Holistic medicine--anyone see such a practitioner...?

[bliss_eternal]

Are you for it, against it, love it, etc.?

I'm going to be visiting a holistic practitioner (who is an md in western medicine as well).

Just seeking other's experiences...

Thanks,
bliss :)

[LaurenG]

1. I have visited a ayurvedic physician

and I was mightily impressed. He was also an MD and he rocked. He moved to Kentucky or I'd still see him. I so believe in holistic medicine that I would try one. Let us know what you think after your visit.:)

[bliss_eternal]

2. He sounds wonderful...

...thank you for sharing your experience and feedback! :hi:

[DemExpat]

3. I had the best GP for about 20 years until he retired

over a year ago....:-(

A regular MD with training in Anthroposophic Medicine - sharing some aspects of Homeopathy, herbal medicine, folk remedies, etc.

He even assisted me giving birth at home to my son, and was the best support system for me, hubby and my kids. I loved it that he had education and training in both types of medicine.

He never rushed to medicalize a problem - but didn't hesitate to bring out the big guns of antibiotics - ONCE - for my daughter's infected jaw when she was 4.

I felt in very good hands with his advice and practice.

Other GPS have taken over his practice - non are holisitic and I am too busy/lazy at the moment to seek out a new one, but I sorely miss him and his approach to health and illness.
Of course, his personality was a big factor of his healing relationship with his patients, or clients, as he preferred to call us...

Good luck with your meeting with this holistic practitioner - hope it clicks!

DemEx

[bliss_eternal]

5. I'm sorry you lost him--

as he sounds like a rare find. :(

I'm nervous--this person is quite a drive from me, but I know I gotta' give it a shot. I wish holistic didn't mean seperate (or quackery) to the medical establishment. Too few embrace the two worlds of eastern and western medicine, resulting in patients/clients having too few options for such care.

Given I never want to feel like I've felt the last few weeks, I'll make the drive for the consultation. ;)

I appreciate your feedback--thanks for the encouragement! :hi:

[Sanity Claws]

4. How do you define holistic?

You said she has an MD but what is her other degree/ certification in?
I have been to a Naturopath (N.D. from Bastyr University) and was pleased with her. They tend to spend more time trying to figure out what's going on. I think MD are so pressed for time that they try to figure out what the issue and then they write you a prescription. I'm not into pharmaceuticals and would prefer dietary changes and herbs.

[bliss_eternal]

6. I've heard wonderful things about Bastyr!

It's so cool you live in an area that embraces such practices--California for all it's "alleged" progressiveness only recently allowed ND's to practice here.

From her website:

Dr. Raisen is a board certified Family Practice physician who provides Western and complementary holistic medical care to the whole family...

Dr. Raisen earned her M.D. at Mount Sinai Medical School in New York City and completed a residency program in Family Practice in Los Angeles. As a healer, Dr. Raisen believes in empowering her patients through personally tailored diagnostic and treatment plans in order to attain their optimal health. She wants her patients to enjoy a sense of well being in body, mind, and spirit. Dr. Raisen provides care, commitment, and communication to her patients to help them achieve their health goals.
Her philosophy includes an idea from Dr. William Osler, one of the founders of modern medicine. He said, “It is better to know the patient who has the disease, than to know the disease that the patient has.” She interviews people extensively about their medical concerns as well as about lifestyle including diet and exercise, family, current love relationships, career, and how they express themselves creatively. She pays special attention to emotional and spiritual issues.
In your sessions with Dr. Raisen, she practices Integrative Medicine, which combines the “best of both worlds” of Western medicine and complementary therapies. She uses nutrition, herbs, mind-body practices, and health assessment through specialized functional medicine tests. Only a few doctors carry out these tests which can evaluate the function of hormones, adrenal, liver and digestive systems. She treats women's issues, such as menopause, with an integrative approach including natural hormones. With regard to mind-body practices, she uses such practices as hypnotherapy, meditation, and yoga to help to heal the body and mind.



