Our Approach
Our 3-Step Approach to Complex Immune Conditions
Why We Are Different
Many of our patients are on their tenth doctor and still don’t know why they feel so sick. At Mitchell Medical Group, we look for the “needle in the haystack” – the hidden drivers of illness that other doctors miss. Conventional medicine often treats symptoms rather than root causes. Our holistic practice focuses on identifying the underlying cause and creating a plan that helps you heal, not just cope.
Our team has decades of experience helping people with mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS), candida, chronic fatigue, mold illness, autoimmune conditions, food allergies, and other complex disorders. We combine traditional medical training with holistic and functional approaches – because sometimes the best medicine is not another prescription.
Our Approach
“A real doctor can write a prescription but a really good holistic doctor doesn’t need to.” – Dr. Dean Mitchell.
Over the years, we’ve seen hundreds of patients and developed a process that uncovers the root cause of their illness so they can be properly treated.
Before we dive into the details, here’s how our process unfolds. We follow a three‑step approach: first, a comprehensive consultation and gap analysis to understand your history and identify what others have missed; second, targeted testing and evaluation that can include advanced lab panels, allergy and microbiome assessments, and nutritional analysis; and third, a personalized treatment plan with ongoing momentum support.
We Identify the Underlying Cause of Your Illness and Treat It – Not Your Symptoms
Most traditional doctors and specialists treat your symptoms, not the actual cause of your illness. Our approach helps us uncover the real cause of your illness and then create a customized treatment plan to treat the underlying cause or causes. And, unlike most doctors, our treatments are not limited by the restrictions of your health insurance coverage, which means we can offer the best course of treatment, not what your insurance dictates.
The 3-Steps: The Fast-Track Intensive to Better Health
- Step 1: Comprehensive Consultation & Gap Analysis
- Step 2: Targeted Testing & Evaluation
- Step 3: Personalized Treatment & Sustained Momentum
Step 1: Comprehensive Consultation & Gap Analysis
Many of our clients have been through years of misdiagnosis. When they leave our office they finally have an answer. They know what illness they have, and they are armed with a plan to treat it.
Before any testing is ordered, we listen. Your first consultation is an hour‑long meeting devoted to understanding your entire medical history, symptom patterns, diet, and lifestyle. We review prior lab results and look for “gaps” in your evaluation that might explain why you still feel sick.
We also ask about aspects of your life that may seem unrelated – stress, sleep, environmental exposures – because your story often holds the key to the diagnosis. During this stage, we may order specialized blood tests to check inflammatory markers (Hs‑CRP), homocysteine, blood glucose and insulin, and assess vitamin and mineral levels such as magnesium, vitamin B12, iron, and vitamin D. These tests look beyond “normal ranges” to determine whether your immune system is over‑activated or your metabolism is out of balance.
Step 2: Targeted Testing & Evaluation
Once we’ve identified the gaps, we use targeted diagnostics to dig deeper. This may include:
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Advanced lab panels that assess microbiome health, allergens, hormone levels and immune activity so that we can uncover hidden infections, candida overgrowth or mast cell activation.
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Allergy evaluation and sublingual immunotherapy assessment. Sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) helps desensitize your immune system to allergens and candida. Dr. Dean Mitchell pioneered this approach more than 16 years ago, and we use it to treat candida, chronic fatigue, asthma and both food and environmental allergies.
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Nutrition and gut health assessment. Our registered dietician Joelle Porush specializes in weight loss, candida overgrowth, histamine intolerance, and food allergies and provides a personalized diet plan along with ongoing support. She works closely with Drs. Dean and Ricki Mitchell to help restore microbiome balance and address gut issues like leaky gut and IBS.
Step 3: Personalized Treatment & Sustained Momentum
Based on your evaluation, we create a clear, customized treatment plan. Every patient receives a concise written summary along with Dr. Mitchell’s notes so you leave with clarity and direction. Treatment may include:
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Cleansing & detoxification phase. For the first 60 days, we use therapies such as IV vitamin infusions, sublingual immunotherapy drops, microbiome‑restoring probiotics, antifungal or antimicrobial medications (when needed), and targeted dietary changes. This intensive phase helps remove triggers like yeast, mold, allergens, and environmental toxins.
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Nutrition & diet counseling. Joelle designs a meal plan tailored to your symptoms, preferences and lifestyle. She provides unlimited text support and regular follow‑up to ensure you have the tools to succeed. For patients with histamine intolerance or food allergies, she helps identify foods that will not aggravate the immune system.
