Win your health goals with an integrative medicine team.Who's in charge of taking care of your health? Do you have one health care provider to whom you go for everything and whose infallible advice you follow without question? (Probably not.) Do you have a stable of specialists that you consult for specific services or body parts? (Like most of us.) Or are you one of the fortunate few who has an integrated team of health practitioners who work with you and each other to achieve your health goals? (Good for you!) If you are a regular reader of New Life Journal, then you already know that there's a wide selection of health care practitioners to choose from: acupuncturists, massage therapists, chiropractors, naturopaths, homeopaths, herbalists, allopathic Allopathic Pertaining to conventional medical treatment of disease symptoms that uses substances or techniques to oppose or suppress the symptoms. Mentioned in: Traditional Chinese Medicine (western medical) doctors, psychologists, Reiki Reiki Definition Reiki is a form of therapy that uses simple hands-on, no-touch, and visualization techniques, with the goal of improving the flow of life energy in a person. practitioners, iridologists, reflexologists, Ayurvedic practitioners, hypnotists, colon therapists, aromatherapists, taiji, qigong Qigong Definition Qigong (pronounced "chee-gung," also spelled chi kung) is translated from the Chinese to mean "energy cultivation" or "working with the life energy. , Pilates and yoga teachers, to name a few. How do you choose which ones are best suited for your needs? How do you get them all working together instead of being in conflict or unaware of each other? It can be a little bit like herding cats! [check] KNOW YOURSELF First and foremost, you need to accept that your health is your own responsibility. If you abdicate ab·di·cate v. ab·di·cat·ed, ab·di·cat·ing, ab·di·cates v.tr. To relinquish (power or responsibility) formally. v.intr. To relinquish formally a high office or responsibility. this responsibility, blindly follow "doctor's orders "Doctor's Orders" is the title of an episode from the third season of the television series . Its episode number is 068, and it first aired on 18 February 2004. Plot summary This is a summary of the beginning portion of the episode. ," and allow yourself to be sold a bill of goods bill of goods n. pl. bills of goods 1. A consignment of items for sale. 2. Informal A plan, promise, or offer, especially one that is dishonest or misleading: "The salesman himself . , it's ultimately your own fault. Be an informed health consumer. Before you talk to your healer healer Mainstream medicine A romantic synonym for physician. See Traditional healing. of choice, spend some time, energy and awareness on your current state of health. This requires honest introspection and a few pointed questions: * How healthy and balanced do I feel in general? * What am I doing to keep myself healthy and in balance? * What aspects of my lifestyle and attitude contribute to imbalance? * How is my mental, emotional, and social health? * What are my major health concerns and the specific problems I want to discuss? * Be able to accurately identify the following about your health issue(s): --the location or area --how and when it started --what it feels like --what makes it worse, what makes it better --other associated symptoms Develop your own theory of what you have, how you got it, and what it means to get well. It doesn't matter if you don't know Don't know (DK, DKed) "Don't know the trade." A Street expression used whenever one party lacks knowledge of a trade or receives conflicting instructions from the other party. the medical terms for conditions; that's the doctor's job. Yours is to accurately and completely describe the problem to your practitioner so they can best help you ... and be open to, yet discerning about, new interpretations of your symptoms/imbalance. Make a list of questions that you have about your health and go through it with your doctor until you are satisfied with the answers. [check] ASK THE RIGHT QUESTIONS Find the right practitioner for you by asking important questions, like ... * Do you encourage patient input and participation? * Do you have experience in treating what I have? * Are you qualified to treat this? * Will you collaborate with my other health care practitioners? * What has been your experience in integrative practice? * Are there other practitioners who you work well with that you can recommend? * Will you refer me to another practitioner if that's what I need? * Will you forward your records to other practitioners on my request? * Do you want records from my other caregivers? * Where do you stand regarding insurance? (If this is important to you) * Ask any and all questions you need to feel comfortable with this person's competence and manner. Remember, this is their employment interview. [check] BE HONEST AND FORTHRIGHT Even if your condition is personal or embarrassing, be as honest and complete in giving all relevant information as you possibly can. The accuracy of your diagnosis and the quality of your treatment depends on it. Don't leave out details because you think they're unimportant, because they involve a different body part, or happened a long time ago. Integrative practitioners look at everything about your whole being. [check] DO YOUR HOMEWORK It's also your job to find out what these-professionals areas of responsibility and scope of practice are, so that your expectations meet their abilities. You wouldn't go to see a podiatrist Podiatrist A physician who specializes in the medical care and treatment of the human foot. Mentioned in: Shin Splints podiatrist (foot doctor) for a periodontal periodontal /peri·odon·tal/ (per?e-o-don´t'l) 1. pertaining to the periodontal ligament or periodontium. 