Integrative medical treatment, which is a blending of eastern and western medical therapies, has grown in popularity in the United States over the last decade. Holistic healing doctors like those at Southwest Integrative Medicine in Arizona provide treatment that is focused on more than just prescription drugs. Your treatment plan will include naturopathic medicine and nutrition, emphasizing your body’s healing ability. The treatment focus will be on wellness and your doctor will work with you to restore hormonal balance and help you achieve a healthy weight. Working together, you will determine the cause of your medical issue and the best method for coping with or curing it. You and your doctor will partner in the common goal of treating body, mind, and spirit at the same time.
Dr. Robin Terranella of Southwest Integrative Medicine believes a blending of eastern and western philosophies is the healthiest method for coping with disease. For instance, a person who has developed cancer may undergo chemotherapy, but it may be coupled with alternative treatments like IV nutrient therapy and acupuncture. In many cases, the alternative treatment eases the side effects of the conventional treatments, as well as diminishing the pain associated with the illness or disease. The goal is to treat the entire person instead of just eliminating the disease. If a person feels good, the body’s ability to heal itself is enhanced.
Integrative treatments have their skeptics. Some believe they are simply a way to make someone feel good and they do not believe the science exists to prove true medical benefits. Insurance companies are beginning to reimburse for alternative treatments, but many patients pay out of pocket for their alternative therapies and sometimes receive no compensation. At Southwest Integrative Medicine, patients are sometimes reimbursed for their treatments by their insurance companies.
Popularity
The reason integrative medicine is appealing is because it is the antithesis of an overtaxed conventional medical system. Because of insurance companies, doctors are typically only able to spend 15 minutes per visit with their patients. This leaves them little time to get at the underlying cause of a problem, and even less of a chance to explain the benefits of treatment. At Southwest Integrative Medicine, doctors spend at least an hour with patients. Visits include a half-hour consultation followed by a physical exam. Lab work may be ordered, a treatment plan is established, and a follow-up call is given to ensure the treatment plan is on track. Patients enjoy the personalized care and the time integrative doctors invest in their well-being. There is often no waiting prior to your exam, and according to Dr. Terranella, the goal of the visit is to “…get a good understanding of what the health issues are.” Treating a patient is about determining the cause of the problem, not just medicating the symptoms.
Improving Health with Lifestyle Changes
Many health problems that Southwest Integrative Medicine treats require lifestyle changes. If a person is overweight, he may suffer a variety of health conditions; he may visit the clinic complaining about digestive disorders and headaches. If he’s overweight, this may be the cause of their problem. Conventional medicine may provide prescription drugs to ease the pain of the headaches and discomfort of digestion, but integrative medicine will help a patient develop an eating plan that will promote weight loss and get his body back on track.
Integrative medicine also focuses on the health of cells and the balance of hormones. Unhealthy cells and hormone imbalance can lead to a variety of health problems. Instead of treating those problems, integrative medicine focuses on the root cause. By healing the mind, body, and spirit, the body’s ability to heal itself is restored.
Integrative treatment plans include alternative therapies like acupuncture, nutrient therapy, weight- loss plans, and vitamin injections. Dr. Terranella believes the most successful way to treat a person is to create a plan that includes therapeutic lifestyle changes and incorporates one alternative therapy at a time. You may have to be patient when it comes to reaping the rewards of alternative therapies. He has noticed patients sometimes have a tendency to overdo it with alternative therapies, or they give up on the treatment too quickly. He encourages patients to choose one treatment plan and stick to it.
Dr. Terranella’s goal is to get the most from both western and eastern medicine. He states, at Southwest Integrative Medicine “…we try to utilize the best of both because both have value. Western medicine is incredible with technology but you can get lost in running a battery of test. We focus on providing the simplest, effective, and least invasive treatment for each individual.” If you would like to explore your treatment options, speak with the medical professionals at Southwest Integrative Medicine.
The information in the article is not intended to substitute for the medical expertise and advice of your healthcare provider. We encourage you to discuss any decisions about treatment or care with an appropriate healthcare provider.
