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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 goal of Integrative Medicine is to maximize each individual's ability to experience optimal vitality and wellness. Integrative Medicine practitioners believe that there is a powerful relationship between the mind, body, spirit, and community in both health and disease. In the Integrative Medicine model, physicians focus on assisting their patients in the creation of customized wellness plans that are as responsive to their initial concerns as they are to their changing health needs, taking into consideration all aspects of well-being. They include recommendations from a wide range of appropriate therapeutic interventions from both conventional and complementary/alternative practices.
CHINESE MEDICINE
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) views human beings as essentially connected to the energetic workings of nature. To be separate from the natural world results in disharmony, either physically, mentally or emotionally. Disease is viewed as an expression of how the individual is out of balance with the fundamental laws of nature. Treatment is designed to help return the person to a balanced state within this natural energetic flow of life. TCM uses a variety of techniques to stimulate the Qi (vital energy) of the patient’s body to elicit a healing response. Rather than treating the presenting signs and symptoms of a disease, TCM looks at these as guideposts for the underlying causes of the imbalance. Once a diagnosis is formed, various modalities, such as movement, meditation, dietary and lifestyle counseling, acupuncture and/or herbs, may be used to help restore balance and harmony. Acupuncture, for example, treats many types of conditions, most commonly pain. This could be musculo-skeletal pain, gynecological pain, head or sinus pain or really almost any pain. It is also effective for constipation , chronic diarrhea, indigestion, nausea and vomiting (chemotherapy induced), PMS, breech presentation, menstrual cramps, menopause, sports injuries, asthma, allergies, common cold, depression, anxiety, insomnia, substance abuse, and stroke.
Energy Medicine is a subtle therapy similar to Reiki and Therapeutic Touch. It draws on ancient ways of understanding the self as an integrated whole of mind, emotions, body, and spirit. Energy can help to make connections between a patient's life story and their body, in order to get to the roots of where and how the person is blocked in their life.
A treatment involves the patient laying on their back, fully clothed, as the practitioner scans the energy field around them. Then, with a hands-on technique, energy is sent through the patient's body. Finally, the patient is scanned again to see what changes have taken place. People usually feel a sensation of deep relaxation and calm during this process. Often, a treatment or series of treatments unblock where the person is stuck as the body is brought back to a place of healthy balance. It can be useful for almost any condition.
CHIROPRACTIC
Chiropractic is a branch of the healing arts that is concerned with human health and disease processes from a structural viewpoint. Doctors of Chiropractic are physicians who consider humans as integrated beings and give special attention to all aspects including structural, spinal, musculoskeletal, neurological, nutritional, emotional and environmental relationships. It is the chiropractor’s exclusive mission to detect and correct misalignments in the spine and allow the body to function at its highest level. The practice and procedures that may be employed by Doctors of Chiropractic include the adjustment and manipulation of the spinal column, joints and near-by tissues. Chiropractors treat neck pain, headaches, back pain, facial pain, shoulder and elbow pain, hip, knee and ankle pain. Chiropractic may also be useful for dizziness, carpal tunnel syndrome, postoperative pain and lung dysfunction. In infants and children success has been reported for neck stiffness, ear infections, colic and postural imbalances.
ACTIVE RELEASE TECHNIQUES
ART is a form of soft tissue therapy, which, combines deep tissue massage and stretching to restore optimal texture, motion, and function of muscles, ligaments, and fascia. It is also used to lengthen tight stubborn muscles and to release any entrapped nerves or blood vessels within these tissues.
ART is used to break down scar tissue and adhesions, which often occur due to acute and repetitive injuries. If adhesions are attached to muscles, they decrease the muscles ability to move or function properly. The muscles may “stick together” requiring additional effort to fully contract. If adhesions are attached to nerves, they cause abnormal sensations like numbness, tingling, or pain.
A certified ART practitioner finds the tissue that is injured and physically works it back to its normal texture, tension, and length using various hand positions and manipulation methods. Once the muscle is returned to its normal state, the corresponding joint is often manipulated back into alignment and the muscles then must be strengthened using the prescribed exercises in order to keep the joint in the correct position.
ART provides excellent results in many chronic, long-term conditions like back and neck pain, sciatica, carpal tunnel syndrome, rotator cuff problems, post-surgical pain and many other musculoskeletal and nerve related conditions.
PHYSICAL THERAPY AND REHABILITATION
Physical therapy may incorporate many different forms of modalities including electrotherapy, ultrasound, laser, heat, ice, stretching and various forms of soft tissue massage. One or more of these modalities may be used during a treatment in an attempt to decrease pain and inflammation, increase circulation, or to correct muscle imbalances that may result from injury or long term dysfunction. Rehabilitation exercises are also prescribed to correct muscle weaknesses and restore optimal biomechanical function to the body.
