We had the good fortune of connecting with Christina Marino and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Christina, what do you attribute your success to?
My work ethic, integrity, education and going the extra mile for my patients has helped me run a successful business for over 30 years. My number one priority is customer satisfaction and I find it important to maintain my self-care, to my body, mind and spirit to ensure being present for my patients.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
I started practicing alternative medicine 30 years ago here in Los Angeles, California. I remembered, it initially started the first time I walked into the TCM College 32 years ago and saw a room filled with all sorts of Chinese herbs displayed on several tables. I immediately fell in love with herbal alchemy and Chinese medicine. My love for natural herbs, supplements, homeopathic tinctures and holistic therapies seemed to deepen year after year. I developed a craving, a thirst for the knowledge of the different healing arts. For 6 years I studied the Morphogenetic Field or if you will, the Human Energetic Biofield along with the Human Energy Vortices (Chakras). I incorporate Classical and Clinical Homeopathy in my practice, three-year program, certified by the leading homeopaths in this country and India. I was brought by my Italian parents. I did not eat junk food growing up, everything eaten was home cooked, whole foods. Naturally, I believe its part of my DNA to seek out the very thing that I love. So I became a plant-based chef and then furthered my education with a Masters of Science degree in Human Nutrition. In addition, being certified by the well renowned Institute for Functional Medicine has broadened my healing skills to pass on to my patients. So, you can see that my healing tool box is quite large and that allows me to focus not just on the physical aspects of that Human Being sitting in front of me but also have a look inside the emotional, mental and spiritual part of them.

My commitment to an evidence-based approach that considers the individual patient’s condition, circumstances, beliefs, and values is a cornerstone of providing personalized and effective care. By customizing the method to each individual, I acknowledge the importance of treating the whole person, not just the physical symptoms. It’s really about the joy and fulfillment I derive from my work with patients. Building a profound connection and understanding with them, creating dedicated time and space for comprehensive support, and collaborating with colleagues reflects my holistic and compassionate approach to healthcare.
It is surprising to know what I didn’t know in setting up a health practice. For me, I was just really starting out with nothing. I didn’t have a business plan, back then. Although I must say that I was spiritually guided. The synchronicities were frequent and led me to the right people at the right time. I was able to find an office place, and get it up and running in no time. But I had a lot to learn. Hiring the right people, medical billing, and all administrative duties. These things I did not want to do but I knew I had to learn everything from the ground up.

What was the biggest challenge you had to overcome as you built your practice?

Burn out. When I first started, I was working 6-7 days a week, seeing 100 patients a week. I believe it was after my 7th year in practice that I got sick and needed a new game plan. After I healed myself, I revised and cut down on my work hours and sorted out a more balanced lifestyle. More time in nature, more yoga, more mindfulness. Basically, more time for myself. When in healing school, the first year was spent in learning how to ground and self-care. This was a great lesson for me. I mean if you can’t take care, nurture yourself and your needs how are you able to fully serve your patients?

What excites me most about the field of functional medicine is the integration of science into holistic and patient-centered care .The ability to apply expanded critical thinking and personalize approaches for each individual can make a significant difference in patient outcomes.

Where do you see your practice 5 years from now?

I see myself finishing the book I’m currently writing on healing emotional trauma and then lecturing on it. I am developing a nutritional supplement and a nutritional food brand that I hope to launch in the near future. Going forward in time, I will be doing more lecturing and teaching on health and wellness and hopefully circulating the message and changing people’s lives for the better.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If my best friend was visiting we would have to stop at some of my favorite and most iconic places around Hollywood. We would start with a beautiful hike at Franklin Canyon and then make our way to Crossroads Vegan Restaurant on Melrose for unique, elevated vegan fare. We would also go for a nice stroll on Malibu Beach and end with an intimate picnic on the sand. My best friend and I would also take a trip to the large, open air Hollywood Farmers Market to indulge on the season’s freshest produce and local offerings. We would stop for dinner at Motherwolf for elevated Italian food by famous chef Evan Funke and end the evening enjoying the beautiful backdrop of the Descanso Gardens. We would also make a day of shopping in Beverly Hills on Rodeo Drive to window shop at our favorite high-end stores after our lovely brunch at Aroma Café on Tujunga that has the best coffee and veggie burgers ever! We couldn’t end our trip without a great massage, acupuncture, and cupping session at Alternative Health Care Concepts in Toluca Lake and a trip to the Magic Castle to see Hollywood’s best magicians.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I would love to thank my mentors at the Functional Medicine Institute for their guidance throughout the years as well as the continued support and love from the Toluca Lake Chamber of Commerce and the community of Toluca Lake. I would also love to give a shoutout to the staff at the Coffee Bean on Lankershim and Riverside in North Hollywood for kindly serving me my perfect cup of coffee every morning.

Website: https://alternativehealthcareconcepts.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alternativehealthcareconcepts/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christina-marino-9907638/

Twitter: twitter.com/AHCareConcepts

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Alternativehealthcareconcepts

Other: https://www.functionalmedicinelosangeles.com/

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