Frequently Asked Questions

What is Traditional Medicine and what is Integrative Medicine?
Traditional medicine in the United States refers to Western, Allopathic medicine.  It is founded on the principles of scientific research and clinical trials, resulting in evidence-based medicine.  Integrative Medicine is an established medical discipline that includes Western Medicine but also embraces complementary therapies such as  acupuncture, nutrition, massage and mind-body therapies that also have shown to be very beneficial for particular conditions.  Integrative Medicine brings a broad approach to the understanding and scope of medical care by incorporating, when appropriate and desired by a patient, complementary therapies that can optimize healing results, foster preventative health, and improve one's efforts at health maintenance.

Do all the doctors at the Center practice Integrative Medicine?
All the doctors and providers at the Center are interested in providing the best possible care for their patients.  They are pleased to be in a medical setting that supports patients in many different ways by providing health care options not typically found in a medical center:  acupuncture, massage, counseling, and mind-body therapies that help patients heal and reduce stress.  While each individual doctor focuses on his or her area of expertise, together they create an integrative setting.  In addition, there are some specific doctors at the Center who take a very integrative approach to complex issues such as chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, tick-borne and related illnesses, migraines, chronic pain, and depression, among others.   Call the Center if you have any questions about which practitioner might be the right match for you needs and preferences.

If I see more than one provider at the Center will they share my medical information?
Yes, if you want, and request, them to.  Many patients find this very helpful.  Working under one roof, practitioners can easily share information that can optimize your care. 

What are Complementary Therapies?
Complementary therapies is an umbrella term for a number of disciplines that are used in tandem with standard medical practice. Collectively, these therapies include acupuncture, massage, ayurveda, clinical hypnosis, mind-body therapies, stress reduction techniques, and energy-based therapies, among others.

The public’s interest and use of complementary therapies has been on the rise for years. Along with increased use, there has been increased interest in their effectiveness by the public, researchers and medical practitioners. More and more doctors are studying complementary therapies, referring patients out to skilled practitioners for these therapies, or learning techniques themselves and incorporating them into their medical practice. They are also paying attention to the connections between one’s mind and one’s body, something that many healing therapists have been focused on for a long time.

More information is available from the National Institute of Health Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM)