I began my career in the medical field as a physical therapist. After 10 years, and following an injury, I went back to school to become a physician assistant. I worked full time as a PA until the beginning of 2018.

After practicing “traditional medicine” for 23 years, I knew it offered many important elements in the care of my patients. However, it became apparent that there were things impacting my patient’s outcomes that were beyond what I could give them with traditional medicine alone.   

Over time, in managing my health and theirs, I realized what wasn’t being addressed. It was critical to understand that humans are first and foremost an energy system. This energy system has three parts - physical, emotional and life force. Second, it is our beliefs and behaviors that determine how we manage the use of our energy. How do we rest it, fuel it, and move it?  Our health is directly tied to how well we manage this energy system.  I realized that there were aspects of these parts that traditional medicine is not addressing. 

The knowledge and teachings of my medical education began to merge with my growing experience of these aspects and I came to understand that these are the Five Dimensions of Health:  Energy … Belief … Rest … Fuel … Movement

Addressing these five aspects of our health is what I call Life Force Medicine.

During my 23 years in the medical field I watched the industry evolve into a cumbersome profit driven system in which my patients and I had become commodities. The time demands of my profession were increasingly being directed away from the care of myself and my patients. 

I found myself facing a moral and spiritual dilemma. I now knew the importance of Life Force Medicine.  I knew I was going to have to leave traditional medicine in order to not only live this process, but to teach it. 

This journey ultimately led me to leave my job as a physician assistant and pursue my own business, The Balance of Life.  My mission is to teach people this form of medicine and how to use it in a traditional medicine setting when necessary.

-Dondrea Beth Garrison