Dr. Jessica Brière, chiropractor at Complete Chiropractic & Wellness Center in Lenoir City, recently held her last health seminar of the year at Chota Recreation Center in Tellico Village but plans to continue bringing health information to Villagers as long as possible.
Brière began lecturing in the Village three years ago, and up to 20 people have attended the seminars each month.
Brière said she hopes to continue bringing valuable information to Village residents on using natural remedies to improve health.
“Basically, just part of our (Complete Chiropractic’s) mission is to educate the community about health and wellness in natural ways instead of going the medication route,” Brière said. “If they get one thing out of each seminar that they can change in their lifestyle then it was worth my time coming out.”
Brière’s December seminar, Winter Health 101, focused on “basically boosting immune system, preventing seasonal depression within the winter time, and we talk about, of course, avoiding cold and flu this season.”
Village patients said they enjoyed the wide variety of topics Brière covered during her lectures, especially in regard to diet and fitness.
Janet and Tedd Trimbath began seeing Brière two years ago after attending some of her seminars.
Janet said she enjoyed the topics related to eating and learning about how certain foods strengthen “various parts of your immune system.” Janet said she places all of the handouts from Brière’s seminars on a bulletin board in her home as a reminder of ways to stay healthy naturally.
“You glean something out of every one,” Janet said. “Sometimes it’s exercise. Sometimes it’s diet. Sometimes it’s medicating, you know, different facets.”
Janet said the health seminars remain so popular and effective within the Village because most people are unaware of what chiropractic work encompasses.
Janet said many people assume going to the chiropractor is simply for adjustments, but Brière “brought the whole total concept of wellness” to Village residents.
“That yes, the adjustments are important in the original basis, but there are so many more things that a person could be doing to make their life better, and she brings that information to an easily accessible place in the Village,” Janet said.
“Anytime there’s medication involved, there can be some side effect, and of course it can be a toxin to the body,” Brière said. “So if there are ways to go the natural route, then it’s a lot safer and effective, actually.”
Brière said many people who attend the seminars on a regular basis are her patients, and the overall goal of lecturing in the Village is to help residents change a negative aspect of their lifestyle that they may have not noticed until participating in one of the seminars.
Tedd said he hopes future seminars cover more topics like allergies and safe exercising for elderly people.
Janet agreed, adding that the Village consists of “mostly seniors” and knowing how to exercise “correctly” makes a difference in their health and well-being.
“Her subjects, they’re very interesting,” patient Bob Kutschera said. “They cover a wide range of topics, and they’re well thought out, well presented, and I would dare say that anyone who goes to them will leave having learned something.”
