For the past three years, husband and wife Dr. Pamela Langenderfer and Dr. Jerry Bailey considered expanding their Coeur d'Alene-based business, Lakeside Holistic Health, into Washington state. But the demands of a growing family required the couple to put the move on hold. 

"We have two small children, I was either pregnant or having babies the past several years," said Langenderfer, laughing. "My youngest will be 4 in September, so they're at an age I can do a little bit more, and we could expand our hours."

In January, Lakeside Holistic Health opened the doors to a new 2,000-square-foot location in Liberty Lake, 21651 E. Country Vista Drive, Suite F. Langenderfer, both a naturopathic physician and licensed acupuncturist, is the doctor treating patients at the Liberty Lake location. 

A graduate of the National College of Naturopathic Medicine in Portland, Ore., Langenderfer offers services such as general healthcare, acupuncture, naturopathic medicine, functional medicine, nutrition, fertility and menopausal support.  

Langenderfer splits her time between the two clinics. Bailey plans to practice at the Liberty Lake office next year. He currently provides chiropractic services, acupuncture and functional medicine at the Coeur d'Alene office.

The couple's decision to expand to Washington State was driven in part by the increased offerings the state's laws allow.

"Washington has a better law for naturopaths," Langenderfer said. "We wanted to be able to offer more services for our patients."

Washington's law gives Langenderfer the ability to offer patients hormonal replacement therapy for women. The hormonal replacement therapy uses compounded bio identical hormones.

"They are plant-based hormones and mimic human physiology," Langenderfer said. "People tolerate them better and tend to have less side effects."

Believing naturopathic and oriental medicine can help a variety of conditions affecting the body, Langenderfer has worked with patients from birth to the elderly. Patients come to her with medical concerns ranging from autoimmune diseases to colds and flu. 

"The one thing about natural medicine is we have so many different tools that you can choose from and different ways to help the person heal," Langenderfer said. "… We have diet, herbs, homeopathy, supplements and acupuncture. We're not just confined to one type of medicine or drug." 

Looking at the whole person, she attempts to identify the underlying cause of each concern and works to bring the body back into balance, emphasizing diet and nutrition to reach optimal health.

"Diet is huge," Langenderfer said. "We do supportive things to help the body get to the optimal place. … We spend a lot of time with people. I work really hard for people.  If I can't figure something out, I do extra research.  I want to make sure I'm doing everything possible that I know to get them back on track."

At both locations, Langenderfer practices functional medicine, which she describes as "a more patient-centered approach, using natural medicine that is evidence-based using common sense biochemistry and physiology."

"We're not guessing out of thin air," Langenderfer said. "There is a logic and science to it."

Langenderfer also specializes in women's reproductive health, offering support for menopausal symptoms and fertility issues.  She is a fellow of the American Board of Oriental Reproductive Medicine, with extra training in Chinese medicine for fertility.

"We're really a good option to start with because we can help put that good foundation piece in, even if people are deciding to have in vitro done," Langenderfer said. "We will address their whole constitution because you want to make the body as healthy as possible before they even conceive." 

Beginning in November, Langenderfer will be licensed to offer intravenous (IV) Therapy for vitamins and minerals - another service Washington state allows.  

"The body can absorb it better and differently," Langenderfer said of taking supplements through an IV. "That whole area is exploding in terms of how beneficial it can be for different diseases."

Langenderfer said IV therapy is used for patients when they are either too sick to take supplements or need dosages the body can't tolerate taking in pill form.

In addition to treatment options, the practice features innovative lab testing and pharmaceutical grade supplements from its dispensary.  

The "small-town feel" of Liberty Lake brought the couple to the area. 

"I really like this community," Langenderfer said. "I'm a small-town person. I would much rather work in an area like this."

Langenderfer said the community has been supportive since the opening of the new office.  

"They have been really receptive," she said. "We're getting to know more people. It's been good."

Currently, Langenderfer meets with clients every Tuesday and Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.  She works at the Coeur d'Alene office on Monday and Thursday.

The couple plans to hire additional physicians and eventually expand their hours and days at the Liberty Lake location next year.