Recently I have noticed more of my patients are experiencing anxiety like they have never had before. They may have had great results with acupuncture for reducing pain, hot flashes, and acid reflux, but they do not know if it will work for anxiety. I understand, it feels like you will never recover from the self perpetuating cycle. Good news though, recent studies have shown that acupuncture can reduce symptoms of anxiety twice as much as conventional drug therapy. This is because acupuncture has been shown to have an effect on the sympathetic nervous system and parasympathetic nervous system by allowing the body to improve its ability in coping with stress. Acupuncture does this by lessening the stress neurochemicals released in the brain, increasing the release of endorphins, and improving the heart rate variability. I highly recommend doing acupuncture with Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) which is intended to help patients change their thinking patterns to reduce anxiety. If one can calm their nervous system and then change their thinking pattern, I believe patients can overcome their anxiety naturally without taking pharmaceuticals.
How to Stay Healthy this Fall 2018, By Breana Harrison
Fall is coming as the days become cooler and daylight grows shorter. With this transition our immune systems are taxed, and we are more likely to catch colds. Regular monthly acupuncture sessions support and strengthen immunity. Scientific research shows that acupuncture increases the white blood cells in the body and moderates the immune system allowing it to react swiftly and strongly to threats. This summer we have had really poor air quality leading me to the assumption that our immune systems have been taxed, and I am predicting that we will need to work extra hard to keep ourselves healthy this fall. To do this we need to take a look at all areas of our life, and especially what we are eating. We should be eating foods that are in season like apples, pears, and pomegranates as well as root vegetables. I also advise when sweater weather kicks in to ditch your salads and smoothies in favor of soups and bone broths. The warmer foods will taste better in the cooler weather, and your digestion will also not have to work as hard to break down your food. Ginger is a great spice to start adding in the fall as it will help warm your digestion and is beneficial in fighting against colds and flues. Cinnamon is the second super spice of the fall as it speeds up metabolism, increases circulation, reduces allergies, anti-microbial, anti-fungal, fights colds and flus, balances blood sugar and reduces sugar cravings, clears acne, kills candida, and it benefits your oral health. It is really important to take care of our digestive system because it plays a vital role in keeping our immune system strong. Although we try to do everything we can to stay healthy if you get a cold and have a cough, ginger is beneficial to reduce your cough and recover from the cold. Ginger tea can be made from fresh ginger root. You slice about an inch of it thinly and simmer it in warm water for 20 minutes, discard the root and drink the water. If the cough is dry raw pears and pear juice are beneficial. Additionally, you can make tea with honey, lemon, and cinnamon to moisten the lungs. You can further help your lungs to stay moist by using humidifiers at home. Some people like using essential oil blends like Thieves or On Guard blends for health in diffusers to maintain health in the winter. If you find that you have a lot of phlegm with your cold, spicy food is great at helping to clear the phlegm and help you sweat out the virus. If you have access to a sauna and can sweat out the toxins that is even better. Make sure you are not going from the hot to the cold, it is a shock to your system. Always wrap up from head to toe after a sauna or an intense gym session. Bananas, almonds, dairy, refined sugars and grains will produce more phlegm in the body, so if you are experiencing a lot of phlegm or constant sinus infections, try cutting out these foods. An occasional sinus rinse is also great to help keep the sinuses clear of phlegm. Be careful not to do it every day, Colorado is really dry and rinsing too often can cause the sinuses to become dry and irritated. Lastly, I recommend that you come in for acupuncture at the first sign of a cold. Acupuncture can help boost the immune system to shorten the severity and length the cold. I can use cupping or gua sha which further raises your white blood cell count to fight colds, flus, fevers, and inflammation. Prescribing herbs to purge the virus or boost the immune system is another option if they do not conflict with other herbs and medications. Following this advice should help you to stay healthy this fall.
Homeopathy and Boosting your Immune System, By Franca Gardner
Autumn is the around the corner and eating healthy food and getting enough rest and exercise may not be enough to boost your immune system especially with recent exposure to a polluted environment (fires, construction, bacteria and viruses). Your Immune system needs a lift and Homeopathy can offer a boost without the normal side effects of medications. Proper immune function requires our own body to discriminate between foreign invaders and our own tissues. This includes optimal digestive capabilities, ability to digest, absorb nutrients and assimilate them. Homeopathy has much to offer a healthy gut brain connection. These include bowel nosodes (homeopathic probiotics) which include taking doses of bacteria from the large intestine to help re-establish good bacteria in the gut. Boosting the Immune system in Homeopathy is a simple principle: ‘Like cures Like”, the symptoms of the illness must be matched with the remedy causing the illness. The homeopathic practitioner chooses a remedy to treat symptoms that normally be caused by that remedy at full strength. These immunotherapy remedies have been used for over 200 years. It is vital we all have a strong immune system and providing the body with modalities to fight back when it is under attack.
