The Growth of Complementary and Alternative Medicine for the Elderly

When it comes to complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), the elderly are taking a backseat to nobody. According to an AARP and NCCAM survey, over half (53%) of older adults use some form of CAM, making Scottsdale Alternative Medicine popular.

Who’s Driving the Trend?
Studies report the use of CAM increases with education, and women are more likely to take advantage of CAM than men: 51 to 43%, respectively. Broken down by age range, a large percentage of the population is taking advantage of CAM’s many benefits:

• 44.1% of 50-59 year olds.
• 41% of 60-69 year olds.
• 32.1% of 70-84 year olds.
• 24.2% of those 85 and older.

What CAM Therapies Have Elders Hot-Rodding to Their Alternative Medicine and Naturopathic Doctor in Scottsdale?

• Herbs and Supplements
  Herbal products and dietary supplements are commonly used, with just over a third (37 percent) of respondents reporting their use for maintaining health and managing illnesses.
• Acupuncture
  Effective and non-invasive, especially when compared to surgery, this ancient practice can restore and balance energy flow. A wonderful non-surgical treatment for many issues, from constitutional disorders to pain, and especially effective when used in conjunction with chiropractic and/or massage therapy.
• Dietary Therapy
  The aging population is more frequently turning to CAM professionals for help implementing a more natural, holistic diet better suited to supporting a healthy constitution than today’s typical chemical laden, processed food fare.
• Mind-Body Medicine
  A variety of techniques ranging from patient support groups to cognitive behavioral therapy, meditation and prayer, as well as the use of other creative outlets such as art, music, and dance, have been shown both popular and effective for a wide range of health disorders.

Ready to jump on the CAM bandwagon? Find an alternative medicine and naturopathic doctor in Scottsdale today!

Role of Alternative Medicine in Modern Society

 

 

 

 

 

Naturopathic medicine, regaled in time’s past, has now found its home in the present. Naturopathic medicine in Phoenix is now commonly and frequently used to treat a variety of ailments. Cementing this trend: Ringing endorsements from the medical community and increased interest in studies seeking to prove the legitimacy of a host of alternative methods.

A melting pot of remedies
Alternative and natural medicine forms are many, including acupuncture, massage, chiropractic, hydrotherapy, chelation therapy, herbal medicines, homeopathy, aromatherapy, and meditation to name but a few. And the list of alternative solutions commonly accepted and endorsed by the mainstream medical community and public at large continues to grow at an ever increasing pace.

A cooperative approach
Thanks in part to alternative and natural medicine, gone are expectations of a co-pay given and prescription received. Today’s era of integrative patient care carries with it the boon of a more participatory role by patients. As patients continue to push to be in the driver’s seat, playing a direct role in reaching their goals of health and total well-being, the culture of medicine is shifting.

A more integrative future
A normal part of everyday life in other parts of the world, Americans are increasingly taking advantage of alternative medicine, choosing natural remedies over synthetic pharmaceuticals and surgical procedures. The mainstream medical community is increasingly taking notice, resulting in the weaving of these natural and alternative treatments into the fabric of healthcare, and in the creation of new norms as medical centers and insurance companies struggle to keep up with patient demand.

What’s your healthcare future look like? Change is here. Find a practitioner of naturopathic medicine in Phoenix today.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Alternative Medicine

Alternative medicine is fantastic, but it’s not a miracle cure. Understanding the advantages and disadvantages of alternative medicine when visiting your naturopathic doctor in Scottsdale can help you approach treatment with more realistic expectations, supporting a positive outcome and reducing disappointment.

Alternative Medicine in Scottsdale: Know Before You Go!

• PROS

• A holistic approach…
  Alternative medicine emphasizes whole-person care, rather than traditional medicine’s sole focus on problem areas – one of the main reasons the use of alternative medicine is on the rise.

• A personal touch…
  Alternative medicine offers more one-on-one attention versus the packed waiting room, time-strapped milieu you’ll get in conventional doctors’ offices.

• A focus on prevention…
  Well visits, rather than sick care is stressed, emphasizing a proactive approach to whole mind and body wellness.

  “The superior doctor prevents sickness;
  The mediocre doctor attends to impending sickness;
  The inferior doctor treats actual sickness.”
  – Chinese Proverb

• CONS
  • Limited scientific research…
    Though scientific research into alternative approaches is on the rise due to increased consumer demand, compared to traditional methods, evidence is more limited in scope and largely related to clinical outcomes.

• Confusing jargon…
  For those not in-the-know, supplement, vitamin, mineral, and herb jargon can be confusing, as can the common assumption that “natural” means risk-free.

• Potential drug interactions…
  Even in products with no artificial ingredient, vitamins, minerals, and herbs may interact with prescription and over-the-counter medication – or create side effects of their own. Opting for primary care physicians with a more integrative approach can reduce these risks.

• Not for emergencies…
  While alternative medicine is great for palliative and preventive care, severe emergencies are best treated by conventional care.