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Sublingual immunotherapy. Customized drops are taken under the tongue at home to build tolerance and treat the underlying cause of allergies or candida overgrowth. SLIT is safe, pain‑free, requires fewer office visits than allergy shots, and is tailored specifically to each patient. The World Health Organization endorses SLIT as a safe and effective alternative to injections.
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Functional medicine interventions. Our holistic approach might incorporate natural supplements, bioidentical hormones, stress‑reduction techniques, cold exposure, deep breathing, yoga and other lifestyle modifications that support healing.
After the intensive phase, we transition you into a six‑month momentum phase. We meet monthly to track your progress, adjust your plan, and give you the tools to maintain your improvements. Many patients slide back once they feel better; our ongoing support helps you stay on track
Advanced Lab Tests
For three decades, the most important lab test doctors and patients worried about was a person’s cholesterol number. Holistic doctors are looking at a whole different set of lab values to assess if you are in optimal health. And not only are we looking at your numbers but we are closely examining if you are in the best range – not just the “normal range.” We are learning average isn’t good enough to stop autoimmune diseases, diabetes, heart disease, and even Alzheimer’s disease.
Every primary care doctor will routinely order a basic set of labs that include a complete cell count and a comprehensive list of chemistries checking electrolytes (sodium and potassium), glucose, lipids (cholesterol and triglycerides) and liver function tests. These are very rudimentary tests that only tell if someone is extremely out of balance.
In our office, we are looking to make sure your blood is not showing any signs of inflammation due to your diet or environmental toxins.
Our typical first phase labs involve checking the following tests:
- Hs-CRP: This test tells us if there is inflammation anywhere in the body. Results of this test optimally should be below 1.
- Homocysteine: If the results of this test are above 7.5 it can indicate damage to the arteries; which afterward cholesterol comes in to patch up arteries (like a paste) but actually narrows the artery.
- Blood glucose: It is important to know your fasting blood glucose level. Ideally, it should be in the 80s or low 90s. This also relates to Hemoglobin A1C or glycosylated hemoglobin and this level should be below 5.6. And finally, fasting insulin levels should be below 4.5. These tests relating to blood sugar are critical to decrease inflammation in the body and reduce the risk of heart disease, a stroke or dementia.
- Minerals and vitamins
- Magnesium in the red blood cell is a better indicator than serum Magnesium; magnesium is involved in so many immune, brain and muscle functions. The optimum level should be 5.5 or higher.
- Vitamin B12 is another key vitamin that is so important for the immune system; the lab reports that over 200 is normal but this is in reality dangerously low. We prefer our patients to have levels above 500 for better health.
- Iron is an important mineral for men and women. The trick is we don’t want it too high in men for reasons related to heart health and in women, we don’t want it too low because it can cause anemia related to their menses.
- Vitamin D25 Hydroxy is very important for the endocrine and immune system; again labs report “normal levels” are above 30; in reality, optimum levels are 50-60.
- Omega 6 : Omega 3 ratio: Omega 3s are the “good fats” found in olive oil, walnuts and cold-water fish. Omega 6 is also needed but preferably in smaller amounts (soybean oil).
Yes, cholesterol testing is needed as cholesterol is used by all the cells in our body, it makes up the membranes of cells and is also a precursor to many of the hormones our body needs but it is a misunderstood molecule. But it is not the end all be all when it comes to diagnosing health which is why we do advanced testing for our patients.
Our patients often tell us they’ve gotten their life back. So can you.
Holistic Treatments & Services
Holistic Medicine
Unlike conventional doctors who may prescribe medications to suppress symptoms, holistic medicine focuses on eliminating symptoms by treating the underlying causes. The body functions as an integrated system, so correcting imbalances in diet, hormones, immune activity, and nervous system function can allow the body to heal itself. At Mitchell Medical Group we hold ourselves to the highest standards of medical accountability and offer treatments we have tested for safety and effectiveness.
Sublingual Immunotherapy (SLIT)
SLIT is a convenient and pain‑free way to build immune tolerance. It helps treat candida, chronic fatigue, asthma, and a wide range of allergies, including food, environmental and pet allergies. Benefits include:
- Safe, low‑cost treatment that can be taken at home.
- Customized drops tailored to your specific sensitivities.
- Fewer office visits than traditional shots.
- Safe for children as young as four.
- Addresses the underlying cause by gradually increasing exposure to the allergen
Nutrition & Diet Counseling
Diet is the foundation of immune health. Joelle Mitchell, RD CDN, provides personalized nutrition counseling for patients with candida, MCAS, food allergies, leaky gut, IBS, and diabetes. She specializes in weight loss, eating disorders, and histamine intolerance and offers customised diet plans, sample meal days, unlimited text support, and regular follow‑up. Working together with Dr. Mitchell, she helps find the right balance of foods to calm the immune system and nourish the microbiome.