The Top 3 remedies for boosting the immune system are as follows:
Allium cepa- This medicine contains a low amount of red onion. It is used for relieving nasal congestion and treats teary eyes. It is ideal for improving immunity against cold and influenza.
Gelsemium- This remedy is derived from the vine called Gelsemium sempervirens. It treats cold and flu symptoms. Your immunity against body aches and fever get reduced.
Oscillococcinuim- This homeopathic medicine is also known as Oscillo. This remedy contains a small amount of duck liver and duck heart. It should be taken on the first day when you experience flu symptoms. It strengthens your immune system against germs, which cause cold and related conditions.
There is no specific homeopathic medicine, which is only meant for boosting your immunity. The medicines are actually used for treating some specific conditions and symptoms, and they also improve your immunity against the conditions it fights. It is always recommended to consult a specialized homeopath before you undergo any medication.
Staying Healthy in Early Summer
Summer Solstice is coming up on June 21st. I am always excited about the longer days and the warmer weather. We are moving into the most yang time of year. Nature is calling to us to go outside and to be active with the extended daylight.
In the Chinese Five Element system, early summer is correlated to the fire element, the color red, the emotion of joy, bitter flavors, and the heart and small intestine organs. Use the long days to go out and do what you love to nourish and re-balance your heart energy. When the fire element is out of balance we will notice a lack of joy, our minds will be anxious and we may have trouble sleeping.
You can also balance the heart by eating some bitter foods. When I say bitter foods, these are usually your green foods like kale and arugula, but dark chocolate, green tea, and coffee are all considered bitter as well. Do not go overboard on these foods because too much will also cause your heart to go out of balance. Additionally, place cooling foods like watermelon, cucumber, and hibiscus tea into your diet to balance the summer heat. Eat mostly raw fruits and vegetables in the summer if you are healthy and have a strong digestion. If you find that eating a lot of raw foods even with warming spices like turmeric, ginger, and black pepper causes you to have indigestion, bloating, and loose stools then make sure you cook all of your food as this indicates a weak digestive fire.
Lastly, to combat the summer heat, hydration is a must. Slicing fruit and herbs into water is a great way to make water more appealing. You can flavor water with mint or cucumber and lemon slices or make it crazier with strawberries and basil or blackberries and dill. Have fun with it and stay hydrated.
My Story, and why I love acupuncture!
Nowadays I love acupuncture, but that wasn't always the case. I grew up in a military family overseas in England. I had a horrible diet of Burger King, Anthony's Pizza, beer, and hot pockets. I was vaccinated for everything, birth control to control acne, Accutane, and regular doses of antibiotics because I was often sick (no surprise there). During my first year of teaching elementary school I got sick with what felt like a bladder infection causing me to use the restroom every 15 minutes, but no infection was present. So, doctors put me on daily antibiotics, an anti-fungal, vaginal valium, an anti-depressant, and Tylenol with codeine. I was so loopy that I was falling asleep while teaching. My pharmacist actually asked me who was prescribing all of this together? My step mother finally stepped in and bought a package of 5 treatments at my local acupuncturist. I really didn't want to go because I thought acupuncture was voodoo, and I must admit I hated my first treatment. The needles were really painful (I was obviously super inflamed), it felt lazy to sit there for what seemed like forever, and if I didn't have remaining treatments in the package I wouldn't have gone back. After about 3 or 4 treatments the needles became less painful, I learned to enjoy relaxing, and the frequency of urination got less and less with each treatment even after stopping all of my medications.