:hi:

[Sanity Claws]

7. She sounds impressive

It sounds wonderful that she practices these complementary forms of medicine. However, I still have questions regarding how she claims to have acquired the knowledge to be proficient in these other disciplines.
Good luck to you!

[bliss_eternal]

8. Excellent point--

and thank you for bringing this up. I think that is part of what is making me feel a tad uneasy. How did she get to this point, of practicing holistically?

That's something for me to check out--thanks! She states she's a member of the American Holistic Medical Association, but I'm not sure what their requirements are for membership. For example, certain courses, experiences, etc--or can someone just proclaim that's who they are and they sign them up?

I appreciate your feedback and giving me something to consider and check into. :hug: :hi:

[ebayfool]

9. Sounds promising -

A doc that actually sees a patient as a whole person, & not just a diseased body part!? LOL!

I remember (back in the day!) when they were easier to find ... hell, I actually remember when old Doc Barnard used to make house calls! He used to tell my mama that sick children had no business being drug outside. He also let poor patients pay on their bills any way they could, not cash upfront or don't bother coming to see him! I know of more than a few that paid w/chickens, garden goods, painting his office - along w/cash when they could lay hands on some. That blessed man saved a lot of lives, while allowing his patients to retain some dignity! He also treated the whole family as a unit - ie if a child keeps getting sick, he would check on the foods the family had, warmth in winter, was the dad working (& if not, he'd check around to help him find some), was mom overwhelmed & underhelped, etc.

That was, I think, a form of holistic medicine - although not quite by the definition used now. See there, you've gotten my melancholy side bubbling up!

Do you have a link handy for her website?

[bliss_eternal]

12. Sure---

www.doctorraisen.com

But get this, on her site she claims to be a member of the american holistic medicine association--I checked with them, they've never heard of her.

:eyes: This one may get fired before she's hired--lol! :hi:dj!

[japple]

16. I also went to a Naturopath (N.D. from Bastyr)

for several years until I moved away. He was wonderful--spent a good deal of time treating me for allergies and other problems. His de-sensitization program was fantastic and he even got my health insurance plan to pay for it by writing letters justifying his protocol. I wish there were more practitioners like him, and hope that, in the future, our society will come to accept more diversity in the delivery of medical services.

[bliss_eternal]

20. I agree--

I'd love to see diversity in the delivery of healthcare in the future, too.

I'm sorry to hear that you had to say goodbye to your ND when you moved. :( Sounds like he was quite an asset. Do you or did you have environmental allergies? If so, what was the Naturopathic view of allergy injections/shots? I'm also debating if I want to pursue that course again or not...

[japple]

23. I had food and environmental allergies. His office

did the allergy testing and they prepared the formulas. All I had to do was put the drops under my tongue once a day. I only used desensitization for environmental (cat dander, molds, grasses, trees, petrochemicals) because you can avoid foods. The effect was dramatic. The first day I used the drops, it was like a film had been removed from eyes (like washing a dirty window). I could see, smell, and taste more clearly, and I didn't have that mental fog. I also had much more energy.

After writing this, I realize how much I need to find a similar practitioner in my area. Even though I had to drive a long way to my old ND, it was well worth it. I would encourage you to investigate it.

[bliss_eternal]

24. Wow japple--

that sounds incredible!

I also have environmental allergies--dogs, cats, grass-including weeds, trees, mites and molds. It never occured to me that ND's would offer any sort of treatment for this.

Traditional medicine says see an allergist, do the immunotherapy. For the most part I've done that. I had to fire my last allergist and hadn't seen anyone for a while and felt reluctant to do the shot thing again...

Would I need to find an ND that specifically offers allergy treatments?

