Payson Roundup

Andy Towle/Roundup - atowle@payson.com

Back to Basics owner Cali Cole (second from left) along with Dr. C.M. Curtis, Brian Cole, Cheri Waldron, Michael Cole and Tara Sall, promote healthy living through natural products, foods, vitamins and alternative medicines.

After opening nearly 18 years ago, Back to Basics is one of the few longstanding businesses left in town. Recently, the health food market, at 908 N. Beeline, added a few new services to its already large list of alternative products and medicines.

Dr. C.M. Curtis joined the staff four months ago and offers nutritional and lifestyle evaluation, detoxification, hormonal testing and natural weight control.

“You can balance the hormonal system with natural medicines depending on the need,” he said.

Curtis said he tackles a lot of women’s health issues with non-pharmaceutical methods. He does not use blood tests to diagnosis ailments, preferring to do saliva testing because it returns the most relevant information, he said.

After diagnosing an ailment, Curtis uses a combination of internal and external healing tools, such as vitamins and spinal manipulation.

Curtis said a lot of people who come in are concerned because there are many medicines available and they want to find a natural way to correct problems without taking a pill that only deals with the symptoms.

“I deal with causes,” he said.

Before moving to Payson, Curtis practiced alternative medicine for more than 25 years in the Valley and even hosted a radio show on the same subject.

Besides having a doctor in the house, Back to Basics offers other services, including ear coning, reflexology, massage therapy and reiki.

Tara Sall, consultant at Back to Basics, explained ear coning involves placing a hollow candle in the ear and lighting the other end, which creates a vacuum, drawing ear wax and toxins out.

Tammy Leiner, clinical thermographer and owner of the Longevity Center of Arizona, offers thermal imaging by appointment the last week of each month. Leiner uses a thermal imaging camera to capture heat patterns in the body. The images are analyzed for abnormalities, which if detected may be a sign of disease, such as breast cancer, arthritis, dental issues or back and neck pain.

On top of services, Back to Basic offers organic beauty products, homeopathics, essential oils, natural cleaning products, local honey, local eggs, bulk spices, herbs, teas, snack foods, rain barrels and sugar alternatives.

The market is open 10 am. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday.

For an appointment with Curtis, call Back to Basics at (928) 474-8935.

You can also catch Curtis at 9 a.m. every Wednesday on KCMA radio.