I love acupuncture because this style of medicine looks at people as a whole. While reducing my bladder symptoms the acupuncturist was also helping to relax my whole nervous system and reduce chronic all over inflammation. This was so amazing that I immediately switched career fields to try and understand this medicine. What I learned is that people are a complex puzzle, and most pathologies and pain are more than just the one thing that is presenting. This is one of the oldest medicines, and it is still around because it actually works. Diagnosis really doesn't mean anything. Where is the energetic imbalance? What do you need to do to be back in balance? We are energetic beings having a human experience as the saying goes, and we have to balance our energy or illness will occur. If that is too wu wu for you, realize that most acupuncture points are placed over nerve bundles, this helps to redirect nerve signals in the brain. Being stuck with a needle anywhere also releases serotonin in the brain, which in turn reduces pain and makes you feel good. Acupuncture is also more than just needles we use cupping to move old blood and circulate new blood into the tissue. I'm sure you have seen many athletes with the cupping marks. We also use gua sha to help promote circulation into the tissue, and we can use it to boost the immune system. Some practitioners refer to this as the Graston Technique. Lastly, we also use herbal remedies to boost a patient if no other medications are being used. Over the years I have seen many wonderful outcomes from acupuncture alone, and I am so excited to share this medicine with others.
Colds/Flus & Acupuncture
Flu season is already shaping up to be one of the worst seasons in over a decade, claiming the lives of nearly 20 children across the U.S. and 7% of senior deaths over the last month, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention...even in a very good year the influenza vaccine is only about 60% effective. And, the projection of how effective it is going to be against the H3N2 this year is about 30%" as reported by www.foxbusiness.com.
What can you do to protect you and your family? Your best option is to prevent getting the flu. Your immune health starts in your gut, and thus you should be eating a diet high in fruits and vegetables, with minimum processed sugars or processed foods. A good daily probiotic will also help your gut to build good bacteria. You may also want to take immune boosting herbs. My favorite formula is Yu Ping Feng San, as well as taking camu camu berry powder which is full of vitamin C. Dry brushing can help to move the lymph system and boost the immune system. Wearing scarves and wrapping up when you go outside is also advised. Then lastly you can make sure that you are receiving regular acupuncture to boost the immune system. Acupuncture can help raise your immune enhancing hormones and white blood cell count for three days following an acupuncture treatment. Thus, acupuncture has been proven to help raise the immune system or cut the duration of a cold/flu. If you do get sick, make sure to flush out your system with plenty of water, wrap up, and eat spicy food to help drain the mucus from your sinuses.
How to Stay Healthy in the Winter
If we are to live by nature, in the Chinese Medicine 5 Element system we are coming to the most yin time of year. The time of year when the days get shorter, the air gets colder, and animals go into hibernation. As the animals take time to rest, and restore themselves for the warmer months, we should do the same. This means we should be rising later, and going to bed earlier. We should be bundling up by the fire, and staying inside. Since we are less active we should be eating foods that are warm, and high in nutrition and low in calories like soups and roasted winter vegetables.
On the five-element map, winter correlates to the water element, and thus the organs paired with the season are the bladder and kidneys. The kidneys in Chinese Medicine do more than just help to detoxify your blood, they control your vitality, how you age, pain felt in your knees and low back, and they are the rulers of the bones. This is an especially a good time of year to look after your bones. A body in motion, stays in motion as the saying goes so exercising is great to maintain bone health. Indoor activities like yoga and tai chi are best suited for the winter months. Taking omega-3's are also a great way to look after your joint health. Additionally, it is thought that kidney energy can escape through your feet if they get cold. It is best to put all of your sandals, and strappy shoes away for the season, and only wear closed toed shoes. Wear slippers around the house, and if your feet get really cold, make sure you are wearing socks to bed. Another way to conserve your kidney qi is by soaking your feet in a tub of warm water at night for thirty minutes.
Even with conserving your energy, regular acupuncture treatments, and moderate indoor activity you still won't feel your best unless you are eating correctly. Again, we don't need as many calories in the winter because we aren't supposed to be as active, thus eating highly nutritious food that is low in calories is ideal. Since it is the water time of year, foods that come from sea are recommended since most foods from the sea are high in nutrition and low in calories.
One of the foods that everyone is afraid of is Celtic Sea Salt. I agree that regular table salt, and salt on prepackaged foods are bad. Celtic Sea Salt has many minerals and can help you to stay hydrated. Sometimes patients show signs of dehydration although they are drinking plenty of water. Their bodies are not absorbing the water. Although if you have too much salt it can be damaging to the kidneys and you can retain fluids. If you find you are retaining fluids then try making parsley teas. It is great for flushing the kidneys. Boil water like you would for tea, removing the water from the burner seep a handful of parsley for fifteen minutes. Another great use for salt is Epsom salt foot baths. Take a large container, a quarter cup salt, warm water, about let your feet soak for thirty minutes. Do not do this too frequently though since salt can be drying and we already have to deal with a lot of dryness in Colorado.
