often arrive with a variety of symptoms that they have seen various specialists for,” McInnis said. “Often, we are able to look at the various complaints and find a common theme. By putting the pieces together and solving the puzzle, we help our patients move toward optimal health, rather than just treating each symptom individually.”

NaturoMedica doctors commonly treat conditions, such as hormonal issues, digestive complaints, high cholesterol, diabetes, autoimmune diseases, allergies and fatigue. Many of their patients are focused on preventive care and seek advice regarding vitamins, supplements and nutrition. Patients are especially interested in topics such as food allergies and bio-identical hormone replacement therapy.

The NaturoMedica model appears to be working. The clinic has experienced rapid growth, even in the current economy. The clinic is located in Pine Lake Plaza at 2830 228th Ave S.E. Suite C.

For more information, call (425) 557-8900 or visit www.naturomedica.com.