I am writing this review after spending 17 days at the Lifestyle Center as a Level 2 guest (accompanying my bff, a level 1 guest).
Uchee Pines is a lifestyle/wellness center situated on over 300 beautiful acres in rural Alabama.
Most of the guests are coming for physical healing of some sort, as this place is run like a hospital. Level 1 patients are assigned to a personal Physician as well as a personal Lifestyle Counselor (combination cheerleader, phlebotomist, treatment practitioner, etc) for the duration of the stay.
The Level 1 treatment plan includes two blood draws (at the beginning and the session) and daily vital sign checks.
Based on these two things the physician comes up with a dietary protocol (include a prescription of myriad organic teas based on your labs, as well as things like aloe, probiotics, charcoal to drink, etc) and various physical treatments (from fomentations, charcoal baths, sauna, Russian steam treatments, etc) to address your health concerns.
Additionally, the days include medical lectures, hands on nutrition classes, exercise classes, digestive walks outside, occasional gardening and morning/evening devotions.
Level 2 guests had access to everything the Level 1's did, but did not have a physician, Lifestyle Counselor or labs/treatments. I requested to have labs drawn at the end as I was compliant with the diet (including a 3 day water fast!) and activities, and was curious about my lab results. It was an additional $205 charge and was pretty extensive testing (CBC, Lipid panel, A1C, C reactive protein, etc).
Overall, my bff was VERY pleased with her results, as were the other Level 1 guests. One of our fellow guests had a palpable breast cancer mass disappear while another gentleman had his A1C drop by a full point! I'd attribute this in large part to the STRICT VEGAN DIET everyone was on. And by strict, I mean entirely plant based, no animal products, not even oils are used (in one of our classes we made a tofu scramble, and sauteed the onions in water). Minimal seasonings used were himalayan sea salt, garlic powder and turmeric (no pepper, no vinegars, etc). It was extreme, but the proof is in the follow up lab results, eating like this can resolve health concerns.
Overall, I'd probably do this again, especially as a pricey detox/reset. As a level 2 guests I'd do a few things differently: I'd go in asking to pay for the labs if I planned on following the diet, I'd find out what classes the LCs had going on (there was a charcol-making class the first week I could have attended, but I didnt know about it until the second week) as Level 2s have much more free time since we do not do treatments, and I would bring gardening gloves (they have a huge one, and I found I liked working on the garden but not barehanded and all they had were nitrile gloves).
I will also note this is a faith-based center run by Seventh Day Adventists, and the faith underpins a lot of the program and activities at this facility. Things like Administrative offices having half days on Friday, closed entirely on Saturday and having traditional business hours on Sunday. They pray before each lecture, and blood, draw, and meal. All of the staff, and 90% of the guests in my group were Seventh Day Adventist. There were a couple of Catholics that felt very at home.
I am of neither faith, so I skipped all devotions and clearly marked religious activities. I didnt find it awkward, but there was one other guest in the same boat as me that did find it a bit more awkward so be warned. Everyone was very very kind, and not at all pushy but it bears noting.
Overall, this was a very unique experience and net positive. I would come back here again. read more