MARY BALDASANO / Special to the PVT Dr. Joan Leaks endorses and promotes the AmeriSciences Co., which provides her nutritional supplements. Advertisement

After spending years working the side of medicine that addresses illnesses and how to treat them, Dr. Joan Leaks decided it would be more effective to promote prevention as well as conventional treatment.

She recently opened the Southwest Wellness Center at 2080 E. Calvada Blvd., Suite 500.

"I plan to provide an alternative to traditional medicine using AmeriSciences supplements that contain natural nutrients," Leaks said. "The center will also offer chiropractic, massage, hydro-colon, permanent makeup, body wraps, reflexology, weight loss and nutrition."

She added, "The idea is to help you get healthy and stay healthy by supplementing your diet with good natural supplements. I have researched many products, and, based on dissolution rate and nutritional quality, AmeriSciences is the best. This company also makes over-the-counter products."

Leaks practiced traditional medicine for 27 years. Her husband, George Leaks, has practiced optometry for 30 years. Her hope is to get people back on the track to good health by potentially eliminating drugs through good nutrition and wellness advancements.

As for the cost of her consultation and treatment, Leaks said "The cost of your co-pay to a traditional doctor can cost more than a visit to my center without insurance."

The most important factor to wellness is food. Modern technology may enable the growth of more products but at the cost of good products.

By growing things faster, the amount of nutrients provided is inhibited since the plants have less time to mature.

Leaks is knowledgeable about preventive medicine. She emphasizes that "nutritional regimen supplements such as antioxidants can't be used alone to obtain good health, it takes a combination to provide all the needed nutrients."

For example, chromium is one essential element for liver function and for the prevention of diabetes but cannot be used alone to obtain overall health. One supplement can't take care of all the body's needs.

Leaks hopes to educate people in Pahrump to become more aware of their health and how supplements are needed. It's no longer possible to get all the essential metals, proteins, etc, from food.

Leaks also wants to "give information to people about medicine and nutrition that they may not want to hear about their body functions. You have to protect your health."

The emphasis on traditional medicine is to wait until people get sick to get them well. Said Leaks, it should be the other way around.

"I had to switch from practicing traditional medicine to preventive medicine because of the attitudes held by practicing physicians," she said. "It's more profitable to treat illness rather than to prevent it."

She went on to say, "We can't depend on the government to take care of us; we have to do it ourselves." She also emphasized, "They need to take good quality supplements and get good information from your doctor, not the store clerk. Don't just use your doctor, use good health practices.

"Children need a well-balanced diet consisting of three meals a day, exercise daily and, depending on age, have a good aerobics program without the use of equipment. Do it with others and have a good supplemental program as well. As usual, lots of water is needed."

For more information on Southwest Wellness Center or to make an appointment, call 775-751-2100.