Author Archives: Center for Innovative Medicine

Vog & environmental allergies

Dr. Tan has worked wonders with my vog allergy symptoms.

I’ve always had sensitivity to the vog and had to move from the Big Island to Moloka’i because of it. Whenever the vog acted up, my nose would run like a river and I’d have to literally carry around a box of tissues, or stick one up my nostril to keep it at bay. I’d also become very tired and become physically sick and would be bed-ridden till the vog lightened up. Over time, my reactions increased so much that if my sinuses became clogged up, I would lose my hearing and it would take almost a month for them to re-open with antibiotics. Ever since I went to Dr. Tan, my reactions to the vog have disappeared. My sinuses and eyes no longer are affected by the vog conditions. During my first appointment with Dr. Tan she also checked me for any other airborne or food items that I could also have reaction to. I discovered that I reacted to milk/dairy products, cats, fungus/molds, grasses/weeds, sugar mix, wheat, dust, sinus fungus, and a couple others. So far, she has treated the majority of them and I’ve noticed the astounding outcomes! Dr. Tan even cured my sensitivity to my favorite food, potatoes which would have been tortuous for me to give up! In addition to this, I have had a wicked time with motion sickness throughout my short life. Whenever I go on a ferryboat or make a car trip with windy roads, I’ll either throw up or have horrible stomach issues. Dr. Tan has just recently treated me for this condition as well and now I can’t wait to do both to test the results! Dr. Tan has helped me enjoy my life so much more rather than having to check the environment constantly for vog or numerous amounts of dust, or having to avoid dairy products and my favorite comfort food, potatoes, and has opened a new door to living and breathing a whole new life. Thank you Dr. Tan for everything. A contented and happy faced 16 year old.

EJ, Moloka’i

Hip Replacement Alternative- Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP)

After being told I needed hip replacement due to Osteoarthritis, I sought an alternative.

I was allergic to the medication the doctors wanted me to take, and had debilitating pain in my hip. I had lost a lot of strength and mobility. I had gone from surfing several days a week to 3-4 days a year. My first PRP treatment was eye opening. Quite painful on administration, but the next few days were amazing. Almost no pain at all, no more pills no more limping. After about four days I noticed my mobility was greatly improved, and my strength was returning. I haven’t been this pain free for two years. I’m hoping to find the time to get back in the water and surf again. – Mario, Hawaii

Allergy to hair dyes

I am a colorist and hairstylist.

I have been doing hair for almost 10 years. I have always enjoyed coloring people’s hair until recently. I noticed a chronic cough every time I did color on a client or washed out color. The cough continued even when I wasn’t in the salon. I was nervous that all the chemicals from my years of coloring clients was starting to bring an allergy to the color. I was devastated to find this out because being a colorist is so much my passion and brings so much to my career. I was treated by Dr Karen and after one treatment to the hair color, my cough resolved and I have been symptom free since and its been 4 months.

April Ichinose, Honolulu, HI

Refreshing approach to healthcare

I have found Dr. Karen Tan’s knowledge, energy and demeanor are unsurpassed in the health care community.

She has treated me for a variety of illnesses all with great success. She didn’t just treat an illness, but she clearly explained how and sometimes even why each illness I had was interacting with my body and provided information for how I can prevent recurrences. I found this approach to be enlightening and refreshing. I always had the utmost confidence when I had a health issue, Dr. Tan would fit me in her schedule, no matter how busy she was, and she would give me her complete and undivided attention. Further, she made me feel as if we were working on the problem together, not just her treating me; I admire and appreciate this approach in health care. Dr. Tan’s desire to continue to learn new treatments is extremely impressive. Her ability to bring new concepts for care back to her patients and clearly explain these concepts was not only of value but also encouraging in that I knew this was a person who wasn’t just “sitting back” and resting on her laurels. Dr. Karen Tan has provided me with great care and compassion which encouraged me to heal and grow as a person. I am forever indebted to the care she has provided me and highly recommend her to all of my friends, and would highly recommend her to anyone. – John H. Magnus

Food Allergies

Being a naturopath as well, I have been aware of food as allergens to cause digestive problems.

Thus I have tried a lot hypoallergenic diets to decrease my symptoms and address my health. These diets did help while on them, however, staying on them all of the time proved to be difficult. After hearing Dr. Tan speak at a lecture about Advanced Allergy Testing, I thought, I need to give that a try.

Since working with Dr. Tan, my digestive symptoms such as bloating, indigestion, and a constant “full feeling” have decreased and even gone away while returning foods into my diet that I have been avoiding for years.