It is possible to enjoy the best of both worlds – with the help of the right naturopathic doctor in Scottsdale. Experience superior health. Find an integrative alternative medicine center near you today.

How Pain Patients Use Alternative Medicine for Pain Relief

As a result of the expense of prescription drugs as well as their many side-effects and possibilities of dependency, pain suffers in Arizona are looking to complementary and naturopathic medicine for pain relief in Phoenix – and with good reason.

Alternative medicine offers a host of effective solutions for pain relief:

• Acupuncture
  An alternative therapy for pain relief with an over 2,000 year history, the nearly painless insertion of tiny, hair-thin needles utilized by acupuncturists stimulate the body to release endogenous opioids – your body’s natural painkillers. The best part? The results last – far longer than the chemicals’ analgesic effect. The stunning results produced by acupuncture have prompted the World Health Organization to include pain on its list of conditions known to benefit from the treatment.
• Hydrotherapy
  Hydrotherapy options such as steam baths, mineral baths, hydrobaths, sitz baths and sprays, underwater massage, and techniques such as the alternation of water pressure and temperature stimulate the body to release endorphins, relaxing tissues, improving circulation, and reducing pain and muscle spasms.
• Massage
  Massage not only feels great, it’s a time-tested method for the treatment of pain. Manipulating the soft tissue of the body not only relaxes the muscles, but stimulates the circulation, lymphatic, and nervous systems as well. It is effective for many kinds of pain including chronic low back pain.
• Natural remedies
  When the above therapies are not enough, pharmaceutical drugs are not your only alternative for pain relief. Natural remedies can also effectively decrease inflammation and provide pain relief. These include homeopathic remedies such as arnica as well as vitamins, minerals, and herbs such as capsaicin, ginger, turmeric, feverfew, and more.

Afraid you’re out of options for pain relief? There is hope. Alternative medicine offers fast, effective treatment for pain relief. Find a Phoenix/Scottsdale primary care physician specialized in natural medicine in your area today.

Alternative Medicine Treatments You Should Try -Less

From chronic pain to cholesterol issues, stress and anxiety, the U.S. takes the cake when it comes to prescription medication – or over medication as the case may be. More than half our population takes two prescription medications, and 20% of us take at least five. We’ve been led to believe there’s a magic pill to cure all, yet prescription drugs remain the 4th leading cause of death in the U.S. What’s an ailing Arizonan to do? Turn to Rockwood Natural Medicine Clinic acupuncture and Scottsdale naturopathic alternative medicine to lighten your load!

How an acupuncture and alternative medicine relieve you of your prescription drug burden?

• Lessening your prescription medicine needs.
  Acupuncture is endorsed by the WHO and modern medical research as a proven method for pain relief. It is utilized by the U.S. Army on the battlefield for pain relief and post-traumatic stress, recommended by numerous U.S. drug courts in the treatment of addiction, as well as aids in the healing of a host of additional health issues and disorders.
• Safer alternatives.
  Natural remedies including vitamins, minerals, enzymes, botanical medicines, and homeopathic remedies, offer a safer alternative to side-effect ridden prescription regimens.
• Reducing costs.
  Acupuncture and alternative medicine offer a safer, longer lasting, more cost effective approach to health issues than prescription medication, treating the whole body – the primary condition – rather than symptoms alone. Over 20 states offer acupuncture in their employee insurance plans.

Prescription medications dragging you down? Lighten your medication load – Scottsdale naturopathic doctor and acupuncturist today!

Why Conventional Healthcare May End Up Sitting on the Sidelines PART 2

CONTINUED FROM  PART 1

Additional advantages to alternative medicine include…

• An open-minded approach.
  Practitioners of naturopathic medicine are quick to identify the need for multiple therapeutic approaches in meeting patients’ healthcare goals. That it is logical to incorporate health strategies from a wide array of proven approaches, and thus are willing and able to work in tandem with multiple practitioners and modalities.
• More personalized practitioner/patient relationships.
  Naturopathic practitioners recognize the critical nature of their relationship with patients. Not only is the amount of time doctors spend with patients associated with overall patient satisfaction, naturopathic physicians recognize this time investment as necessary for piecing together a complete knowledge base for each patient. They understand rushed, impersonal meetings do not create an adequate picture – or produce adequate results.
• Natural solutions counter consumer distrust of prescription medicines.
  Inflated pricing of much needed medication. Direct to consumer marketing. Mandatory vaccinations. Side effects and adverse reactions leading to prescription drugs becoming the 4th leading cause of death in the U.S. with over 100,000 deaths per year. All these things and more are leading today’s savvy consumer to the safer, far less costly alternatives naturopathic medicine offers.
• Proven efficacy.
  As major medical journals continue to publish research on the efficacy of complementary and alternative treatments, patients aren’t the only ones climbing on the bandwagon. Conventional physicians are increasingly recommending treatment and incorporating naturopathic medicine into their clinics as well.

