![\"Brad](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/ROQVHKWIZVCENI77VWW5A4BYWM.jpg\")
Brad Howard, a 9-year nurse and U.S. Air Force veteran, takes the bus he retrofitted with comfy, overstuffed recliners, to locations across southwest Ohio. He offers vitamin-rich IV therapies for hydration, recovery and immune support. <\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Before receiving any infusions, clients are required to participate in a telehealth doctor visit, good for a year.<\/p>\n
His wife, Debbie Bernges, operates Retreat Integrative WellCare and has an office on Hicks Boulevard, where she sees clients by appointment. She assists those managing chronic illness, cancer recovery or those seeking to improve their health.<\/p>\n
Among her services are lymphatic massages, wellness coaching, aromatherapy, saunas, cold bath, and beginning in November, reflexology.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are ground breakers for this area. There isn\u2019t really anything like this around,\u2019\u2019 Bernges said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was always interested in functional medicine \u2013 treating the cause \u2013 as opposed to traditional allopathic \u2013 treating with medications or surgery.\u201d <\/p>\n
![\"Debbie](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/BDNRMUQHMBGOJKHNG2SIKFVFFI.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
In functional medicine, self-care is the core, anchored by the idea that using food as the first step intervention when treating chronic or other illness. <\/p>\n
She said she\u2019s not against using medicine when necessary but her focus is \u201cthe marrying\u201d of the two approaches along with good nutrition.<\/p>\n
Eventually, Bernges would like to add monthly \u201ccraft and chat\u201d educational programs where a health-related topic is presented and discussed and a craft is offered.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019d like to expand to fulltime,\u201d said Bernges, who still works as a nurse, teaches nursing classes, runs marathons, manages two AirBNBs and is taking additional classes.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s very scary (owning a business). Your hopes and dreams are in it and you hope it will go well,\u201d Bernges said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI want to age well \u2013 do everything I can do to promote my health so I can help (my clients). I want to find the best thing for each person based on their goal \u2013 and then work toward that.\u201d<\/p>\n
MORE INFO<\/b><\/p>\n