Meet Doctor Jene Ferrante
Dr. Ferrante dreamed of becoming a doctor from the age of 3. She began her career in medicine by becoming a licensed massage therapist at the age of 18, which gave her the opportunity to learn about alternative ways of healing. Dr. Ferrante went on to graduate from Bastyr University, receiving her Doctorate of Naturopathic Medicine. She completed her 2 year residency at SageMED in Bellevue, Washington where her focus was hormone optimization and regenerative medicine.Dr. Jené Ferrante is a dedicated practitioner in the field of regenerative medicine, specializing in non-surgical treatments and hormone optimization to address chronic pain and overall health. Her focus on educating patients about their treatment options and involving them in decision-making reflects a patient-centered approach to care. By prioritizing the identification and treatment of underlying causes of pain, she’s committed to challenging traditional pain management methods. Dr. Ferrante’s emphasis on hormone therapy highlights her comprehensive approach to optimizing patients’ well-being and longevity.Her regenerative medicine practice offers patients innovative alternatives to traditional medical treatments, with a particular emphasis on alleviating musculoskeletal and nerve pain. Additionally, her expertise in hormone therapy underscores her commitment to addressing health concerns at their root causes, promoting holistic healing and optimal health for her patients.
Meet Phi Lan Nguyen
My name is Phi-Lan Nguyen and I am a licensed acupuncturist at Zen Attitude Acupuncture and practice in Honolulu, Hawaii and in Seattle & Bellevue, Washington. We are partnered closely with Hawaii Natural Medicine. From a very young age, I got to experience the effectiveness of acupuncture through family members and how relaxed and happy they would come away from treatments. At 16, my mother suffered her 3rd and most severe stroke. At this age, I learned very quickly the role of caregiver and also the frustrations of not having enough resources for my mother’s recovery. Within about a year, both Occupational Therapy and Physical Therapy had decided that her process had plateaued. She could barely walk, prepare her own food, and would tear up when she couldn’t find the words she was looking for. Our family was told that most stroke survivors make very little recovery after 2 years. This of course did not take into account other modalities such as acupuncture.
It is amazing how even after over 2 decades post stroke, my mother has recovered to the degree that she has today. She is walking, can take care of her basic needs such as showering and eating, can express herself verbally, and could even pick arguments with my father occasionally. I am grateful to Western medicine for saving my mother’s life, and am very grateful to Eastern Asian medicine for increasing her quality of life, as that is the best currency we have.
My focus and passion as an Acupuncturist is to effectively increase that currency called quality of life for patients. Whether I am giving you a tune up, helping you with any chronic or acute issue, working with your other practitioners towards better health, or am the very last option you would have ever considered, I am committed to help you achieve the results you need.
I received my dual Masters of Science degrees in Acupuncture and Oriental medicine from Bastyr University in 2010. I have a particular interest and specialize in neurological conditions such as nerve impingements and sensations, migraines, traumatic brain injury, stroke and Bell’s Palsy, and also any other neurological diseases such as Ramsay Hunt Syndrome, Multiple Sclerosis and Parkinson’s. I spent over 1350 clinical hours at Bastyr Center for Natural Health in Wallingford, Harborview Medical Center in the Chronic Fatigue Clinic, HIV/AIDs clinic, and International Clinic, and Providence Mt St Vincent’s Nursing Center. My last intensive externship was spent at three different hospitals in Shanghai.
I welcome any issue you may be experiencing, as my focus is to treat the person as a whole and not symptomatically. My treatments may include a blend of acupuncture, cupping, dietary advice, coaching, and health education.
All walks of life are absolutely welcome at our office, with no discrimination towards race, religion, sexual and/or gender orientation.
Meet Doctor Carolyn Candido
Carolyn Candido MD was born and raised in San Diego, CA. She received her medical degree from University of California, Davis and completed her Family medicine residency at University of Southern California in Los Angeles, CA. She was the winner of the Weil Foundation Grant to start the Integrative Medicine track for her residency program at California Hospital Medical Center.
She completed training in Integrative Medicine through the University of Arizona Integrative Medicine in Residency and Institute of Functional Medicine. She started a Functional Medicine practice at Carlsbad Integrative Medical Center prior to joining Hawaii Natural Medicine. She specializes on hormone replacement, thyroid disease, IV therapy and detox therapies.
Dr. Candido is committed to education of the medical community through organizing Functional Medicine Forums and as board member of Learn Skin, an Integrative Dermatology platform. In her spare time, she volunteers for the UCSD free clinic to train medical students and care for the underserved population.
Dr. Candido empowers patients to become heroes in their health journey, instead of victims of their disease. Her 5 pillars of health include:
1) Optimizing the gut
2) Removing toxins
3) Balancing hormones, thyroid, adrenals
4) Adequate sleep
5) Movement
Meet Doctor Stephen Benchouk
Dr. Stephen Benchouk is a Naturopathic doctor and founder of Hawaii Natural Medicine. He was born in Geneva, Switzerland and raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He received his pre-medical training at Hahnemann University and the University of Pennsylvania. He received his medical degree from the Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine and Health Sciences in Tempe Arizona.
Dr. Benchouk completed his clinical training at the Southwest Naturopathic Medical Center and in-patient and out-patient Naturopathic clinics in Sedona Arizona and Honolulu Hawaii. He also completed internships and residences in rheumatology, pain management, IV therapy, naturopathic oncology ,Gerson therapy, and environmental medicine.
He has been a guest lecturer at Duquesne University, and lectured on integrative medicine in Shanghai China. As a medical consultant he has also created wellness programs for practices in Shanghai China and here in Honolulu Hawaii. Dr. Benchouk is a member of the American Associations of Naturopathic Physicians, Oncology Association of Naturopathic Physicians, and Hawaii Society of Naturopathic Physicians.
Since making Honolulu his home, he has been providing traditional naturopathic care with an emphasis on advanced IV therapy, integrative oncology, anti-aging, chronic disease, gastrointestinal disorders, and environmental medicine.
Dr. Benchouk believes in providing his patients with sustainable, patient-centered healthcare. His primary focus is identifying the underlying cause of disease and removing obstacles that impede the body’s natural ability to heal. Above all, he believes that the role of a physician is to educate his clients so they can reach optimal wellness and access their full potential.
About Hawaii Natural Medicine
At Hawaii Natural Medicine (HNM), we use an integrative approach to medicine that treats the whole person through the use of modern, traditional, scientific and empirical methods which stimulate the body’s natural ability to heal. Our goal is to identify and remove the obstacles to healing and stimulate the natural healing process. When we can identify the causes of illness, we can treat them directly, rather than focusing on symptomatic relief.
