By MATT PATNEAUDE

One began her career in New Zealand. The other started in Massachusetts. The paths of Charlotte Stuart and Sara Storm eventually crossed in Seattle, and now the pair are owners of a holistic head and back treatment center in Lake City.

Stuart and Storm met in the early 1990s while working as nurses in an adult family home in North Seattle. Both had been in the health care field for over 20 years, and both were frustrated with what they considered to be the limitations of Western medicine. "Nursing provides a Band-Aid and a comfort, I wanted to help people in a preventative way," Stuart says.

Corelink Head and Back Center, which opened in February, specializes in the treatment of back pain, head injuries, and other types of rehabilitation. Therapy includes a combination of acupuncture, craniosacral therapy, massage, Chinese herbs and facial rejuvenation.

Before starting Corelink, Stuart and Storm had separate in-home practices. They decided that a partnership could be more fun and efficient. Both women live in the Wedgwood neighborhood and wanted a nearby site for their business.

In 1986, Stuart began studying Chinese medicine while working in Australia. These studies gave her a more holistic approach to understanding disease. Storm says her experiences working as a nurse were valuable but she didn't like working in big institutions such as hospitals or nursing homes. "It was close-ended, very meat and potatoes," she recalled.

Seeking to further their understanding of Eastern medicine, Storm and Stuart began studying at the Northwest Institute of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine in 1994. Both went on to receive a Masters Degree in acupuncture from the school. During this time, Storm and Stuart began studying craniosacral therapy outside of the school with their mentor, Gail Ptacek.

Craniosacral therapy is used for both diagnosis and treatment, according to Storm and Stuart. The craniosacral system extends from the bones of the skull and face to the tailbone. Subtle pressure is used to pinpoint sources of pain and discomfort.

While Western medicine tends to focus on single symptoms, according to Storm and Stuart, they say Eastern medicine incorporates a whole range of a person's life. Changes in a person's lifestyle to achieve balance can help prevent disease. "Stress is a big factor in people's conditions," Storm says.

A real-life experience with acupuncture convinced Stuart to use her knowledge in treating others. In 1995, she suffered a severe back injury that caused her whole body to turn sideways. Instead of surgery, Stuart opted to receive acupuncture three times a week. Within a month, she could walk without pain and sleep through the night. A short time later, she returned to work.

Stuart and Storm now treat patients with similar back injuries. One man recently came in after injuring his back and being unable to work. After a single treatment, the spasms in his back stopped and he was able to go hiking with no pain, they said.

Other Corelink patients have sports-related injuries, chronic pain issues, or have been involved in some type of accident.

From other sides of the world, Stuart and Storm have come together to provide holistic health care. "Western medicine can save people's lives in an amazing way, but Eastern medicine is preservation on a day to day basis," Stuart says.