MASSAGE THERAPY
Massage Therapy is the assessment and physical manipulation of the soft tissue and joints of the body. These include skin, muscles, tendons, fascia, ligaments, and joint capsules. During your treatment, the therapist uses their hands and arms to perform the treatment. The treatment is a combination of techniques, hydrotherapy and remedial exercise that are appropriate to the client and their ailment. Massage can affect the local and systemic systems of the body; for this reason modifying techniques and modalities appropriately to the patient is an integral part of treatment. Massage therapy also helps reduce physical and emotional stress and is suggested as part of a regular stress management program.
LASER THERAPY
Laser therapy is the application of low incident levels of laser energy to improve many clinical problems. These include: pain related to abnormalities in the nerves, soft tissues, muscles, tendons, joints and bone; improved wound healing in soft tissues, tendons and bone including the induction of healing in slow-to-heal or non-healing wounds by improved local and systemic blood circulation. Treatable conditions include but are not limited too, low back pain, sciatica, tendonitis, carpel tunnel syndrome, arthritis, head/neck and shoulder pain, sprains, strains, inflammation, migraines and headaches.
Therapeutic medical lasers heal tissue ailments by injecting billions of photos of visible and invisible laser light deep into tissue structure. Tissue naturally contains protein strands called chromophores and cytochromes located in the mitochondria of the cell, which have the unique ability to absorb laser light energy and transform it into chemical energy for the cell. This chemical energy is utilized by the tissue on a cellular level to significantly accelerate the healing process and reduce pain in the body naturally.
NATUROPATHIC MEDICINE
Naturopathic Medicine is a distinct primary health care system that blends modern scientific knowledge with traditional and natural forms of medicine. Naturopathic medicine is the art and science of disease diagnosis, treatment and prevention using natural therapies including botanical medicine, clinical nutrition, hydrotherapy, homeopathy, naturopathic manipulation, traditional Chinese medicine / acupuncture, and lifestyle counseling.
A Naturopathic Doctor is a primary care practitioner that seeks to restore and maintain optimum health in their patients by emphasizing nature’s inherent self-healing process. A Naturopathic Doctor views the individual as an integral whole including the physiological, structural, psychological, social, spiritual, environment and lifestyle factors affecting health. Symptoms of disease are seen as warning signals of improper functioning of the body and unfavorable lifestyle habits. Naturopathic Medicine emphasizes disease as a process rather than disease as an entity. The primary goal is to treat the underlying cause of the disease. This approach has proven successful in treating both chronic and acute conditions. Treatments are chosen based on the individual patient, not based on the generality of symptoms.
Naturopathic doctors can also complement and enhance health care services provided by other health care professionals. They cooperate with other branches of medical science referring patients to other practitioners for diagnosis or treatment when appropriate. Naturopathic Doctors provide patients with a truly integrative form of health care.
In Canada, the naturopathic medical profession’s infrastructure includes accredited educational institutions, professional licensing, national standards of practice, participation in many federal health committee initiatives, and a commitment to state-of-the-art scientific research.
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REIKI
Reiki is a Japanese word meaning Universal Life Force Energy. Reiki therapy is a relaxation technique that promotes self-healing. Reiki moves through and around the practitioner and client, such that the Universal Energy going to the client is enhanced. The innate wisdom of each person's body uses the energy where it is needed most. Reiki sessions are done with the client fully clothed, and lying on a table or sitting in a chair. There is a gentle laying on of hands on a number of areas of the body. An incredibly deep sense of relaxation and peace melts away tension, allowing the Life Force to flow more freely throughout the body.
NUTRITIONAL COUNSELING
Nutritional counseling includes advice or recommendations for food selection and preparation, evaluation of nutritional deficiencies and excesses, learning to choose foods that boost immunity against colds, flus and allergies, sports nutrition, and evaluation of individual food intake and lifestyle habits. Good nutrition has endless benefits including increased energy levels, optimal weight maintenance, stress management, improved digestion, protection against heart disease, diabetes, arthritis and other chronic illnesses. Services will include personalized nutritional coaching, Nutri-Body evaluation and consultation, menu-planning for individuals and families and seminars and workshops to target specific health concerns.
PSYCHOTHERAPY AND COUNSELING
Psychotherapy and counseling is geared towards the treatment of emotional and life challenges through the use of psychological techniques designed to encourage communication of conflicts and insight into problems. The goal of psychotherapy and counseling is the relief of symptoms and changes in behaviour leading to improved social and vocational functioning, and personality growth.
EMOTIONAL FREEDOM TECHNIQUE
Gary Craig, founder of EFT, describes this technique as “an emotional form of acupuncture” except that needles aren’t used. Instead, fingertips are tapped to stimulate certain acupressure points while the client focuses on the problem. EFT is based on the discovery that imbalances in the body’s energy system have profound effects on one’s personal psychology. When one corrects these imbalances (which is done by tapping on certain body locations) changes can occur.
