FACES

Dr Norris 

The first thing you notice when you walk into Dr. Norris’ office is its simplicity. No fancy equipment. No office staff. There are the usual diplomas you expect in a doctor’s office, and the lack of a mirror. (I often say chiropractic offices should have mirrors so we can adjust our hair after our spinal adjustment!) His chiropractic table is simple and has few moving parts.

Dr. David Norris moved into the Epicenter right across the hall from Marietta and Beyond sometime after the program moved from the Armory to 107 Lancaster Street in Marietta. I remember first hearing a staccato sound like an old typewriter. There is an old typewriter in the Epicenter waiting room so I assumed someone was typing a retro message. I sometimes do that as I pass it by, just to remember how it felt to type on one. I finally I realized it was coming from his office.

He is able to keep his prices low by keeping his overhead low. He does not do insurance and like the rest of us here, he has the benefit of the Epicenter staff and shared equipment.

Dr. Norris is also a Board Certified Nutritionist and practices Functional Medicine. Norris says that most practitioners that specialize in Functional Medicine are either MDs or Chiropractors.

The Institute for Functional Medicine describes the field like this:

“The Functional Medicine model is an individualized, patient-centered, science-based approach that empowers patients and practitioners to work together to address the underlying causes of disease and promote optimal wellness. It requires a detailed understanding of each patient’s genetic, biochemical, and lifestyle factors and leverages that data to direct personalized treatment plans that lead to improved patient outcomes.”

Because Norris also has the specialized understanding that comes from being a nutritionist, his analysis of a person’s health history and lab results has an extra level of insight. He said that the MS in Human Nutrition helped him better understand the biochemistry effects of nutrients, and also helped him understand research validity. He is a self-described research nerd, giving him the drive to keep up with what’s new in health studies.

A doctor told me recently that a doctor sees his patients for 8 minutes. He was trying to convey that I should not ask too many questions because he could only give me 8 minutes! Not so with functional medicine. Dr. Norris gives his patients an hour consultation in order to get a comprehensive health history. He later combines this information with the patient’s lab results.

Dr. Norris said the top two things he wants his patients to know about diet are: “first, what you eat can either cause or prevent disease, and second, there is not one dietary recommendation for everyone. Everyone has unique different genetic make-up.”

I have been listening to many youtube celebrity doctors. Each one seems to recommend only one way to eat. By the number of views these videos have – most in the thousands – many people must be following their advice. I bet when it comes down to it, most people would prefer a local health practitioner who can give personalized advice based on their individual needs and physical condition.

Norris originally was on the career track to become an MD. What changed his course was experience working in a medical office. He began to realize that prescription medicine was the go to treatment option, and he was more interested in helping people with an alternative approach to health. A mentor introduced him to chiropractic and he began to explore that possibility.

He periodically gives comprehensive free talks. Keep an eye on Marietta and Beyond and Dr. Norris’ facebook page for information on upcoming talks on these topics:

• Discover Thyroid: Discover how to improve thyroid function, reduce your need for medication, lose weight without exercise, increase your energy levels, stop losing sleep and avoid symptoms of depression.
• Discover Diabetes: Discover how to reverse your diabetes, reduce and eliminate your need for medication, lose weight without exercise, increase your energy levels and the possibility to become non-diabetic.
• Discover Inflammation: Is The Food I am Eating Causing My Aches And Pains?
  Understanding the Causes and the Effects of Inflammation.

Coming soon: He is working on a lecture on the topic of andropause.

Location

By the time this edition goes to press, Dr. Norris will likely have moved out into his own office at:
130 Maple Street,
Marietta OH 45750.

As of this writing, his office is ready and his new sign is on the door.

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