About Whole Health & Wellness

Whole Health & Wellness is an integrative functional medicine practice in St. Louis focused on helping patients better understand and address chronic digestive, immune, inflammatory, hormonal, structural, and nervous system-related health concerns.

Our approach combines functional medicine assessment, clinical nutrition, functional lab testing, chiropractic care, acupuncture, and supportive integrative therapies to create individualized care plans tailored to each patient’s needs and goals.

Many patients come to our office after struggling with ongoing symptoms that have not fully improved despite medications, diets, supplements, or multiple previous approaches to care.

How Whole Health & Wellness Began

I love looking back and seeing how God led me to becoming a holistic chiropractor and doing things I never thought were possible.

I was originally an accounting major because I’ve always been very analytical, logical and drawn to problem solving. Over time, though, I realized I wanted a career that allowed me to work directly with people and make a more meaningful impact on their lives.

That path eventually led me to massage school and into a chiropractic office where I was first exposed to functional and holistic approaches to chronic health conditions. At the time, I was honestly skeptical that this kind of care could truly help people dealing with complex issues like eczema, digestive disorders, allergies or chronic inflammatory conditions.

What changed my perspective was watching patients improve when care focused on looking deeper at underlying patterns rather than only trying to suppress symptoms. One experience that especially impacted me involved a little girl with severe eczema who came into the office wearing mittens taped to her hands to prevent her from scratching open her skin.  Over the following months, I watched her symptoms improve dramatically, the mittens come off, and I saw firsthand how much it changed not only her life but also the burden on her family.

Around the same time, I was also navigating my own health challenges. I had been on medication since I was a teenager that I was told I would need for life, and the side effects were outweighing the benefits. Through lifestyle changes and a more holistic approach to my own health, I was eventually able to discontinue those medications.

Looking back now, I truly believe God was guiding me through that entire process., My faith has become an important part of both my life and the way I approach patient care.. I believe health is deeply connected to how we live, eat, move, manage stress, and care for ourselves as a whole person - not just isolated symptoms or diagnoses.

While I deeply respect conventional medicine and believe medical care is essential in many situations, I am passionate about helping patients look more broadly at the factors that may be contributing to chronic symptoms and supporting the body’s ability to heal whenever possible.

That philosophy ultimately became the foundation for Whole Health & Wellness.

-Dr. Caroline Ricker

Education & Advanced Training

Dr. Caroline Ricker graduated on the Dean’s List from Logan College of Chiropractic in 2009, where she focused her studies on Sacro Occipital Technique (SOT) and Applied Kinesiology (AK), approaches that emphasize the relationship between structural, neurological, muscular, and organ system function.

During and after chiropractic school, Dr. Caroline pursued extensive postgraduate education acupuncture, Applied Kinesiology, NAET allergy techniques, nutrition, functional medicine, and integrative approaches to chronic health concerns. She is also Webster certified and enjoys working with women before, during and after pregnancy.

Dr. Caroline later completed post-doctoral training through the American Board of Chiropractic Internists (DABCI), a diplomate program focused on evidence-informed diagnosis and functional, nutritional, and preventive approaches to both acute and chronic internal health disorders.

Earning diplomate status requires completion of more than 300 hours of advanced postgraduate training as well as passing both written and practical board examinations demonstrating clinical competency in applying this knowledge.

This advanced training includes functional assessment, laboratory interpretation, clinical nutrition, and systems-based evaluation of complex chronic health concerns, Ongoing continuing education is required to maintain diplomate status.

Personal Interests

Outside the office, Dr. Caroline is passionate about practicing the same health principles she encourages in her patients.  She regularly prioritizes exercise, nutrition, chiropractic care, and lifestyle habits that support long-term health for both herself and her family.

Her faith and involvement in the local church community continue to play an important role in both her personal life and the values that shape Whole Health & Wellness. She has been an active member of Grace Church St. Louis for over 20 years, and has served in many areas.

During the warm months, Dr. Caroline enjoys gardening, hiking, camping, swimming, and spending time outdoors with family and friends.

