Pillsbury House: Hub for Health and More

Holistic health care is the newest part of Pillsbury House’s commitment to become a hub for more community-based organizations and services. The Center already offers space to Fare Share, a cooperative food-buying program, and to a coffeehouse. (The coffeehouse was “between providers” at the time this article was written, but Pillsbury staff were hopeful that it would re-open soon.)

The integrated health clinic uses space in Pillsbury’s lower level on Wednesday evenings (6-8 p.m.) and Saturday afternoons (1-4 p.m.). Volunteers from Northwestern Health Sciences University, University of Minnesota School of Nursing, medical students from the University of Minnesota, the Adler Graduate School of Psychology, and medical doctors from the community provide a variety of services to treat issues such as stress, obesity or fatigue. The overall focus of the clinic is one of treating the patient through a body/mind/spirit approach that can help with health issues that lessen the quality of life.

Health care services at the clinic include acupuncture, chiropractic, massage therapy, psychology, nursing, health coaching, physical exams, and medical evaluation for non-acute conditions.

The clinic opened in November. About ten people come in each time the clinic is open, and the number is growing. All services are free.

The clinic also makes referrals to some other health care providers in the community who respect a holistic approach to health.

Carter LeBares, a fourth-year medical student at the University of Minnesota met Mike Wiles, a dean at Northwestern Health Sciences University at a symposium to discuss the idea of new medicine—alternative medicine or integrated medicine.

Northwestern has a history of starting clinics in underserved areas, mostly out of the country. Mike was interested in creating such a clinic here at home. To Carter, that sounded like a great idea, as long as the clinic was located in South Minneapolis. She had grown up in the neighborhood and graduated from South High. After living out of state, she returned for medical school and bought a home just five blocks from Pillsbury House. Carter had been involved in the P6 program at Powderhorn Park, which works with youth. She sees medicine as a tool for social empowerment.

Chronic stress – the kind caused by living in poverty or under disadvantaged socioeconomic conditions – is the same kind of stress that exists in any life or death situation. That stress manifests in illnesses and prevents people from being empowered as the person they are meant to be.

“It prevents them from offering all that they have to give to our communities, and in their own lives,” Carter says. “Those of us who live in communities like this are capable of more. A holistic approach to medicine that addresses those chronic, life-sapping stressors leads to a re-energizing of people—to empowerment.”

If you live in the community, come in and check it out—no appointment needed. A grand opening is planned for some time in the spring.