Conditions That Respond Well to Integrative Therapy

If you have a health condition that interferes with your quality of life, the sad fact is that not every patient gets adequate relief from their symptoms, which might describe you, too; this is where integrative healing may finally help.

Integrative healing differs from traditional care methods, where you go to the doctor, tell them your problem, and leave with a prescription. Your body, mind, and spirit are connected, and an integrative practitioner considers how they  affect your overall health. 

Here, Dr. Daniel Rieders of Peninsula Integrative Cardiology describes integrative therapy.  

The basics of integrative therapy

Integrative therapy uses the best of Western medicine while remaining open to complementary therapies.

Some of these complementary therapies may include the following:

• Acupuncture
• Meditation
• Yoga
• Massage therapy
• Spiritual medicine
• Psychotherapy

Although Dr. Rieders does not provide all these services, he can provide referrals to other recommended providers.

Conditions that respond well to integrative therapy

Certain health conditions work better with integrative therapy than others. Some conditions that respond well to integrative therapy include the following:

Cancer

A cancer diagnosis is a life crisis for anyone, no matter your circumstances or background. You may still choose to use conventional treatments, like chemotherapy and radiation, but decide to take your healing a step further.

We can look at your entire lifestyle, including your nutrition, exercise, and habits that may work against your healing.

Chronic pain

If you have chronic pain, you’re probably accustomed to seeking help and being turned away; however, you can get results from integrative therapy.

Patients with chronic pain often find multiple other services helpful, such as psychotherapy, gentle exercise, and spiritual medicine.

Infertility

If you’ve been trying to conceive a child with no luck, integrative medicine can help. Sometimes, we need to address other factors when patients have infertility issues due to unexplained factors.

Meditation, yoga, nutrition, and exercise can improve your fertility. Dr. Rieders asks about your current lifestyle, including unique stressors you may have, and develops a comprehensive and customized treatment plan.

Autoimmune disorders

Some of the most complex disorders are autoimmune, when your body abnormally reacts to itself. You may have difficulty finding effective treatments without also presenting significant side effects.

Applying the principle of a connection between your mind, body, and spirit is often helpful to people with autoimmune conditions. 

Digestive disorders

Having issues with digestive disorders can be frustrating. Maybe you have irritable bowel syndrome, and your current methods of managing it aren’t enough.

Sometimes, looking into your diet, exercise habits, stress levels, and mental health can provide clues for options for better healing.

Chronic fatigue

Living with chronic fatigue is incredibly difficult. Most often, doctors don’t know why you feel so bad. They may prescribe pain medicines, yet you wonder if you have alternatives.

Whether or not you need pain medication depends on the individual, but even if you do, you can still feel better. Dr. Rieders evaluates all aspects of your life and focuses on things you can change to feel your best.

If you have been seeing doctors about health conditions that don’t respond well to treatments, the issue may be as simple as the provider not accounting for your overall health. Providers may not always consider mental, spiritual, and physical factors. 

Contact Dr. Daniel Rieders at Peninsula Integrative Cardiology today or request an appointment online to learn if integrative therapy is best for you.