2. near or around a tooth. per·i·o·don·tal adj. 1. (gum) problem, right? Be sure that your caregivers are properly trained and legally sanctioned to practice. If there is a professional board and malpractice coverage backing them up, you have some protection should anything go wrong. You have no such safety net if someone with only an Internet diploma gives you bad advice, no matter how convincing their rant might be. [check] DON'T BE INTIMIDATED Don't let yourself be bullied by someone with a bunch of letters after their name, or bamboozled by false claims from a phony. You can educate yourself and speak with them from an informed place, at least about your condition. You are hiring these professionals to provide you with a service, according to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. their level of training and expertise. Choose your health consultant as carefully as you would choose a mate, a financial advisor, or a pair of shoes. Find one who "fits" with your personal health philosophy. Remember, it's your body, and you're in charge. Be open to their input (after all, you're paying for it!) but if it doesn't ring true, get another opinion. Here is a listing of some common practitioners and the differences between them: Reference the Health Practitioner Comparison Chart on p. 14 * Allopathic: A term applied to that system of therapeutics in which diseases are treated by producing a condition incompatible with or antagonistic to the condition to be cured or alleviated. Called also western medicine, conventional, or (paradoxically) traditional medicine. * Osteopathy osteopathy (ŏstēŏp`əthē), practice of therapy based on manipulation of bones and muscles. This school of medicine, founded by A. T. : A system of medicine, with a strong emphasis on the inter-relationship of the body's nerves, muscles, bones, and organs. Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine osteopathic medicine n. See osteopathy. , or D.O's, are taught to apply the philosophy of treating the whole person (holistic approach holistic approach A term used in alternative health for a philosophical approach to health care, in which the entire Pt is evaluated and treated. See Alternative medicine, Holistic medicine. ) to the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of illness, disease, and injury using traditional medical practice such as drugs and surgery along with manual and physical therapies. Unfortunately, many D.O.s reject the more holistic tenets of Osteopathy and focus on the conventional aspects of medicine. * Medical Doctor: Although the majority of M.D.s are strictly allopathic, increasing numbers are adding training in healing modalities to their credentials, often calling themselves "Integrative M.D.s. There is also a recognized 'board certification' in Holistic Medicine holistic medicine, system of health care based on a concept of the "whole" person as one whose body, mind, spirit, and emotions are in balance with the environment. which over 1000 doctors have completed. (www.holisticboard.org) * Holistic: A holistic approach to healing recognizes that the emotional, mental, spiritual, and physical elements of each person compose a system, and attempts to treat the whole person, concentrating on the cause of the illness as well as symptoms. They usually do not originate from the western medical-scientific tradition. Many other healing systems are holistic by design, integrating all aspects of the person. * Homeopathy homeopathy (hōmēŏp`əthē), system of medicine whose fundamental principle is the law of similars—that like is cured by like. : A system of alternative medicine that treats "like with like," using miniscule min·is·cule adj. Variant of minuscule. Adj. 1. miniscule - very small; "a minuscule kitchen"; "a minuscule amount of rain fell" minuscule doses of remedies that would, in regular doses in healthy individuals, produce similar symptoms to those the homeopathic Homeopathic A holistic and natural approach to healthcare. Mentioned in: Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome homeopathic, adj doses treat in an ill patient. * Naturopathy naturopathy /na·tur·op·a·thy/ (na?cher-op´ah-the) a drugless system of health care, using a wide variety of therapies, including hydrotherapy, heat, massage, and herbal medicine, whose purpose is to treat the whole person to stimulate : Naturopathic medicine Naturopathic Medicine Definition Naturopathic medicine is a branch of medicine in which a variety of natural medicines and treatments are used to heal illness. utilizes physiological, psychological, and mechanical methods, such as air, water, light, heat, earth, phytotherapy, food and herb therapy, psychotherapy, electrotherapy electrotherapy /elec·tro·ther·a·py/ (-ther´ah-pe) treatment of disease by means of electricity. e·lec·tro·ther·a·py n. Medical therapy using electric currents. , physiotherapy, and natural methods or modalities, together with natural medicines, natural processed foods and herbs and natural remedies. Naturopathy is not currently regulated, so while some Naturopathic Doctors receive lengthy, rigorous training similar to their conventional medical counterparts, other practitioners with much less training also call themselves Naturopaths or Naturopathic Doctors. Ask your practitioner about their training. [check] TAKE CONTROL Introduce your chosen health advisors to each other. Make sure each knows of the others' specialties and understands your wellness goals. Choose one to be the team "foreman" to coordinate care and prevent redundancies or omissions. This does not have to be the MD, but should be a practitioner with a license to diagnose. Have needed tests ordered by the type of practitioner your insurance company recognizes and interpreted by those trained and qualified to do so. Bring your ideas to the table, but don't try new things on your own without running them by your team first. Follow diet and lifestyle recommendations carefully. Let your healing team know of any changes, for better or worse. Bonnie L. Walker, D.C., L.Ac. is a licensed chiropractic chiropractic (kīrəprăk`tĭk) [Gr.,=doing by hand], medical practice based on the theory that all disease results from a disruption of the functions of the nerves. physician and acupuncturist in solo practice solo practice Medical practice by a single physician–a solo practioner, usually understood to mean a nonspecialist. See Private practice; Cf Group practice. since 1990 at Wellspring well·spring n. 1. The source of a stream or spring. 2. A source: a wellspring of ideas. wellspring Noun Chiropractic and Acupuncture Center in Boone, NC. (www.wellspring-healing.com) She is a primary care provider of chiropractic, classical Chinese Classical Chinese n. The written form of Chinese from about the fifth century b.c. to the end of the Han dynasty in 220 a.d. adj. acupuncture, nutritional counseling, and wellness care for all ages. She has a special interest in chronic fatigue, immune system immune system Cells, cell products, organs, and structures of the body involved in the detection and destruction of foreign invaders, such as bacteria, viruses, and cancer cells. Immunity is based on the system's ability to launch a defense against such invaders. disorders, internal medicine, infertility, and women's health Women's Health Definition Women's health is the effect of gender on disease and health that encompasses a broad range of biological and psychosocial issues. . She also is Biomedical bi·o·med·i·cal adj. 1. Of or relating to biomedicine. 2. Of, relating to, or involving biological, medical, and physical sciences. Dean of Jung Tao School of Classical Chinese Medicine Classical Chinese Medicine (CCM) is notably different than Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). CCM represents the medicine and its evolution through thousands of years. It is distinct from, yet shares history and much information with Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). in Sugar Grove Sugar Grove can refer to:
Health Practitioner Comparison Chart (for further definitions of
these terms, see p17)
Title Description Education Qualification
MD Medical Dr 8 + yrs Nat'l Exam
DO Osteopathic Dr 8 + yrs Nat'l Exam
DC Chiropractor 6-8 yrs Nat'l Exam
PA, FNP Physician's asst, 4 yrs Nat'l Exam
Family Nurse
Practitioner
L Ac Acupuncturist 3-4 yrs Nat'l Exam
LPC Counselor 5 to 7 yrs Nat'l Exam
LMT, LMBT Massage therapist 6 months, Nat'l Exam
600 hours
ND Naturopath 8 years Nat'l Exam
CHom, MD(H) Homeopath 3 years Nat'l Exam
Herbalist 9 months, No requirement
275 hours
RD, CCN, Nutritionist Varies No requirement
other
Colon therapist 100 hours No requirement
Aroma therapist Workshops No requirement
Spiritual Healer Varies No requirement
Title Description Regulation Philosophy
MD Medical Dr License Allopathic
DO Osteopathic Dr License Allopathic (&
Holistic)
DC Chiropractor License Holistic
PA, FNP Physician's asst, License Allopathic
Family Nurse
Practitioner
L Ac Acupuncturist License Holistic
LPC Counselor License Holistic
LMT, LMBT Massage therapist Certification Holistic
ND Naturopath Unregulated Holistic
CHom, MD(H) Homeopath Unregulated Holistic
Herbalist Unregulated Holistic
RD, CCN, Nutritionist Unregulated Holistic
other
Colon therapist Unregulated Holistic
Aroma therapist Unregulated Holistic
Spiritual Healer Unregulated Holistic
Title Description Insurance Accountability
MD Medical Dr Yes Board & malprx
insurance
DO Osteopathic Dr Yes Board & malprx
insurance
DC Chiropractor Most Board & malprx
insurance
PA, FNP Physician's asst, Yes Board & malprx
Family Nurse insurance
Practitioner
L Ac Acupuncturist Some Board & malprx
insurance
LPC Counselor Some Board & malprx
insurance
LMT, LMBT Massage therapist Some Board & malprx
insurance
ND Naturopath No None
CHom, MD(H) Homeopath No None
Herbalist No None
RD, CCN, Nutritionist No None
other
Colon therapist No None
Aroma therapist No None
Spiritual Healer No None
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