If you don’t know much about integrative medicine — things like acupuncture or Reiki — you may not understand how it could help you heal.
When it comes to treating disease, a combination of traditional, Western medicine and integrative medicine can provide a well-rounded treatment plan.
“Integrative medicine expands the conventional idea of medicine and healing to include emotional and spiritual aspects,” said Ryan Davenport, DACM, L.Ac, a specialist with Endeavor Health. “Our practitioners create an environment where the patient can engage in their healing process, improve or resolve their health problems and experience a greater sense of wellbeing.”
Integrative medicine considers the whole person and can provide support along with traditional western medicine.
How can integrative medicine help you? It depends on what you need.
“Integrative medicine makes use of different therapeutic practices to address all aspects of your health — physical, emotional, social, spiritual and more. The goal is to restore and maintain health and wellness,” Davenport said.
Endeavor Health’s Integrative Medicine Program is one of the largest and most well-established programs in the country.
Endeavor Health’s integrative medicine practitioners use safe, evidence-based complementary therapies and communicate fully with patients’ traditional Western medicine physicians and specialists to optimize health and a heightened sense of wellbeing.
What complementary treatment would work best for you?
Reiki
Reiki is a complementary, holistic healing practice intended to promote the balance of energy in the body. The session is safe, gentle and noninvasive, and is used to enhance the effectiveness of conventional medical treatment. Reiki can help promote relaxation and release stress. It can also relieve pain, improve mental clarity and promote sleep.
Massage
Advanced massage techniques are a useful adjunct to one’s health plan to promote healing and maintain health. Massage is beneficial for many conditions, including chronic pain, soft tissue injuries and stress reduction.
Acupuncture and East Asian medicine
This medical system is one of the oldest and most well-established whole-person healing systems. It includes an evaluation and treatment to effectively address a wide range of health problems using acupuncture, herbal medicine, cupping, gua sha and movement therapies, as well as lifestyle and dietary advice. It promotes a state of optimal health to provide relief or resolution from pain, headaches, digestive disorders, gynecological disorders, sleep problems, colds, allergies, stress and much more.
Functional medicine
Functional medicine takes a comprehensive, whole health approach to prevention, health, and wellbeing; treats root causes of disease; and restores healthy function through a personalized patient experience.
Ask your primary care doctor about integrative medicine and whether it could help you heal, or schedule an appointment with an integrative medicine specialist.
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