IV Vitamin Therapy
Our IV Vitamin Therapy program delivers essential vitamins, amino acids, and antioxidants directly into your bloodstream for immediate use. Unlike oral supplements, it allows 100 percent absorption and can deliver higher doses of nutrients to help prevent illness and increase energy. This therapy is medically supervised by a board‑certified doctor and tailored to each patient’s unique needs, rather than offering a one‑size‑fits‑all drip. We require an initial consultation to ensure the vitamins you receive match your health goals.
Why This Approach Works
Patients often come to us after years of misdiagnosis and symptomatic treatments. By identifying gaps in prior care, using advanced diagnostic tools and addressing the root cause of illness, we help patients regain their health even when traditional doctors have failed.
Our holistic, functional approach integrates immunology, nutrition, and mind‑body medicine to strengthen your resilience and reduce inflammation. Whether you’re dealing with mast cell activation syndrome, candida, chronic fatigue, mold illness, food allergies or other chronic conditions, we believe that you can’t heal in fight‑or‑flight mode – you heal in rest‑and‑digest mode
Schedule Your Consultation
Call our office today at 212-397-0157 to schedule your meeting with a team that has successfully been treating this disabling condition for over 20 years or request a meeting online. We offer both in‑person and telehealth consultations from our offices in Midtown Manhattan and Rockville Centre on Long Island. During telehealth visits, we provide education and guidance; we cannot prescribe medications unless you reside in New York State.
Now Offering Telehealth Patient Meetings!
Patient Case Studies
Below are a few patient case studies showcasing our ability to diagnose and successfully treat people suffering from debilitating chronic illnesses.
27-Year-Old Female with Severe Chronic Fatigue
A 27-year-old female came to my office complaining of severe debilitating fatigue, brain fog, weight gain, and insomnia. It was so bad that it was inhibiting her personal and professional life. She had been to an endocrinologist who told her that her thyroid studies were borderline. At her insistence, he placed her on Synthroid, a synthetic T4 prescription. Although she felt a little better, it was not enough.
After a thorough history, physical and blood, I placed her on a combination of T4 and T3, in addition to dietary changes and nutritional supplements as well as some vitamin shots. Within a month, she was markedly improved. She now continues on her thyroid replacement and has lost 15 pounds.
47-Year-Old Female with Fibromyalgia
A 47-year-old female came to me with a diagnosis of Fibromyalgia from her rheumatologist. She had tried multiple medications including Lyrica, Cymbalta, and Neurontin- all with significant side effects and minimal improvement.
After a complete history and physical it was noted that she also slept poorly, had decreased libido and mood swings. Blood revealed: low cortisol, low DHEA, low free T3, and elevated reverse T3, low ferritin, and low progesterone. I told her all of these abnormalities were contributing to her symptoms. Low dose bioidentical cortisol, progesterone and thyroid improved her moods, sleeping, pain, and energy. Intravenous vitamin therapies, oral nutraceuticals, and diet aided her improvement. She continues to improve.
29-Year-Old Female with Recurring Yeast Infections
A 29-year-old female was referred to me by her gynecologist for a history of recurrent, severe yeast infections. She had tried every over the counter, prescription oral and topical medications. Sometimes her symptoms improved with treatment only to return a short while later. With questioning, this patient also gave a history of prolonged antibiotics for sinus infections and had a history of irritable bowel syndrome. Dr. Dean Mitchell diagnosed her with candida and treated her with diet, supplements and sublingual immunotherapy. Because of her chronic sinus infections, she was allergy tested and found to be allergic to cats (she had 2), ragweed, grass, and trees. She was treated with sublingual immunotherapy for all of these allergens. She has now gone over 2 years without a sinus or yeast infection. In addition, her irritable bowel has significantly improved.
50-Year-Old Male Suffering from Low Energy and Depression
I saw a 50-year-old male complaining of decreased energy, weight gain, depression and lack of libido. He bought with him to his first visit his blood performed by his primary care physician. These showed elevated cholesterol, high glucose and elevated C-reactive protein (indicative of inflammation). Further blood work revealed a high insulin level, elevated markers for increased risks in clotting and a low free and total testosterone. I treated him with dietary manipulation, supplements, and bioidentical low dose topical testosterone. Recent blood tests show a decrease in cholesterol, normal glucose, and normal insulin level. His testosterone levels were now within normal limits. Most importantly, his quality of life was greatly improved.