About Us

The Best in Natural Medicine

Science Based Wellness welcomes the opportunity to be your health partner. Instead of relying on prescription medications or surgery for temporary relief, Dr. Nickels will address the underlying cause of the disease through a thorough medical history and analysis of your current health. We will work together to prevent, diagnose, heal, and manage acute and chronic conditions using customized blood testing, nutritional counseling, and natural remedies.

Dr. Nickels helps people all over the country heal from life-altering conditions such as fatigue, irritable bowel syndrome, autoimmune disease, cancer, heart disease, hormone problems, migraines, and many more.

Science Based Wellness offers a variety of services, including consultations, blood testing, and detailed follow-ups. Our Nutrition and Wellness Program benefits people of all ages - from children to those well past their 80's. Dr. Nickels is considered a concierge-care physician, meaning your healthcare is followed and managed for a desired period of time.

Being well and healthy is within your control. Let us help you!

Conventional Medicine Vs Science Based — Ponte Vedra Beach, FL — Science Based Wellness & Chiropractic

Our Services:

Blood testing
Nutritional analysis
Preventative health
Cancer care & support
Coronary risk
Diabetes
Autoimmune
Anxiety/depression
Chiropractic dare
Autism/ADD/ADHD
Hormone panels
Thyroid panels
Heavy metals testing

About Steven M. Nickels

Why Dr. Steven M. Nickels Chose to Be a Chiropractic Physician

Early during my first year in college at the University of Florida, I sustained a sports injury (baseball) and herniated my lower back disc. The orthopedic physician for our team evaluated me and recommended lumbar spinal surgery. A teammate suggested that I first try going to his chiropractor. I reluctantly went to the chiropractor without any idea of what a chiropractor actually did except on blind faith in hopes that he might help me.

After a few weeks of conservative treatment, my chiropractor was able to get me 100% better with no pain, fully functional, and back playing baseball. I asked him how he was able to do this, considering the fact that I was scheduled for back surgery. He looked me in the eye and said, "Why don't you just become a chiropractor and figure out how we do it?". That message stuck in my mind. At the time, I had taken entrance exams into medical school and optometry college and came to the conclusion that I should pursue a career in chiropractic. Thirty-eight years later, I consider it one of the best decisions I ever made.

Chiropractor Checking Man's Back — Ponte Vedra Beach, FL — Science Based Wellness & Chiropractic

Why I Chose to Specialize in Nutrition

During my graduate school training, I was fortunate to have professors who were also scientists in the field of nutrition, but the quality that struck me was the fact that they were very humble and caught my attention when they suggested that I think like a scientist. In other words, gather your objective data, measure the patients, come up with a treatment plan, and then, most importantly, retest and measure the results of that plan to determine if you are actually helping these patients objectively. During my graduate school training, I decided to pursue a doctorate in nutritional medicine, as well as board certifications and diplomat status in the field of nutritional medicine. I felt it was a nice compliment to my Chiropractic career as both used non-aggressive, drug-less, surgical-free methods of achieving health.

Steven M. Nickels, D.C., D.A.C.B.N., D.C.B.C.N.

Chiropractic Physician
Diplomate/Board Certified
Florida License # CH0006361

Our Philosophy

The body has the ability to heal, repair, and maintain itself. This is an inherent design we are born with.

When a disease occurs, regardless of the name of the condition, it is vitally important to try to find out why the disease or symptom developed; otherwise, how can you possibly know how to treat or correct the condition? This is the stark difference between a HEALTH expert and a SICKNESS model expert. Let's use a flat tire as an example.

Suppose one day you see a tire going flat on your car. You go to a 'tire expert' who puts more air in the tire, and that takes care of it, but in a couple of days, it is flat again. The "tire expert" continues to say that you need more air, but now the tire continues to go flat faster, and other problems are developing. Now, you need air more and more frequently, and you may need air every day or several times a day.

Now, obviously, a smart person would want to know why the tire is going flat, fix it, and be done with adding air.

The tire isn't going flat because it lacks air; something else is causing the air to leak out. You might go to someone who would examine the tire and find that a nail is causing the problem that was leading to the flat tire.

Just adding air did not fix the flat tire problem. This is just like taking drugs to reduce pain, inflammation, high blood pressure, indigestion, or other symptoms. It is not fixing the primary cause of the problem that is causing your symptoms. A good indication that you are getting worse is if you need to take more and more drugs to relieve your symptoms. You are getting sicker. In fact, if the drugs were really working, you would not need them but only for a day or 2. If you keep getting 'nails in your tires' or other symptoms, it will be far better to find someone who is really concerned about your health and will find the true cause of your problems. This way, the symptoms will often resolve rather quickly without the need for drugs.

A healthy body requires several key components to maintain that health:

Nutrients to heal, repair, and keep all systems running optimally.
Identify and reduce exposures to toxic elements, environmental chemicals, heavy metals, and other stressors that can interfere with repair and cause nutrient depletion.

In a crisis, injury, or prolonged neglect, medical care and drugs might be necessary but should only be temporary. Healthy people need no drugs. Testing is key to finding out the true condition of the body. Most diseases and conditions will show up in the blood, hair, and urine long before symptoms occur. In fact, symptoms might often only be evident once end-stage conditions have developed. You can be relatively symptom-free and have only 20% liver, kidney, and pancreatic function left. We have all had friends who thought they were healthy only to die suddenly or quickly after a serious disease or condition was found that had unknowingly progressed to a critical phase. All of these conditions and diseases would have been found with proper testing.

Everyone should get properly tested at least once a year because the earlier you find a problem, the easier it is to fix and the better the results you will have. We encourage you to get tested by a properly trained HEALTH expert to identify those weaknesses in your body so you have a science-based game plan to get yourself healthier. Then, get tested once per year to prevent problems that could be creeping up on you. THIS IS real preventative healthcare.

Meet the Staff

Dr. Steven M. Nickels

A.S., B.S., D.C., N.M.D., D.A.C.B.N., D.C.B.C.N.

Dr. Nickels has practiced as a Board Certified Nutritional Physician and Chiropractic Physician in the Jacksonville area for over 33 Years. He is currently the owner/director of science-based wellness in Ponte Vedra Beach, where he offers his Nutrition and Wellness Program, which benefits people of all ages - from as young as infancy to patients well past their 80s. Dr. Nickels is considered a 'Concierge Care Doctor,' which means your healthcare is followed and managed for a desired period of time.

Lisa Petges

Office Manager

Lisa Petges is our office manager and patient care coordinator. She moved to Jacksonville seven years ago from Wisconsin, where she owned and operated salons and spas. Lisa started a hospitality service, 'Celebrate First Coast Homes,' and network for a local spa in Ponte Vedra. She enjoys helping people look beautiful on the outside and inside now with nutrition! Lisa brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to Science-Based Wellness for excellent client care!