My path to chiropractic and holistic healthcare began long before chiropractic school—it started as a patient.

As a teenager and young adult, I struggled with hormonal and autoimmune health challenges, including polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS/PMOS), Hashimoto's thyroiditis, and hypothyroidism. Like many patients, I found myself accumulating diagnoses and medications that helped manage symptoms but never fully explained why my body was struggling in the first place.

While working in hospital-based healthcare throughout the COVID pandemic, I gained tremendous respect for conventional medicine and the critical role it plays in acute care. At the same time, I began to recognize how often chronic health concerns are managed reactively rather than proactively, leaving many people searching for deeper answers.

Everything changed when I began working with a chiropractor who focused not only on structural health, but also nutrition, lifestyle factors, and identifying underlying contributors to illness. Instead of continually adding treatments, we focused on supporting my body's function through personalized nutrition, supplementation, nervous system care, and targeted lifestyle changes.

Over time, my health improved dramatically, and I gained something even more valuable than symptom relief: an understanding of how to work with my body rather than against it.

That experience transformed the way I viewed healthcare and ultimately inspired me to become a chiropractor. I became passionate about helping people better understand their health, identify underlying contributors to chronic symptoms, and feel empowered in the healing process.

Education & Clinical Training

Kenzie earned her Bachelor's degree in Allied Health Sciences with an emphasis in Pre-Physician Assistant Studies from Grand Valley State University before pursuing chiropractic and functional healthcare training at Logan University.

She is currently completing her Doctorate of Chiropractic and Master's degree in Nutrition and Human Performance, with graduation expected in December 2026.

Kenzie has training in Diversified Chiropractic, Sacro Occipital Technique (SOT), Applied Kinesiology (AK), acupuncture, Webster Technique, and dry needling.

Her clinical interests include:

• Hormonal health and thyroid disorders

• Women's health and pregnancy care

• Digestive health and IBS

• Metabolic health

• Nutrition and lifestyle medicine

• Musculoskeletal injuries and rehabilitation

• Performance and strength training

During her internship at Whole Health & Wellness, Kenzie works closely with Dr. Caroline Ricker while actively caring for patients and further developing her skills in functional medicine and internal health. She is also beginning her advanced functional medicine training through the Diplomate of the American Board of Chiropractic Internists (DABCI) program, further expanding her knowledge of functional medicine, nutrition, and chronic health conditions..

Outside the Office

Originally from Michigan, Kenzie now calls Missouri home. She has a background in competitive powerlifting and continues to be passionate about strength training and fitness. She enjoys gardening, reading, exploring local coffee shops, traveling with her husband, and visiting national parks. Her personal philosophy is simple: movement is medicine.

Patient Care Coordinator

Kristine

If you've called or visited Whole Health & Wellness, there's a good chance you've already spoken with Kristine.

Before joining our team, Kristine worked as an Occupational Therapist across the country for 30 years before retiring. In this profession she developed a passion for helping adults and children navigate health challenges and improve their quality of life. Her healthcare background gives her a unique understanding of the patient experience and allows her to provide thoughtful support throughout every stage of care.

As our Patient Care Coordinator, she helps patients with scheduling, communication, and navigating the administrative side of their care while ensuring they feel welcomed and supported from their very first interaction with our office.

Outside the office, Kristine loves reading, needle/sewing crafts, gardening, spending time with her adult daughters and taking care of her 2 dogs.

Why Patients Seek This Approach

Many patients who come to Whole Health & Wellness are looking for a more thoughtful and individualized approach to their health.

Some are frustrated after years of temporary fixes or conflicting recommendations. Others simply want a provider who takes time to listen carefully, evaluate the bigger picture, and create a personalized plan rather than approaching symptoms in isolation.

Patients often appreciate the combination of functional medicine assessment with hands-on therapies such as chiropractic care and acupuncture, allowing care to support both internal health concerns and structural or nervous system stress patterns together.

Our goal is not simply to chase symptoms, but to help patients better understand their health and support long-term wellness in a practical, sustainable way.