When Chrysanthi Kazantzis, ND, MS, owner and founder of Anasa Personalized Medicine, in Providence, established her naturopathic practice five years ago, she set out to create a welcoming space where each patient felt heard, safe, comfortable and supported from the beginning to the end on their journey toward wellness. Kazantzis is first generation Greek and Iranian, and she grew up in Rhode Island learning about teas, natural remedies and the Mediterranean diet from her grandmothers. She graduated from the University of Rhode Island with a Bachelor’s degree in Nutrition and Food Science and went on to earn her Doctorate in Naturopathic Medicine and a Master of Nutrition degree.

Kazantzis has differentiated her practice from others that she worked at previously by emphasizing personalization, developing new office computer systems and adding a full dispensary of the highest quality supplements—natural products free from gluten, dairy, soy, pesticide residues and heavy metals.

Over the past five years, Anasa has added three more NDs—Brenda Bithoney, Noelle Cardarelli and Darien Lesicko—who are all aligned in their philosophy that given the right support, the body has the ability to heal itself. These providers work as a team, keeping up with the latest research and combining their knowledge and science-informed approaches to offer a comprehensive suite of services that are non-invasive, non-toxic and effective.

NDs are educated and trained at a four-year post-graduate naturopathic medical school. Education includes clinical nutrition, herbal medicine, homeopathy and lifestyle medicine to provide a personalized treatment plan. Formal training also includes education of pharmaceutical medications and their interactions with supplements and herbs. Anasa embraces the practice of collaborative and integrative care. “Increasingly, we are coordinating care with medical doctors,” says Kazantzis.

Anasa’s approach to personalized medicine begins with a 75-minute meeting to review a patient’s medical history and conduct a physical exam. This is followed up with functional testing to begin identifying the root causes of a patient’s symptoms.

Examples of functional assessments include stool sampling, food sensitivity testing, blood analysis and hormone testing. These tests help the NDs assess gut health, nutrient absorption, hormone levels and other bodily functions. “We are gathering all the pieces of a puzzle,” explains Kazantzis, “putting them together and designing a plan to help you achieve optimal health.”

The doctors at Anasa are among the leading NDs in Rhode Island, and they work with the shared support of three office administrators. The advantages of this group practice model include the sharing of resources, skills and expertise, as well as the ability to hold monthly roundtables, during which the doctors can discuss challenging cases.

Anasa serves patients of all ages, from infant through 99. Approximately 70 percent, however, are females. Today, many women are seeking naturopathic guidance for fertility, postpartum care, perimenopause and menopause. Anasa’s natural approach to these feminine issues is to use bioidentical hormones and apply them topically, rather than using Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT), which typically uses synthetic or animal-derived hormones and might be administered orally or through injection. Bioidentical hormones are plant-based, chemically identical to human hormones and considered more natural and personalized. 

Anasa also specializes in digestive conditions, thyroid issues, Lyme disease, mold toxicity, diabetes and clinical nutrition, chronic illness, mood disorders, prenatal and postnatal health. Anasa offers physical medicine, craniosacral therapy, reiki treatments, BEMER therapy, infrared sauna, red light face mask and nutrigenomics.

“We’re all about natural and personalized care,” states Kazantzis. “Working together, we can help you stop managing your symptoms and start treating the underlying causes of your illness.”

Location: 245 Waterman St., Ste. 200, Providence, RI. For more information or to make an appointment, call 401-270-1742 or visit AnasaMedicine.com. 

Wendy Nadherny Fachon is a regular contributor to Natural Awakenings.