EFT can be used for a number of problems, including:
cravings
anger
depression
fears
insomnia |
allergies
compulsions
dyslexia
grief
memories |
anxiety and panic attacks
obsessions
self-image
guilt
nightmares |
THERAPEUTIC TOUCH
Therapeutic Touch is a contemporary interpretation of several ancient healing practices based on the assumption that life energy flows freely in and out of the body. In disease or injury, the flow of energy is obstructed, disordered or depleted. A Therapeutic Touch practitioner will attempt to influence this energy imbalance and to restore the integrity of the field towards wholeness and health. Using their hands as a focus for healing, the practitioner will consciously modulate or direct the energy. There is really very little “touch” involved. This modality can be administered while the individual is seated or lying down, and is always clothed
Therapeutic Touch often elicits a relaxation response and/or a reduction of anxiety. Many individuals notice a change in their perception of pain. This modality also facilitates the body’s natural restorative processes.
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COSMETIC ACUPUNCTURE
Cosmetic Acupuncture (sometimes referred to as Facial Rejuvenation Acupuncture) is a safe, effective, non-surgical treatment to help reduce the signs of aging.
It is based on the principles of Traditional Chinese Medicine. The procedure involves the insertion of very thin disposable needles into the acupuncture points on the face. This will increase the local circulation to the face and stimulate collagen production, which will fill out the lines and give firmness to the skin for a healthy, glowing complexion.
Dr. Malone also emphasizes the importance of minimizing harmful chemicals commonly used in skin care. Educating the patient in synthetic free skin care is an important part of decreasing environmentally encountered toxins.
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INTRAVENOUS THERAPY
This is a supportive form of nutritional and/or botanical therapy for patients that suffer from illness or surgery that prevents optimal nutritional status. It involves intravenous delivery of vitamins, minerals, botanicals, and Homeopathics. This method of delivery is advantageous for those who have absorption and assimilation problems, or for those who have an increased need for specific nutrients.
This type of treatment allows for dose specific control, therefore it is certain all of what is administered via an intravenous route is absorbed directly into the blood stream, bypassing gastrointestinal absorption.
Conditions that are supportively treated with intravenous therapy include: Cancer, GI disorders, Chronic Fatigue, Fibromyalgia, Migraines, PMS, Parkinson’s, Multiple Sclerosis, Addiction recovery and Immune depression.
Individual consultation is necessary prior to treatment in order to determine candidacy for IV therapy, and to develop your treatment plan.
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GUIDED IMAGERY
Guided Imagery is a mixture of guided hypnosis and guided meditation used to create harmony between the mind and body. It utilizes both the power of the imagination and suggestive words and phrases to evoke memory and multi-sensory fantasies for the purpose of healing or the development of a management strategy in the face of adverse situations.
How Does Guided Imagery Work?
Imagery works by sending healing images straight into one's brain and nervous system by way of primitive, sensory pathways. Because the route of travel of these messages goes to the right brain (non dominant brain) which feels, perceives and senses as opposed to the left brain which is busy judging, deciding and analyzing, healing imagery can be a very effective intervention tool for many diseases, stress and traumatic conditions.
Guided Imagery easily supports other ongoing therapies and also provides the patient his own powerful tool which grows more effective with continued use.
Research has proven Guided Imagery to be helpful with the following and more:
- Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
- Lower blood pressure
- Reduce cholesterol
- Reduce anxiety and depression
- Speed up healing from cuts, fractures and burns
- Enhance immune function
- Cancer patient support
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
- Reduce chronic pain and fibromyalgia
- Reduce length of hospital stay in post operative patients
- Reduce allergic reactions
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HYPNOSIS
Hypnosis is an induced state of deep relaxation during which the patient remains fully conscious. This ancient and scientifically validated healing therapy is used to help people heal from common medical conditions such as insomnia, acute and chronic pain, addictions, depression and anxiety. Healing occurs when a certified practitioner guides you into a relaxed state of consciousness where your attention is focused away from the present reality and toward particular images, thoughts, perceptions, feelings, sensations and behaviours.
During hypnosis, most people experience a comfortable sensation of heaviness or lightness (feeling like they are floating or drifting). Following hypnosis, most patients feel they have just awakened from deep, restful sleep.
Many common conditions can be responsive to hypnosis including but not limited to:
- Anxiety or phobia
- Depression
- Addiction
- Eating disorders or obesity
- Insomnia
- Acute and chronic pain
- Asthma
- Irritable bowel syndrome
- Reducing side effects from chemotherapy
- Tremors, Parkinson’s
- Pre and postoperative healing support
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