Integrative Medicine and Acupuncture

Integrative Medicine

• Definition: A team approach to healthcare.
• Combines traditional Western biomedical treatments with alternative modalities for optimal patient outcomes.
• Examples of modalities:
  • Massage
  • Meditation
  • Acupuncture
• Importance of communication among providers and with the patient to ensure coordinated care.

Acupuncture

Perspectives on Acupuncture

• Modern Biological Perspective:
  • Stimulates the body to balance itself through neurochemical pathways.
  • Affects the immune system, nervous system, and inflammatory processes.
• Traditional Eastern Perspective:
  • The body is a microcosm of the natural world, animated by energy called "qi."
  • Qi travels through the body via "meridians," with specific points where energy collects.
  • Stimulation of these points affects changes in the body.

Benefits and Effects of Acupuncture

• Relaxing treatment that stimulates the body's ability to relieve pain and release endorphins.
• Patients often find it soothing, sometimes fall asleep during sessions, and feel good afterwards.
• Treats a wide range of conditions, especially those affecting long-term quality of life:
  • Gastrointestinal Issues: Crohn's disease, colitis, inflammatory bowel disease, gastroparesis.
  • Pain Management: Joint pain, orthopedic sports injuries.
  • Women's Health Issues: Menopause, infertility, PMS.
  • Stress and Inflammation: Conditions aggravated by stress and inflammatory processes.

Treatment Duration and Approach

• Number of treatments varies based on:
  • Condition and its severity.
  • Duration of the issue.
  • Overall patient health.
• Generally performed in a series, similar to a course of antibiotics.
• Effects of acupuncture are cumulative.
• Importance of consulting a licensed acupuncturist for tailored guidance.