Thank You, thank you, Dr. Tan for all your help!! – Summer Baptist, ND, LAc, Honolulu, HI

Salt sensitivity

Salty foods always make me bloat, so I have been very careful to watch my salt intake.

One treatment for this sensitivity cleared my symptoms. I still watch my intake for my health, but I notice that when I do eat something salty, I no longer have any fluid retention. I never thought this would be possible–I always figured that I was someone who could never tolerate salt. – Anonymous patient

Environmental & Food Allergies

I have been suffering from environmental and food allergies since childhood.

Years of allergy medications helped to clear the sinus congestion, runny nose and itchy eyes, but also came with a long list of side effects. Dr Tan has shown me a better way. She listened carefully to my health history and current concerns, then tailored an allergy elmination program specifically for me. Dr Tan took the time to answer my questions and even recommended 2 books. After only a few months of treatment, I am breathing easier and have developed a new sense of well-being. I finally feel like I am in control of my allergies, instead of the other way around. After living for so many years with allergy symptoms, it is wonderful to enjoy the smells of nature, all without drugs. I highly recommend Dr Tan.

Elissa Koskela, Kaneohe, Hawaii

Behavior & Food Sensitivities

AAT has made a tremendous difference in my son’s behavior.

Prior to treatment, nothing I did could modify his abnormal sleep schedule. Since 18 months of age, Dason slept at 2-3 am and woke 6-7 times a night up to 2 years of age, 3-4 times a night up to 30 months and 2-3 times a night up to age 3. More recently, prior to treatment, he slept at 4-5 am and woke 1-2 times a night. Since receiving treatments, he is sleeping at 10:30 pm and staying down for the night 50-60 % of the time and if he wakes up, its only once a night.
Dason’s irritability and ‘hyped-up’ behavior has also been a major concern. He received occupational therapy to address sensory issues which contributed to this behavior. However, after personal research, I decided to examine a possible dietary link. In 1-2 weeks of a strict elimination diet, Dason’s behavior improved notably. However, avoidance of all possible dietary allergenic substances was next to impossible and cooking for Dason proved extremely difficult and time consuming. I could not find a medical professional receptive to treating sensory concerns with a dietary approach so I decided to try a naturopathc approach.
Thankfully, AAT treatments with Dr Tan has proven effective. It’s given our family our life back. Prior to treatment, I slept little and at odd hours and spent most waking hours managing food issues and poor behavior. That’s all changed for the better. It’s finally, for me, an answer to what was once a very desperate situation. – Dee Lee, Waipahu, HI

Drug induced Eczema

I’ve suffered from drug (antibiotic) induced eczema since Oct 2007.

Of course, prescribed steroids and other antibiotics didn’t help. In March 2008, I suffered a terribly bad case of inflammatory eczema. It affected up and down both of my arms and legs and my lower back. I look terrible, as if I had some kind of flesh eating disease. I couldn’t sleep at night and showers only brought agony and tears. This went on for a month and it got to the point where a large area of my right lower shin had become infected, and a series of boils appeared long my right leg.

I knew that an allopathic doctor wouldn’t be able to help me anymore. All the medications they prescribed only further messed up my system. So, I know it was time to get treatment from a naturopathic doctor. I prayed that the Lord would guide me to a good one!

Upon my first visit with Dr Tan, she told me right off the bat that my immune system was “shot”. First, we treated the inflammation. Two days after my second treatment, I woke up to such noticeable improvement that I couldn’t believe my own eyes. Since then, the inflammation/eczema dramatically disappeared as the days went by under Dr Tan’s treatment. I couldn’t help thinking that I wish I had found Dr Tan much sooner. I would’ve been spared a great deal of pain and suffering, I’m sure! – Catherine Symonds, Wahiawa, Hawaii

Cat Allergy

I had a severe cat allergy.

If I visited the home of people who had a cat I would begin sneezing after a few minutes then develop itchy eyes, wheezing, and eventually asthma-type symptoms. It would take me almost 24 hours to recover even if I left the place within half an hour. My friends, who all seem to have cats, tried vacuuming before I arrived, hiding their cats away, and opening all the doors and windows. But still I had a hard time and had to meet them away from their homes.

Then I discovered Dr Tan. She treated me for my allergy and I visited my daughter’s home (with two indoor cats) and was fine. A few days later I visited again and even petted the cats and was still fine. Then I visited a friend’s home where I’d had the worst problems with their fluffy pet. I was perfectly fine, no symptoms at all despite being there for two hours. Thank you Dr Tan. – Sue Wilcox

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Center for Innovative Medicine