I hope you find someone in your area! :hi:

[japple]

25. The ND I went to was part of a holistic clinic that offered a whole

array of services. The MD who started the clinic was a Sufi healer who was ostracized by the medical community in the NC town where I lived. In addition to allergy treatment, he offered chelation therapy, colon cleansings, nutritional support, and candida treatment. You might try to find a clinic that offers something similar. You can probably find more information by going to an herb shop or health-food store or metaphysical bookstore--they all seem to have those little kiosks with flyers, business cards, posters about what is available as an alternative to traditional medicine.

[Crowdance]

10. Yeah, Homeopath and Board-certified MD

The man is a life-saver. He uses osteopathy, homeopathy, nutritional therapy, etc. in his practice. When I had cancer, and decided to not use chemotherapy is therapy, he directed me to a shaman. (Which was a life-changing event for me--but that's another story.) Point is, he was willing to encourage me to follow my own path, even if that didn't include him. His view of healing is very broad (unlike my experience with allopathic doctors), and I find that he truly respects my intelligence and human experience.

The doctor you've found sounds very impressive. I'll be looking forward to hearing of your experience with her.

[bliss_eternal]

11. That's amazing--

you're right in that most allopathic docs aren't as all encompassing. He actually studied to become a Homeopath? I'm impressed!

I'm now a bit concerned about the doctor I found. I looked her up through the association she claims to be a member of--they've never heard of her. I checked their on-line database and called. She may be fired before I even hire her...lol.

I'll just have to continue my search...

[Crowdance]

15. Integrity is so important

Your intuition about this rings true for me, too. I hope your search is fruitful soon.

[bliss_eternal]

17. Thanks, Crowdance!

I'm reading a book right now that addresses my issues. The author is a cns (certified nutrition specialist) which is holistic in nature. She recommends taking a saliva test--so I ordered one today. Once I take it (in 19 days), I mail it to her, she evaluates it and tells me what I'm depleted in, and how she recommends addressing it nutritionally, herbally, etc. :thumbsup:

I'll also check the ND database, to see if there are any Bastyr people near me that I can follow up with. :hi:

[Cleita]

13. I used to work for a chiropractor who also made claims that

he was a holistic healer. (I think it was because he couldn't write prescriptions.) To tell the truth I wasn't impressed and I don't think he really believed in it. But that was only one experience with one practioner. So I don't want to discourage you. I would offer caution as none of this is regulated that much like mainstream medicine is.

[bliss_eternal]

14. Hi Cleita--

:hi:

I hear you, and I don't feel discouraged at all. :hug:

I agree, that it is important to exercise caution. That's one of the reasons I'm being so diligent in terms of research. The fact that she claims to be a member of an organization yet does not appear to truly be a member is not acceptable for me. Why say you are, when you aren't? It's easily checked, you know... :shrug:

Though I'm impressed by her website and the variety of testing options she makes available to pinpoint problems, that aspect doesn't sit well with me. One could say they believe in holistic principles without making claims of being a member of an organization--as if to make them seem more viable in the eyes of those seeking such treatment.

There are practitioners out there that realize that many are seeking a melding of eastern and western principles. For some, they probably see potential dollar signs in being a part of such an industry. So maybe they seek ways to make themselves look like they are "holistic"...

[u4ic]

18. I've seen many

as someone who has been chronically ill for years, I have visited my fair share of them. Naturopaths, iridologists, homeopaths, chiropractors, TCM/acupuncturists...

As you stated earlier, bliss_eternal, it is wise to exercise caution. I have found some help from a couple of things (TCM - traditional Chinese medicine/acupuncture, chiropractic and a few supplements), and I've learned from trial and error what my body rejects (homeopathy, except for allergies, and it helps for that).

