Overview
Have you been dealing with recent back pain or chronic migraines? Or have you been stressed and anxious of late and just want to get back to feeling better? An integrative medicine session with us might be just what you need for overall wellness. Here’s what to know about the different types of integrative medicine and its benefits in improving your well-being.
What is Integrative Medicine?
Integrative medicine is a holistic medical practice that uses a patient-focused approach to maintaining health and wellness. A patient’s genetics, lifestyle, and environment, as well as their emotional, spiritual, and mental well-being, all play an important role in treating disease. Integrative medicine may sometimes be referred to as alternative or complementary medicine and can be used in place of or alongside conventional forms of medicine.
Practitioners of integrative medicine believe that diseases arise in your body when there’s an imbalance between your physical, mental, and emotional states. This imbalance can manifest itself physically as chronic pain and injuries or mentally as depression, stress, and anxiety. Integrative medicine therapies work to treat these underlying symptoms to improve your overall wellness and restore mind-body harmony.
What Types of Problems can Integrative Medicine Treat?
Integrative medicine can be effective in treating:
- Cancer
- Arthritis
- Diabetes
- Headaches/migraines
- Chronic fatigue syndrome
- IBS
- Stress and Anxiety
- Coronary diseases
- PTSD
What Are the Benefits of Integrative Medicine?
There are multiple benefits to using integrative medicine. Most types of integrative medicine therapy are non-invasive, drug-free, and highly personalized, which is why patients prefer using them. Integrative medicine is effective at:
- Relieving chronic pain in patients with cancer
- Improvements in mood and cognitive function
- Managing symptoms of fatigue and sleeplessness
- Helping patients quit smoking
- Improve weight loss
- Decrease levels of anxiety, stress, and depression
- Improve the quality of life
What to Expect During an Integrative Medicine Appointment
If you’ve never been to an integrative medicine appointment, you might be wondering what to expect during your first hour-long session. A certified osteopathic or naturopathic doctor or trained nurse practitioner at Chris Strickland will begin by asking a comprehensive set of questions to get to know the patient’s current physical, emotional, and mental well-being, as well as their lifestyle choices, diet, and environmental factors that may play a role in the onset of disease.
From there, your doctor will devise a treatment plan that’s individual to you and may include sessions such as chiropractic adjustment, physical therapy, massage therapy, or guided imagery. Depending on your history and symptoms, the therapies recommended may complement or sometimes replace conventional forms of treatment like medications or surgery. While most patients feel relief almost instantly, many continue the various types of integrative therapies in order to maintain their levels of wellness.
For more information about integrative medicine , contact Chris Strickland at (706) 769-9779.
-
Periodontal Exams
Category:
Tooth Care
Periodontal exams are vital in the maintenance of your oral health as they are used to assess the health of your gums and teeth. They can help your dentist diagnose gum diseases, gingivitis and periodontitis. These exams can also reveal receding gums, exposed roots, tooth grinding and other problems,
Read more
-
Personalized Health Goals
Category:
Annual Checkups
The Value of Setting Health Goals
Health goals are a vital part of maintaining and improving overall well-being. They provide a roadmap for individuals to follow, guiding their health-related decisions and behaviors. During an annual checkup, discussing these goals with a healthcare provider can offer
Read more
-
Peyronie’s Disease
Category:
Sexual Health
Peyronie's disease is a condition in which fibrous scar tissue develops inside the penis, causing it to bend or curve during an erection. This can cause pain and difficulty with sexual intercourse. The exact cause of Peyronie's disease isn’t clear, but it is thought to be related to repetitive microtrauma
Read more
-
Phimosis
Category:
Male Conditions
Phimosis is a condition in which the foreskin of the penis is unable to be fully retracted from the head of the penis. This can cause pain and discomfort during erection, sexual activity, and even while urinating. In some cases, phimosis can lead to infections and other medical problems. Treatment options
Read more
-
Physical Exam
Category:
Annual Checkups
The Role of Physical Exams
Physical exams are a cornerstone of an annual checkup. They provide a hands-on evaluation of an individual’s health, allowing healthcare providers to assess various aspects of physical well-being. These exams can detect potential health issues that may not be evident through
Read more
-
Physical Therapy for Pain Relief
Category:
How Pain is Treated
Understanding Pain Management
Pain management is a multidisciplinary approach to ease discomfort and improve the quality of life for those living with chronic pain. It involves a variety of treatments, including medication, counseling, and physical therapy.
The Role of Physical Therapy in Pain Management
Physical
Read more
-
Plaque
Category:
Dental Problems
Plaque is a film of bacteria that forms on your teeth and gums after eating foods that produce acids. These foods may include carbohydrates (starches and sugars), such as candy and cookies, and starchy foods such as bread, crackers, and cereal.
Tooth decay, commonly known as cavities, occurs when
Read more
-
Podiatry Stockings
Category:
Orthotics & Footwear
Podiatry stockings, also known as compression stockings or socks, are specialized garments designed to provide graduated compression to the feet and lower legs. These stockings are commonly used in podiatry practice to promote circulation, reduce swelling, and alleviate symptoms associated with various
Read more
-
Post-Surgical Pain Management
Category:
Specialized Pain Conditions
Post-surgical pain is a common occurrence after any surgical procedure. It is the body’s natural response to tissue damage caused by surgery. The intensity of post-surgical pain can vary greatly depending on the type of surgery, the individual’s pain threshold, and the effectiveness of pain management
Read more
-
Posturography Assessments
Category:
Balance and Vestibular Disorders
Balance, a fundamental aspect of human function, relies on the intricate interplay of various sensory and motor systems. Posturography assessments, a specialized diagnostic tool, delve into balance, providing valuable insights into the factors influencing stability. In this exploration, we unravel posturography
Read more
-
Pregnancy and The Foot
Category:
Foot Anatomy
Pregnancy is a transformative journey that affects the entire body, including the feet. Many expectant mothers experience changes in their feet during pregnancy due to hormonal shifts, weight gain, and altered biomechanics. Understanding these changes and implementing proper foot care can help alleviate
Read more
-
Premature Ejaculation
Category:
Sexual Health
Premature ejaculation (PE) is a common sexual dysfunction in which a man ejaculates too quickly during sexual intercourse, often before or shortly after penetration, which causes distress to the individual. It can be caused by psychological factors such as anxiety, depression, or relationship problems,
Read more
-
Prevention Tips for Children
Category:
Tooth Care
Infants
Infants should be seen by our office after the first six months of age, and at least by the child's first birthday. By this time, the baby's first teeth, or primary teeth, are beginning to erupt and it is a critical time to spot any problems before they become big concerns.
Conditions like
Read more
-
Priapism
Category:
Sexual Health
Priapism is a persistent, usually painful, erection that lasts for several hours and occurs without sexual stimulation. It is a medical emergency that can result in permanent erectile dysfunction if untreated. Priapism can be caused by various factors, including sickle cell anemia, certain medications,
Read more
-
Professional Ear Cleaning
Category:
Diagnostic Audiology
Have you recently been finding it difficult to hear? Or have you been experiencing an increase in earwax buildup and don't know what to do? A professional ear cleaning appointment with us might be just what you need for overall wellness. Here's what to know about the benefits of professional ear cleaning.
What
Read more
-
Prostate Cancer
Category:
Cancers
Prostate cancer is a common form of cancer that affects the prostate gland in men. The prostate is a small, walnut-shaped gland that is part of the male reproductive system. Early symptoms of prostate cancer may not be noticeable, but as the disease progresses, men may experience difficulty urinating,
Read more