Dr. Jackie Fields is the kind of person who radiates peacefulness from inside, and as she speaks, it washes over those listening to her. A doctor of Family Medicine, and a specialist in Holistic Medicine, her mission is to help her patients find better health and happiness, while improving the community and, in turn, the planet we all live in.
Her passion for medicine and healing started at a very young age, as she watched her father – a surgeon – care for his patients. As her mother faced a benign brain tumor when Jackie was young, she accompanied her mom to Yale for treatment. While there, she met the renowned Dr. Bernie Siegel, a retired pediatric and general surgeon whose expertise lies in mind-body medicine and the relationship between the patient and the healing process. As she approached college-age and debated going into med school, she again sought out Dr. Siegel, this time to ask where she could learn about what he was doing. She was fortunate that he would become one of her closest mentors.
With a degree in Family Medicine already accomplished, she had laid a solid path to continue to pursue her dream career.
She later crossed paths with Andy Wilde, founder of First American Holistic Medicine, another close mentor. At that time, medicine was already shifting toward holistic medicine, so it was an ideal time for Dr. Fields to start forging her way to owning her present practice. Her mentors led her on a very guided and directed path of learning. She also spent what she describes as “a lot of time” traveling to world conferences to soak up everything she could about holistic health and treatment methods.
Dr. Fields proudly states that practicing holistic health has given her “25 years of miraculous stories with her patients.” She believes in using traditional medicine as a “last straw” instead of a “first straw” approach; thereby, patients have the opportunity to take a very active part in their own cure. She uses a functional, integrative medicine approach, and likes to keep all options on the table for patients’ unique healthcare needs, preferences, and concerns. She addresses each patient’s unique physical, emotional, social, environmental, and spiritual health. She also believes in taking a “Big Picture” view – and is willing to coordinate patients’ medical care with other providers to make sure her treatment plan takes all the patient’s health care needs into account.
“Holistic medicine is less harmful to the human body overall,” states Dr. Fields, “and chronic illnesses – in particular – respond well to alternative treatments incorporating nutrition, botanicals, lifestyle, and mind-body therapies.” This approach is especially powerful when figuring out and helping people recover from complex, chronic medical conditions.
Some of the patients she sees may have already been to 20 different providers and have given up hope by the time they see Dr. Fields. After consulting with her about alternative treatments, they realize there really IS hope for them, by taking the holistic medicine route. Methods she uses can include Conventional Western Medicine, alternative medicine, Traditional Chinese Medicine, homeopathy, tribal medicine, and osteopathy.
Dr. Fields learned that even if a patient’s nutrition is good, often chemicals in products they are using will cause adverse reactions. After years of research and consulting with pharmacists and experts, she formulated her own line of pure skincare products which she called “Sacred Skin.” She has taken the Safe Cosmetics Pledge not to use any known carcinogens, hormone disruptors, or toxic chemicals in her skincare products. More about her products can be found on the practice website, listed at the end of this article, and in her store located at her practice. Profits from product sales and money from donations go toward funding research and education, financial support for patients, and The Healing Arts Center, where the community can join in education about healthy lifestyle practices.
The Healing Gardens Foundation is a non-profit formed by Dr. Fields with the purpose of supporting community access to holistic medicine. It is administered through the Poudre Valley Hospital Foundation.
The Healing Gardens Foundation established and maintains a vibrant, healing garden for all to enjoy, free of charge. Planted in the form of a Native American medicine wheel, The Gardens include a variety of plants with significant medicinal properties for healing. This garden brings together children, adults, elders, and healing practitioners from many disciplines. The Gardens are located at 315 Canyon Avenue, at the intersection of Olive Street and Canyon Avenue in Fort Collins.
So, what inspires such an inspiring woman?
“Inspiring people!” she exclaimed. “Competence and Curiosity.”
She is inspired by nature and she loves being outdoors.
More information about The Healing Gardens is available at: http://thehealinggardens.org/ or you may reach the practice at 970-472-6789
Leave a Reply