May 1, 2017

Meet Dr. Lori Howell of In Fine Fettle Holistic Health Center and Wellness Boutique

Local Stories

Today we’d like to introduce you to Dr. Lori Howell.

Dr. Lori Howell, L.Ac., remembers the first time she personally encountered Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)–what most Americans think of as simply acupuncture, or perhaps herbs. Then a French teacher for Chiangmai International School in Thailand, she was traveling in Korea and needed some quick relief for a cold, with nary a pharmacy in sight, she stumbled upon a public health clinic where she received an herbal decoction and a cupping treatment and to her amazement returned to 100% within the hour. Returning to Thailand, Howell began to study TCM with a local doctor trained in China.

A vocational lightbulb went off. Howell returned to Chicago with a new vision–to become a Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioner. To this end, she returned to school, eventually getting her doctorate degree from Pacific College of Oriental Medicine in San Diego. After working as a TCM practitioner in Evanston for 12 years and building up a large patient base, she formed still another new vision: To normalize this type of treatment as a first line defense against our most common maladies, including colds, infertility, back aches, and high blood pressure. And, as part of this ‘normalization,’ she wanted to put this care right smack in the middle of a pedestrian neighborhood.

Up until this point, Dr. Howell noticed that most Chicago area acupuncture providers were located either in Traditional Medicine-friendly neighborhoods such as China Town or Argyle Street, on busy thoroughfares with more car traffic than pedestrian, or tucked away in hard-to-find places where rents are more affordable. Dr. Howell understood intuitively that even in a diverse urban center such as Chicago many people still seek experiential or anecdotal evidence and a level of familiarity before stepping out of their medical comfort zone. At least one study (Winston and Patel 1995) backs this up, showing that the most important reasons overall for seeking complementary medicine approaches are confidence in the treatment, ease of access, and conveniences–even above financial considerations.

She also saw these treatments being offered piecemeal at chiropractor, physical therapy, and integrative medical offices, where they often charged patients per TCM modality, and only offered one or two modalities, not true holistic care, which may often include acupuncture, cupping, moxibustion (heat therapy), Tui Na (traditional Chinese massage), and nutrition and lifestyle counsel. As she saw it, the need was there for a comprehensive, first-line of defense Holistic Medicine Center based on TCM. The stakes were high, she thought. According to the Mayo Clinic, about 7 out of 10 Americans take at least one prescription drug, and many deal with side effects.

So in September 2016, In Fine Fettle holistic health center and wellness boutique, a full-service, neighborhood holistic medicine center, was born in Evanston. It sits across the street from the Main-Chicago newsstand at the corner of Main Street and Chicago Avenue. The Main St purple line and Main St Metra stops are steps away. Anyone is welcome to stop during boutique business hours–Saturday 10-4, and Tuesday through Friday, 12-6–and many do, bringing their questions and simple curiosity about the new kid in town. Holistic medicine treatments are by appointment only and are available 7 days a week. Appointments may be made for Chinese medicine, massage or bodywork and psychotherapy. Dr. Howell has also curated a boutique at In Fine Fettle–a sort of Traditional Chinese Medicine CVS–with safe, effective salves, essential oils, herbs, and others for everything from sprains to migraines to insomnia. She also sells hand-made chocolates infused with Chinese herbs; skin care with jade, and some novel handmade eco products.

Dr. Howell has also curated her staff, in a sense. As an instructor at Pacific College, she chose three former students whose work she knew and trusted, and a long-term colleague. One is a Western trained medical doctor who now practices TCM; two others are licensed massage therapists in addition to TCM practitioners; and the fourth is a psychotherapist of 30+ years. Together, these five practitioners offer a holistic healthcare completely customized to each patient. “We don’t look to replace conventional western doctors, but rather to collaborate and offer preventative care so that the need for the more aggressive western medications and surgeries are needed less or, in some cases, to offer a different approach that may succeed where western medicine does not.

In this era of not normalizing the outrageous (as certain protest movements say), Dr. Howell wants to normalize the helpful, the holistic approach to health and wellbeing Dr. Howell wants In Fine Fettle to do what Chicago does best, lead the way with unassuming assurance. Just like many other Chicago-led revolutions, including labor rights, deep dish pizza, cell phones, skyscrapers, and blood banks, she hopes that In Fine Fettle can make the revolutionary seem perfectly normal.

Has it been a smooth road?
Being a business owner requires a different skill set than a holistic health practitioner. It was a steep learning curve in a short amount of time, starting with location. My private practice was in Evanston, so I wanted to remain there to ensure an easy transition for my patients. My goal was to find a storefront, accessible location in a central, pedestrian friendly area. I found it, but it wasn’t easy.

I also found that I had to make compromises with some of my ideals. As a woman, I wanted my small business to support other woman-owned small business. Largely I’ve been successful, engaging a female attorney, accountant, insurance agent, logo designer, and window sign makers and hiring two female receptionists. The female real estate agent I approached referred me to her male colleague and the female contractor I approached referred me to a male contractor. In the end I am happy with the work everyone provided.

So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the In Fine Fettle holistic health center and wellness boutique story. Tell us more about the business.
As a holistic health center we treat the patient as a whole person- body, mind, spirit, and realize that the patient is part of systems- family, work, faith, clubs, etc. that influence state of health. Traditional Chinese Medicine considers diet, lifestyle, emotions, past illnesses, family, social life, etc., when diagnosing and treating a disease so that we can treat the whole person (not just the disease) which makes treatment all the more profound.

We specialize in the non-pharmaceutical treatment of pain, women’s health, autoimmune disorders, gi distress, respiratory issues, insomnia, unexplained fatigue, stress, anxiety, depression, thyroid issues, and cancer care.

As the owner of this company, I am most proud of the team we have assembled- highly skilled, intelligent, compassionate holistic health care practitioners who care about their patients and clients and successfully manage their care. We are fully licensed and certified in our fields.

What sets us apart is our common goal to normalize Traditional Chinese medicine and the idea of holistic health by providing expert, compassionate care. We have our storefront center not only for accessibility, but importantly also for visibility. We are across from the metra and L stops, next to a Subway, down the street from a Starbucks, and amidst a number of delightful small independent businesses so that we can be seen, so that pedestrians start thinking of holistic health, so that people can stop in and ask us about our services and learn about holistic health and Traditional Chinese Medicine. In fine fettle means to be in good health, in good spirit. That’s us. And we want everyone to be in fine fettle.

How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
I definitely see holistic health care growing. Too many people are on too many medications. Too many people do not feel healthy and vibrant. Too many people are dissatisfied with what conventional western medicine has offered them. People are paying more attention to what goes into their bodies and to the effects of stress on their health. In the immediate future, the status of conventional healthcare in the US is in flux due to the role of insurance and pharmaceutical companies as well as indecision in government of their role. I believe an increasing number of people will seek holistic medicine services.

Contact Info: