Uchee Pines Institute

Overview

Uchee Pines Institute is a non-profit health educational and wellness facility specializing in lifestyle medicine and natural remedies. Established in 1970 by physicians Calvin and Agatha Thrash, it operates a Lifestyle Center on a 200-acre countryside property focused on preventing and reversing lifestyle-induced diseases like diabetes, heart disease, and hypertension through natural methods. The overall atmosphere is relaxing yet stimulating, blending physical healing with spiritual renewal in a social, activity-filled environment. Guests engage in cooking schools, stress-reduction seminars, exercise programs, and spiritual activities during structured 17-day sessions, emphasizing a peaceful, countryside setting near Seale, Alabama.

Features & Amenities

• Lifestyle Center facilities: Dedicated spaces for health programs, including kitchens for plant-based meal prep, exercise areas tailored to individual needs, and treatment rooms for hydrotherapy, massage, and natural therapies.
• Hydrotherapy and natural treatments: Access to water therapies, poultices, massage, herbs, and supplements.
• Vegetarian nutrition focus: On-site kitchens serving appealing, nutritious plant-based meals; emphasis on whole foods, two-meal-a-day plans, and cooking education.
• Training and seminar rooms: Classrooms for medical missionary training, CME/CEU conferences, and health seminars.
• Gift Shop and Country Life Store/Restaurant: Online and physical stores offering books, supplements, herbal products, bulk foods, and vegetarian meals (located in Columbus, GA).
• Countryside campus: 200 acres with walking paths, nature recreation (hiking, gardening), orchard, farm elements for practical health education.
• Media and resources: Counseling sheets on hundreds of health topics, newsletters, podcasts, YouTube channel, and local Christian radio stations (97.1 FM, upcoming 90.1 FM and 91.5 FM).
• Dormitory housing: For trainees and interns, with work-study options.

Services

• Lifestyle Center Programs: 17-day immersive sessions for health renewal, including personalized exercise, nutrition education, disease prevention classes, hydrotherapy, and spiritual guidance.
• Medical Missionary Training:
  • Lifestyle Educator (6 months): Preventive medicine, natural remedies, evangelism.
  • Lifestyle Counselor (12 months): In-depth natural disease treatment, hands-on care in Lifestyle Center.
  • Healthcare Provider Internship: For MDs, PAs, NPs focusing on herbs, hydrotherapy, spiritual development.
  • Lifestyle Counselor Internship: Advanced experience post-training.
• Conferences and Events:
  • CME/CEU Conference (March 4-7, 2026): 17 credit hours on evidence-based natural therapies (online/on-site).
  • Simple Remedies & Preventive Medicine Seminar (5 days): Massage, hydrotherapy, vegetarian cooking, health lectures.
  • Live events, health expos, seminars.
• Resources: Free counseling sheets, Emphasis Your Health Newsletter, online store, health consultations at Country Life.
• Work Opportunities and Internships: Positions in kitchen, store management, media; 12-month industry internships in construction, farming, retail (with room/board).

Pricing

• No specific pricing details are provided on the website for Lifestyle Center stays, training programs, conferences, or seminars.
• Work-study options available for training programs to offset costs.
• Industry internships include room, board, tuition, and small allowance in exchange for service.
• Gift shop and Country Life products available for purchase; online store for books, supplements, etc.
• Contact for quotes: (334) 855-4764 or website forms.

Location & Hours

• Address: 30 Uchee Pines Road, Seale, Alabama 36875 (15 miles from Columbus, Georgia; rural countryside setting).
• Operating Hours (Eastern Time):
  • Monday - Thursday: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
  • Friday: 9:00 AM - 12:30 PM
  • Closed weekends (Sabbath observance as Seventh-day Adventist affiliated).
• Country Life Restaurant/Store: Columbus, GA (separate hours; visit countrylifeonline.com).

Notes

• What makes Uchee Pines special: Over 50 years of experience in lifestyle interventions yielding physical healing and spiritual renewal; founded by MDs dissatisfied with conventional medicine, emphasizing simple natural methods (exercise, vegan nutrition, hydrotherapy, faith) over drugs.
• Unique focus: Integrates health with gospel evangelism; trains laypeople, professionals, clergy as “medical missionaries.”
• Non-profit, Seventh-day Adventist roots: Promotes abstinence from alcohol/tobacco, purity, nature-based recreation; community service via radio, free resources.
• Proven impact: Thousands helped since 1975; targets root causes of chronic diseases; work-study fosters self-sufficiency.
• Differentiation: Holistic (body, mind, spirit); countryside im…