645 Lake Avenue, Paynesville, MN 56362

320-243-3000 or 1-800-242-3767

What is Alternative/Complementary/ Integrated Medicine?

Alternative medicine, also called complementary or integrated medicine, is a diverse group of healing arts, including mind-body interactions, bioelectromagnetic therapies, alternative medical systems, manual healing methods, pharmacologic biological methods, herbal medicine, diet and nutrition, and others. Mind/Body Interactions Mind/body interactions, often called psychoneuroimmunology explores the complex relationships between mind and body. These approaches have been studied and shown efficacy in treatment of hypertension, asthma, urinary and fecal incontinence, insomnia, chronic pain, enhanced cardiovascular and immune function, improved balance and flexibility, and decreased depression and anxiety. One example of these techniques is a 10-year study on a support group of women with metastatic breast cancer conducted at Stanford University Medical Center. All 86 women in the study received conventional therapy for breast cancer. Fifty of them also had a one and a half hour support group, once per week, run by two psychiatrists. On average, the support group women lived twice as long as the control group. Paynesville Area Health Care System has an excellent psychology department. Bioelectromagnetic Therapies Bioelectromagnetic therapy is the study of the human biologic effects of electromagnetic fields. This would include the study of strong ionizing fields, but also weak fields. Examples of this type of treatment would include the use of electric or magnetic fields to help heal nonunion bone fractures, pain reduction by transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), and treatment of anxiety by transcranial electrical stimulation. The effects of acupuncture, homeopathy, and "laying on of hands," may be related to bioelectric field interactions. At Integrated Health Center we offer acupuncture, TENS, and magnetic field therapy. Alternative Systems of Medical Practice Alternative systems of medical practice are complete, comprehensive systems. Examples would include traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), Indian Ayurveda, and the healing practice of native Hawaiians or other native Americans. Hundreds of papers have been published on the effectiveness of acupuncture. Many show effects on endorphins, serotonin, and other neurotransmitters. Clinical efficacy has been shown for acupuncture in treatment of dysmenorrhea, pain, addiction and alcoholism, immune response and pulmonary function. Homeopathy, a system of healing using tiny doses of substances to treat disease, has also been studied. Homeopathic dilutions are often so great there is little or no active ingredient in them. Practitioners believe an electromagnetic signature is left in the solvent that is responsible for therapeutic effect. Despite this difficult to understand reasoning, homeopathy has been demonstrated to be effective in controlled trials for treatment of fever and arthritis. At Integrated Health Center, we offer TCM and homeopathy. Manual Healing Methods Manual healing methods include osteopathy and chiropractic manipulation, but also nontouch or light touch systems such as therapeutic touch. Chiropractic manipulation has been shown effective on low back pain. Growth and development of low weight, premature infants has been enhanced by infant massage. Nurse-healers have shown their techniques to enhance physiologic function and improved mood. At Paynesville Area health Care System, we have an extensive physical therapy department, with mackenzie therapy and manipulation mobilization, as well as massage therapy. Pharmacologic and Biologic Treatment Pharmacologic and biologic treatments are methods that use conventional drugs and therapies in alternative ways or use unconventional substances ore therapies for therapeutic benefit. An example would include chelation therapies for vascular disease. Other examples are shark cartilage for the treatment of cancer, intravenous ozone or UV irradiation of blood for HIV disease. At Paynesville Area Health Care System, we offer chelation therapy, and biologic treatments for a variety of chronic diseases. The consults are conducted at Integrated Health Center. Herbal Medicine Herbal medicine is the use of whole plants or crude plant extracts for medicinal purposes. Many modern drugs are derivatives of herbal medicine. Aspirin comes from willow bark, penicillin comes from bread mold, and digitalis comes from fox glove. Many herbal treatments have been studied extensively. One example is the treatment of hypercholesterolemia and hypertension with garlic. At Integrated Health Center, we offer many herbal options to complement your other treatment. Diet and Nutrition Diet and nutrition systems employ varied philosophies to achieve optimal physiology by providing high quality nutrition and healthful physical activity. Specific nutrients have been used in a "nutraceutical" manner for the treatment of certain diseases. Examples include folic acid to prevent neural tube defects, heart disease, and low fat diets to reverse coronary heart disease. In addition, to our dietary department at Paynesville Area Health Care System, Integrated Health Center offers a variety of nutritional options and additions for treating medical problems.

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