Microalgae supplements like Spirulina and Chlorella are a great food supplement for optimal health as well. They detoxify the body, cleanse heavy metals, balance blood sugars, support weight loss by controlling sugar cravings, some say that the decelerate the aging process, they may be beneficial in treating and preventing cancer, and they are high in plant-based protein. Both are great superfoods, and I have both in my cabinet and take them all year around. Spirulina has a fishy green taste, and chlorella tastes like grass to me. Both can be covered with lemon and a sweetener of choice. If you don't want to take supplements, you can eat seaweeds. Seaweed is full of vitamins and minerals especially Kelp. Kelp is great for thyroid health, balances blood sugars, helps to improve the immune system, reduced inflammation, and can help with water retention. It is great for women as well since it is great for bone density.
Another nutrient that is great for our bones as mentioned earlier is Omega-3s. This supplement is also beneficial in protecting the brain, supporting our vision, and decreasing inflammation the body. Some believe that despite the vitamin companies best efforts, that all fish oil goes rancid at some point and it is best to eat fish for those omega-3s. The best sources are the fatty fish like salmon, herring, anchovies, and sardines. The fattier fish are also high in Vitamin D, another important nutrient. Make sure that all of your fish is wild caught, and be aware of marketing schemes that advertise "Wild Salmon" that is actually farm raised. Look for the label that says "wild caught."
Kidney beans are also really great for you, they are high in fiber, high in vegetable protein, and lower in calories. In Chinese Medicine there is a close relationship between the heart and the kidneys. Beans are great for lowering cholesterol and reducing heart disease. Beans also help to control blood sugars since they are high in fiber and are broken down in the body slowly. Mung beans also have many of the same benefits as kidney beans as well as helping to preserve and protect your actual kidneys. They are also the easiest bean to digest which leads to less gas.
I hope this helps you to stay healthy this winter. Remember to go to bed early, and rise later. Take care of yourself, get treated regularly, eat right with plenty of highly nutritious foods that are lower in calories, exercise indoors, stay hydrated, and keep your feet warm.
Detox foot baths, are they a scam?
The Inside Edition wrote an article on detox foot baths calling them a scam saying that the ionization and salt in the water causes rapid rusting and that is why the color changes. That even running the footbath without anyone's feet in it that the color would change. I've personally run the foot bath without anyone's feet in it, and the water stayed perfectly clear. I have also seen muddy brown water, clear yellow water, and very frothy orange water so in my personal experience the foot baths do work.
Additionally, there are scientific studies that prove that detox foot baths work, and that they are not a scam. The ionized particles in the foot baths have been proven to alkalize the body in one thirty-minute session, and will continue to do so up to forty-eight hours after the treatment. This is important because it is common knowledge that disease grows in an acidic environment. Stress, our environment, and what we eat all contribute to our bodies being overly acidic. To alkalize the body, it is recommended to drink plenty of water, eat a plant-based diet with plenty of greens, exercise, meditate, and cut out sugars. All that is great but in 30 minutes you can soak your feet in an Ionized foot bath and alkalize your body.
Other scientifically measured effects of the foot baths, besides alkalization, are lower blood sugar levels and lower cholesterol levels. A recent study by Donese Worden NMD, found a change in heavy metals found in the body. The report found changes in Antimony, Arsenic, Copper, Lead, Uranium, Barium, Cadmium, Chromium, Nickel, Aluminum, Iron, Manganese, and Zinc. Copper alone had the greatest change of 905% from before to after. Since one does not want to become too depleted, it is advised to drink a mineral drink after you have a foot bath.2
So how do the ionized foot baths work at the cellular level? In our bodies the watery fluids within and surrounding the cells also contain various types of salt that conduct electricity. Each of the trillions of cells have to constantly rely upon chemical reactions and electrical currents to enable them to communicate with one other, take action, and produce energy for the body. Cells need the right amount of positive and negative charge. If there is an overload of positive ions the cells are not able to absorb nutrients or excrete waste effectively, which can lead to disease. The saline water within the bath becomes an extension of the body's own saline fluids. As a result, the electrical frequency gently vibrates to bio-stimulate the body's cell to re-balance the cells electrical charge. The re-introduction of balanced cellular energy using the ionic footbath treatment allows the body to increase its oxygen supply to all the body's organs and releasing cellular toxins that may have built up. Ionized foot baths therefore improve health, enhance well-being, and restores the body's natural harmony.
