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Integrative medicine is an approach to care that puts the patient at the center and addresses the full range of physical, emotional, mental, social, spiritual and environmental influences that affect a person’s health. Employing a personalized strategy that considers the patient’s unique conditions, needs and circumstances, it uses the most appropriate interventions from an array of scientific disciplines to heal illness and disease and help people regain and maintain optimum health.

Integrative medicine is grounded in the definition of health. The World Health Organization (WHO) defines health as “a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.” ¹

Integrative medicine seeks to restore and maintain health and wellness across a person’s lifespan by understanding their unique set of circumstances and addressing the full range of physical, emotional, mental, social, spiritual and environmental influences that affect health. ² Through personalizing care, integrative medicine goes beyond the treatment of symptoms to address all the causes of an illness. In doing so, the patient’s immediate health needs as well as the effects of the long-term and complex interplay between biological, behavioral, psychosocial and environmental influences are taken into account. ³

Alternative Medicine versus Integrative Medicine

Integrative medicine is not the same as alternative medicine, which refers to an approach to healing that is utilized in place of conventional therapies, or complementary medicine, which refers to healing modalities that are used to complement allopathic approaches.

The defining principles of integrative medicine:

• The patient and practitioner are partners in the healing process.
• All factors that influence health, wellness and disease are taken into consideration, including body, mind, spirit and community.
• Providers use all healing sciences to facilitate the body’s innate healing response.
• Effective interventions that are natural and less invasive are used whenever possible.
• Good medicine is based in good science. It is inquiry driven and open to new paradigms.
• Alongside the concept of treatment, the broader concepts of health promotion and the prevention of illness are paramount.
• The care is personalized to best address the individual’s unique conditions, needs and circumstances. Practitioners of integrative medicine exemplify its principles and commit themselves to self-exploration and self-development.

Footnotes:

1. Preamble to the Constitution of the World
   Health Organization as adopted by the International Health Conference,
   New York, 19–22 June 1946; signed on 22 July 1947 by the representatives
   of 61 States (Official Records of the World Health Organization, no. 2,
   p. 100); and entered into force on 7 April 1948. Constitution of the
   World Health Organization — Basic Documents, Forty-fifth edition,
   Supplement, October 2006. 
2. http://iom.edu/~/media/Files/Activity%20Files/Quality/ IntegrativeMed/SnydermanRalph.pdf
3. Vicki Weisfeld. (2009). Summit on
   Integrative Medicine & The Health of the Public: Issue Background
   and Overview. Washington, DC: Institute of Medicine. Retrieval2011-1-18.
   http://www.bravewell.org/integrative_medicine/

The ancient Chinese believed that we are microcosms of the larger surrounding universe, and are interconnected with nature and influenced by its forces.¹  Traditional Chinese Medicine views illness as an imbalance of our internal natural elements.  Western medicine focuses mainly on treating disease, while TCM looks at each patient’s entire well-being.²  The practitioner works with the patient to facilitate the reestablishment of balance within the body and provides the right conditions to support a return health.

Chinese medical diagnosis is based upon a thorough examination and consultation. The examination includes assessing the pulse and tongue as well as an in-depth conversation about the patient’s health.  Once a diagnosis is made, the practitioner will develop a treatment plan by choosing the most appropriate treatment protocol for each person’s needs

Footnotes:

1. https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/chinese-medicine
2. https://www.webmd.com/balance/guide/what-is-traditional-chinese-medicine#1

Acupuncture is a method of encouraging the body to promote natural healing and improve function. This is done by inserting single use, sterilized, stainless-steel needles (that are as fine as a human hair) into specific points located near or on the surface of the skin which have the ability to alter various biochemical and physiological conditions in order to treat a wide variety of illnesses.

The basis of acupuncture is expressed in this famous Chinese saying: “Bu tong ze tong, tong ze bu tong” which means “free flow = no pain, no free flow = pain.”

Acupuncture points are areas of designated electrical sensitivity that have been shown to be effective in the treatment of specific health problems.

What is Qi?

The concept of Qi (pronounced “Chee”) can be defined as  “life force energy” or “vital substance” and is a foundational concept of Chinese Medicine.  It is that which animates and controls the observable functions of living beings. Qi flows through the body through pathways known as meridians that connect all of our major organs.

Any kind of pain or illness represents an obstruction in the normal flow of Qi or life force. Simply put, acupuncture moves Qi, restoring free flow.  According to Chinese medical theory, illness arises when the cyclical flow of Qi in the meridians becomes unbalanced or is blocked.

Many of our childhood experiences involving shots with hypodermic needles may have been painful or traumatic. Regardless of the cause, it is common to be afraid of needles.  Fortunately we have many techniques included in our treatment protocol that don’t involve the use of needles.

We want our patients to receive all the benefits of treatment and being afraid can take away from those benefits. The last thing we want is for our patients to feel uncomfortable.  In no way is acupuncture necessary for a treatment to be full and effective! While acupuncture can be painless and profound, the needles are only one small tool in our extensive tool box.

If it is your first treatment we will ask that you fill out some paperwork. After this, we will sit down and begin to talk about your medical history and your main health concerns. We will use some of the traditional tools for Chinese medical diagnosis such as taking your pulse and looking at your tongue.  If your complaint is physical,  we will also do orthopedic testing for strength, nerve conduction, and range of motion.

We can also go over any medical records (blood tests, scans, etc) that you would like to provide. An assessment and treatment plan will be created and we can begin your treatment.

After you lay down on the treatment table, we typically begin with Tui Na Massage (Asian bodywork therapy) or Chi Nei Tsang (abdominal massage), followed by acupuncture, cupping, or moxabustion. Our treatment room is warm and our treatment table has very soft 100% cotton sheets and pillow covers that are changed after each patient. We often also use an infrared lamp to bring additional healing and relaxation to your time with us.

Usually a treatment takes between around 60-90 minutes.  We will try to address most of your concerns in one visit but depending on the complexity of your case, it may take more than one visit to take care of all your needs.