Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social wellbeing and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity, according to the World Health Organization on Integrative Medicine. The practice is widely known for healing-oriented medicine that takes account of the whole person (body, mind and spirit), including all aspects of lifestyle. It emphasizes the therapeutic relationship and makes use of all appropriate therapies, both conventional and alternative.
One leading and innovative hospital in the country that believes in the power of integrative medicine is VRP Medical Center. It recently opened its Integrative Medicine Department to cater to the ever-changing health needs of society. The Center defines integrative medicine (IM) as a healing-oriented medicine that takes account of the whole person, including all aspects of his lifestyle. It emphasizes the therapeutic relationship between practitioner and patient, is informed by evidence, and makes use of all appropriate therapies.
Dr. Jerome Tan, one of VRP Medical Center’s resident IM doctors stated that “Integrative Medicine can work for anybody who wants to get well, but if a person wants to remain healthy and disease free, it has to start with the lifestyle. Because mostly, when patients arrive, they are already sick of something while they could have avoided getting sick if preventive measures were taken.”
The IM Center started operations in April and has patients and employees interested in trying their services like acupuncture, massage therapies and cupping. Acupuncture (from Latin, acus [needle] and punctura [to puncture]) is a form of alternative medicine and a key component of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) involving thin needles inserted into the body at acupuncture points. It is commonly used to treat pain. Tan explains, “Acupuncture is a technique for balancing the flow of energy or life force — known as qi or chi — believed to flow through pathways (meridians) in your body.” Based on extensive researches conducted by the WHO, acupuncture can treat adverse reactions to radiotherapy / chemotherapy, allergic rhinitis, constipation, dysentery, acute bacillary, dysmenorrhea, primary, facial pain, headache, hypertension, essential, hypertension, primary, induction of labor, insomnia, knee pain, low back pain, nausea and vomiting, neck pain, pain in dentistry, frozen or periarthritis of shoulder, post-operative pain, rheumatoid arthritis, sciatica, sprain, stroke, tennis elbow and many other ailments.
Aside from acupuncture, cupping therapy is also offered. In Chinese medicine, it’s a traditional treatment in which heated glass cups are applied to the skin along the meridians of the body and act as suctions to stimulate the flow of energy. Cupping is done to get rid of toxins from food, pollution, stress, drugs and chemicals. These toxins slow down our blood thereby suppressing the delivery of vital things needed by the body such as oxygen, nutrients, vitamins, minerals and antibodies. Cupping is used primarily to treat conditions such as arthritis, back pain, respiratory disorders like asthma, common colds and a lot more.
Be enlightened and mindful about your lifestyle and visit VRP’s Integrative Medicine Department. Ask their doctors to know more about the natural way of healing or you may want to include these healthy practices in your life to prevent the onset of diseases. Call 464-9999 (trunkline) or visit its official Facebook page facebook.com/vrpmedicalcenter/ to know more about their services.