Come in today, and enjoy our ionized foot baths and detox specials to detox and stay healthy this holiday season.
Fall Nutrition from the East and West
For the fall we are focusing on boosting the immune system and detoxifying the body from the views of the east and west.
East:
In Traditional Chinese Medicine the element that correlates with autumn is metal. Metal is refined in our earth’s core, and thus the element is all about refining the pure and discarding waste; which relates to the lungs and large intestine seeing as the lungs refine the pure air and the large intestine discards waste.
As the weather begins to cool we need to eat more cooked foods and foods that are in season. In turn reduce fruit juices and salads which are cold in nature. Seasonal fruits such as apples and pears may be prepared with warming spices like ginger and cinnamon to help digest them properly. Also as the weather is drier this time of year, it is a great time to eat oilier foods such as salmon, pork, and duck especially in the form of soups and stews.
As mentioned prior there are many warming spices that are beneficial this fall. The first spice is ginger which has anti-cancerous properties, beneficial against motion sickness and nausea, reduces pain and inflammation, beneficial against colds and flus, migraine relief, cramp relief, anti-inflammatory, and it boosts the immune system. Cinnamon is the second super spice of the fall as it speeds up metabolism, increases circulation, reduces allergies, anti-microbial, anti-fungal, fights colds and flus, balances blood sugar and reduces sugar cravings, clears acne, kills candida, and it benefits your oral health.
Although we try to do everything we can to stay healthy if you get a cold and have a cough, ginger is really good at helping you to disperse your cough and recover from your cold. A great way to take fresh ginger root is to slice about an inch of it thinly and simmer it in warm water for 20 minutes, discard the root and drink the water. If the cough is dry raw pears and pear juice are beneficial. Additionally, you can make tea with honey, lemon, and cinnamon to moisten the lungs. You can further help your lungs to stay moist by using humidifiers.
If you find that you have a lot of phlegm with your cold, spicy food is great at helping to clear the phlegm and help you sweat out the virus. Bananas, almonds, dairy, refined sugars and grains will produce more phlegm in the body, so if you are experiencing a lot of phlegm or constant sinus infections, try cutting out these foods. An occasional sinus rinse is also great to help keep the sinuses clear of phlegm. Be careful not to do it too much, Colorado is really dry and rinsing too often can cause the sinuses to become dry and irritated.
The second organ that plays a major role in your health during autumn is your large intestine. During this time of year when it is so dry many people suffer from constipation. You may be suffering from constipation if you do not have a bowel movement every day, or if you have small rabbit stools and strain to move your bowels. To take care of your gut health you need to be making sure that you are adequately hydrating. Urine should be a pale yellow, if it is darker you will need to consume more liquid. You should also be eating foods with a high fiber content. This time of year, root vegetables are abundant and high in fiber and nutrition as well as cruciferous vegetables. I also recommend for constipation that you take 2 tablespoons of freshly ground flaxseeds in a glass of water with the magnesium. The flaxseeds moisten the intestines and provide the fiber to cleanse your intestines, and the magnesium helps to relax smooth muscle so your intestines can relax enough to let you have a bowel movement. If you are still having issues with your intestines, acupuncture and herbs can help with your digestive health.
West:
On the Western end of things, it is encouraged to eat with the seasons there is less sunlight and thus the metabolism changes. This time of year beets, leafy greens, squash, pumpkin, sweet potatoes, turnips, broccoli, brussel sprouts, collards, cranberries, lemongrass, persimmon, swiss chard, and pomegranates are in season.
Pumpkin is also an excellent source of many natural poly-phenolic flavonoid compounds such as α, ß-carotenes, cryptoxanthin, lutein, and zeaxanthin. Carotenes convert into vitamin-A inside the human body. Zea-xanthin is a natural anti-oxidant which has UV rays filtering actions in the macula lutea in the retina of the eyes. Thus, it may offer protection from "age-related macular disease" in the older adults. The fruit is a good source of the B-complex group of vitamins like folates, niacin, vitamin B-6, thiamin, and pantothenic acid. It is also a rich source of minerals like copper, calcium, potassium and phosphorus.
