Santa Cruz, CA Drs and Health Practioners

At the age of 10, Duncan McCollum fell 30 feet from a towering tree while trying to catch sight of a Cal-Stanford football game. With the fall came the consensus of a sprained back and a childhood filled with prescription medications and muscle relaxers to deal with his near-constant pain. He reinjured his back at the age of 20, and his friends, who were convinced that chiropractic care could help, dragged him to a chiropractor against his will. After taking x-rays and examining him, the chiropractor made a startling discovery—Duncan's initial fall from a decade ago had broken his back, and since then it had healed incorrectly.

"I was really nervous when he was about to adjust me for the first time," Duncan says. "After I jumped up from the intense shooting pain, for the first time in over a decade, I felt relief. I could get up and move!"

With continual treatments, Duncan slowly got his life back, and with it came great inspiration. He set out to become a Doctor of Chiropractic in order to help those who felt condemned to living with back pain, as he once did. Now, inside McCollum Wellness Center's cottage-like setting, he warmly welcomes patients and listens to their own life stories before eradicating aches and pains with gentle chiropractic treatments.

At Healing Waves Wellness Center, Doctors of Chiropractic Ian and Pamela Chambers unleash their expertise in a three-step program designed to usher in long-term wellness. The duo starts by addressing their patients' immediate concerns, helping alleviate aches with gentle adjustments that are customized to suit each unique spine or navigate around dorsal fins. Moving into the final two stages of care, the doctors work to upset deep-rooted causes of pain, such as poor posture, before attuning patients to the needs of their own bodies to promote a healthier lifestyle.

Jami Rose, Caitlin Elfving, and Debbie McMenemy call their acupuncture practice a lounge for good reason. Upon entering the Flux Acupuncture Lounge’s treatment room, one typically sees a group of relaxed guests sinking into recliners. Patients are encouraged to stay as long as they wish to better absorb the benefits of meticulously placed needles.

Jami is a licensed acupuncturist and herbalist who holds a master’s degree from the American College of Traditional Chinese Medicine to complement her post-graduate work in obstetrics and gynecology. She draws on her background to treat a variety of women’s health concerns. Caitlin has a master's in Oriental medicine and uses acupuncture as a noninvasive solution to nagging ailments. Debbie, who also has a master’s in traditional Chinese medicine, focuses on treating pain with acupuncture. She traveled to China frequently during her studies and saw just how effective community acupuncture can be.

The three health experts use holistic medicine to treat chronic issues, such as hormonal imbalances, and also provide relief from temporary conditions, such as back pain or disappointment after forgetting to make a wish at 11:11.

Spring Smith makes use of traditional Chinese medicine as she doles out health treatments and dietary advice at Spring Smith Acupuncture. An experienced acupuncturist and herbalist, she keeps her patients' chi and diets in check through the use of thin needles and herbal supplements.

Many dentists use a UV light to whiten their patient’s teeth, but only the beauty experts at Twilight Teeth reasoned that clients could use the same light to tan their skin while whitening their teeth. The UV lights of their tanning beds shine on bodies and illuminate smiles, comfortably held open by a mouth guard and coated in gel. The gel activates under the light and contains 25% peroxide—among the highest concentrations in the industry. Since the gel is painted on instead of held in place by a whitening tray, it can brighten high beams with minimal discomfort. Clients who can’t stay at the tanning salon can take home a kit, which substitutes a portable UV light or a mason jar filled with baby stars.

Emory-trained dentist Dr. David J. Montgomery keeps chompers in smiling shape with nearly 30 years of dental experience. He stays up to date with the latest in pain-free dental practices through continual training, with the hope of fostering enjoyable visits for patients of all ages. The former president of the Monterey Bay Dental Society also keeps convenient early morning hours, allowing patients to keep smiles healthy without having to miss work, Price Is Right reruns, or valuable time with their families. Eclectic music and a bright, open interior greet visitors at his modern office, manned by a team of friendly, experienced hygienists and assistants.