It is a delicate blend of what your body responds to (I've known people with my illness who haven't responded to acupuncture at all, for eg), and sorting through all the claims/promises of both the practitioners and the supplement/health food industry (who, in my mind, are almost as bad as the pharmaceutical industry. Not that eating healthy or organic is bad, not at all...more in relation to supplements)

If you have a particular problem, I would research it as much as possible before going to see someone. I've known a few who have tried (and in the early stages, actually done) to take me for a ride. Believe me, when you're ill, every Tom Dick and Harry will have the cure for you. :eyes:

[bliss_eternal]

19. That's terrible--

that people tried to take advantage of you because of your illnes. I'm so sorry to hear that, u4ic. :hug: I hope that your illness is more controlled and that you aren't at the mercy of practitioners for anything.

I also have allergies, so I can relate to that. I'm trying to decide now if I want to go through the the immunotherapy again (allergy shots). I've done them before, but never for any length of time or to the point where I could see if they may help me or not. I don't know if I like the idea of injecting the things I'm allergic to into my body, but I can probably adjust to that if I need to....

Right now, I like the idea of doing as much as I can on my own--with nutrition, some supplements and exercise. Taking responsibility for myself and doing what I can to correct things--that's holistic, too! :hi:

[rumpel]

21. Not every one is a great chef,

Likewise do I feel for western medicine and eastern medicine practitioners.

However, if something is non-invasive and does not pump me full with chemicals, I consider it rather harmless and would tend to try it. Even if it may not have worked, it probably did not harm me much either.

A very prominent (in his field) MD at a University Hospital for example told me about my daughter "I have seen worse". I never got the solution or the underlying problem, always waited hours, even with appointment. After a few times we've had it. And have you ever noticed when and if you change doctors, they often times shake their heads at the "previous treatment"? This is not a way to have a "healing" session western or eastern.

I am also glad I refused to have my disks in my neck fused almost 15 years ago. This can not be undone, and I am glad that doctor gave me choices. The chiropractor on an off over the years was all it took.

Any I agree the majority of the supplement health industry is suspect.

I only trust very few (2) chiropractors and one acupuncturist, who is not even in this country - and my holistic Vet.

I am amazed at vibrational medicine right now, and have a feeling, people are finally onto something.

Ultimately if your frequency does not harmonize with your practitioners' I may try someone else later.

Hope you have a great session, Bliss.

:hi:

[DemExpat]

22. Yes, I can relate....

A very prominent (in his field) MD at a University Hospital for example told me about my daughter "I have seen worse". I never got the solution or the underlying problem, always waited hours, even with appointment. After a few times we've had it. And have you ever noticed when and if you change doctors, they often times shake their heads at the "previous treatment"? This is not a way to have a "healing" session western or eastern.

YES, I can't tell you how many times I have gone to a different doctor or vet for an ongoing problem, and the new doctor will totally trash the previous doctor's approach! What's up with THAT?


I am also glad I refused to have my disks in my neck fused almost 15 years ago. This can not be undone, and I am glad that doctor gave me choices. The chiropractor on an off over the years was all it took.

Very wise decision IMO, Bliss, and see, you found a therapy that wasn't so invasive.

I agree the majority of the supplement health industry is suspect.

Yes, I tried very expensive orthomolecular supplemental therapy that provided undetectable improvements, so I also tend to not trust the claims. I do take basic vitamins and minerals though.


I only trust very few (2) chiropractors and one acupuncturist, who is not even in this country - and my holistic Vet.

All of my Holistic pracittioners have either been medically trained as doctors along with the complementary field, or a member of a professional registry here in Holland. I also research the person and prefer to go to those who I have heard about by other people's experiences.
A holisitic vet did wonders for my aging dog with his epilepsy and deafness.... excellent results.


I am amazed at vibrational medicine right now, and have a feeling, people are finally onto something.

"Long term" Homeopathic treatment (over several months to a couple of years - not just trying a remedy or 2...) helped me the most with mental health problems that decades of psychotherapy and pharmaceuticals did not alleviate at all.

Ultimately if your frequency does not harmonize with your practitioners' I may try someone else later.

I agree, it has to click well for a good working relationship.
I admit that it is an advantage living in an urban area where the choice is very high.

:hi:

DemEx