Another superfood is sweet potatoes the tuber is an excellent source of flavonoid phenolic compounds such as beta-carotene and vitamin-A. 100 g of tuber provides 14,187 IU of vitamin-A and 8,509 µg of ß-carotene, a value which is the highest for any root vegetable. These compounds are powerful natural antioxidants. Vitamin-A is also required for the human body to maintain the integrity of mucosa and skin. It is a vital nutrient for healthy vision. The tubers are also packed with many essential vitamins such as B-5, B-6, B-1, niacin, and riboflavin.
Additionally, in the fall you can get fresh parsnips roots which are high in vitamin-C. Vitamin-C is a powerful water-soluble antioxidant, readily available to us from natural sources. It helps the human body to maintain healthy connective tissue, teeth, and gums. Its anti-oxidant property helps protect from diseases and cancers by scavenging harmful free radicals from the body. Further, the root is rich in many B-complex groups of vitamins such as folic acid, vitamin B-6, thiamin, and pantothenic acid as well as vitamin-K and vitamin-E.
Lastly there is swiss chard. Chard leaves are an excellent source of vitamin-C. Its fresh leaves provide about 33% of recommended levels per 100 g. Research studies suggest that regular consumption of foods rich in vitamin-C help maintain normal connective tissue, prevent iron deficiency, and also help the human body develop resistance against infectious agents by boosting immunity. Chard is one of the excellent vegetable sources for vitamin-K; 100 g provides about 700% of recommended intake. Vitamin-K has potential role in bone health by promoting osteoblastic (bone formation and strengthening) activity. Adequate vitamin-K levels in the diet help limit neuronal damage in the brain; thus, has an established role in the treatment of patients who have Alzheimer's disease. It is also a rich source of omega-3 fatty acids, and vitamin-A, B-carotene, alpha-carotene, lutein, and zeaxanthin.
To boost our immune system in the fall we may take things like vitamin C which may be found in lemons, oranges, tomatoes, kiwis, strawberries, and grapefruits. This nutrient is great as an antioxidant, immune booster, helps treat colds, reduces heart disease, lowers blood pressure, raises good cholesterol, prevents cataracts, treats glaucoma, treats gingivitis and protects against cancer.
Glutathione is also really important for the body. It boosts the immune system, detoxifies the body, it's an antioxidant, it slows aging, reduces muscle and joint pain, improves focus, improves sleep, and reduces stress. You can get this through apples, pears, asparagus, avocado, broccoli, spinach grapefruit, tomatoes, parsley, garlic, carrots, oranges, whey protein, and sulfur rich foods like cabbage and broccoli. CO-Q10 found in grass fed beef, herring, free range chicken, trout, sesame seeds, pistachio nuts, broccoli, cauliflower, oranges, strawberries, and sardines can help to lower fatigue, defend against free radicals, it's anti-aging, and helps with cognitive disorders.
Lastly we want to leave you with some general healthy tips. Make sure to drink half your body's weight in water, eat plenty of greens, use MCT oil in your coffee to boost brain health, do intermittent fasting, eat fruits in the morning and vegetables in the afternoon, try sleeping seven to nine hours a night, and dry brush everyday to help move and detoxify the lymph system. If you need to sweat infra-red saunas are best. Since disease is thought to grow in an acidic environment, try to alkalize the body by putting lemon/lime in your water, but be careful because the acid in the lemon juice can hurt your teeth.
If you are still feeling under the weather or need additional support we are available with detox programs, o-therapy treatments, and acupuncture.
FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE APPROACH
Integrative medicine is healing-oriented medicine that takes account of the whole person (body, mind, and spirit), including all aspects of lifestyle. It emphasizes the therapeutic relationship and makes use of all appropriate therapies, both conventional and alternative.
The principles of integrative medicine:
- A partnership between patient and practitioner in the healing process
- Appropriate use of conventional and alternative methods to facilitate the body’s innate healing response
- Prevention of disease through nutrition, exercise and lifestyle.
- Use of the latest laboratory testing and diagnostic techniques.
- Prescribed combinations of medications, botanicals, supplements, therapeutic diets,
- Exercise plans, rehabilitation plans, detoxification programs and stress management techniques
- Consideration of all factors that influence health, wellness and disease, including mind, spirit and community as well as body.
- A philosophy that neither rejects conventional medicine nor accepts alternative therapies uncritically.
- Use of natural, effective, less-invasive interventions whenever possible
- Use of the broader concepts of promotion of health and the prevention of illness as well as the treatment of disease.