Don’t get benched by your health issues. Naturopathic medicine can help. Find a quality naturopath practitioner in your area today!

Why Conventional Healthcare May End Up Sitting on the Sidelines PART 1

Naturopathic medicine is booming in AZ, its popularity fueled by the many advantages it offers over the traditional healthcare model. Disenchanted with many facets of standard all medical care, individuals yearning for a patient centered doctors, more individualized approach and more NATURAL approach to their healthcare needs are finding those needs met in Arizona naturopathic alternatives in medicine.

Who is nuzzling up to naturopathy?
According to studies from multiple sources, including the NIH, NCCIH, and CDC, people are becoming increasingly aware of the benefits of naturopathic medicine, flocking to providers to find relief to issues from stress and chronic pain to more serious internal conditions. How commonly is it used? A 2008 study showed approximately 4 in 10 adults and 1 in 9 children use some form of complementary and alternative medicine – and those numbers are expected to rise significantly.

What are the advantages of going alternative?

• A focus on health and wellness – not sick care.
  As opposed to merely reacting to disease and imbalance, the goal of naturopathic medicine is the maintenance of health and wellness through the restoration of balance or homeostasis. This is accomplished by  addressing the needs of the whole body from mind and spirit down to the flesh, bones, and organs. Naturopathic physicians take a holistic approach that is a more logical and desirable solution than an hour office wait, 10 minute doctor consult, and the dispensing of side-effect ridden prescriptions.
• Immersion in a healthful lifestyle.
  Personal responsibility in the form of adequate exercise and sleep, proper diet, sufficient sun exposure, stress reduction, and nurturing the self and relationships form the foundation for health in natural and alternative medicine.
• Customizable treatment options.
  Naturopathic medicine does not take a one-size-fits-all approach. “Illness A” does not automatically equate to “antibiotic or drug B.” Treatment plans and options vary from person to person based upon individual presentations and needs rather than the same disease, same treatment protocols commonly encountered.

What else are naturopathic and alternative medical practitioners offering that is rallying the team in communities nationwide?
Stay tuned for: Why Conventional Healthcare May End Up Sitting on the Sidelines PART 2…

Is Choosing an Alternative Medicine Practitioner Freaking You Out?

Don’t let the theme song from the Twilight Zone blast through your head at the idea of choosing an alternative medicine practitioner. There’s nothing strange about alternative medicine and naturopathy – or those that practice it. And you don’t need a degree in these healing arts to find the perfect practitioner to meet your health care needs.

Selection 101: It’s not that different from choosing other types of healthcare providers…

• Get a referral.
  Ask your doctor, other healthcare providers, or insurance company if they have a list of alternative medicine and naturopathic medical practitioners they would recommend in your area.
• Contact local organizations.
  Looking for a particularly modality, like naturopathy? National organizations such as the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians and local professional organizations such as the Arizona Naturopathic Medical Association will have a list of practitioners in your area.
• Check credentials.
  You wouldn’t go to a doctor whose degree was in automotive repair. Ditto for alternative medicine practitioners. Once you identify potential prospects, look into their education, training, licensing, and certifications. Credentials vary by discipline – and by state – so you may need to do a bit of research to verify necessary requirements.
• Go for team players.
  Choose a practitioner who is willing – or better yet comfortable – at working together with your conventional healthcare providers. Communication and cooperation ensures safe, coordinated care.
• Make sure they’re in the know.
  Does the practitioner have specialized training or prior experience in working with individuals with your condition? Are they aware of available research as to how their modality can treat your condition? Choosing a practitioner that is familiar with your situation and understands how to handle your specific needs is key to safe and successful treatment results.
• Don’t assume insurance coverage.
  While some coverage is usually available for alternative medical modalities (massage, acupuncture, chiropractic), not all approaches may be covered by your insurance provider. Request alternative healthcare providers verify insurance coverage (or lack thereof) prior to your visit. This will help curtail unexpected costs and frustration.

Think you’ve found the perfect practitioner?
Get a treatment! Meeting your practitioner in person and getting a treatment is the best way to find out if it’s a match made in heaven – or if another search is in your future. When it’s the right fit, you just know.

Start the path to superior health. Find a great alternative medicine and naturopathic medical practitioner in your area today!

Hot Flash – I Mean News Flash! Naturopathic Medicine Reduces Menopause Symptoms

If you, like other menopausal women, have been toting around the spray bottle with the fan on it and advertising your menopausal status to the public at large, it’s time for a change. Not “the change” – a change in the way you handle your menopausal symptoms with the help of naturopathic medicine for women.

The laundry list:
Hot flashes, night sweats, trouble sleeping, depression and mood swings, decreased libido, vaginal dryness, and increased risk of bone loss and osteoporosis are just some of the steamy struggles you’re experiencing – and they can last an average of 2 years!

Ready to clean up this hot mess? Naturopathic medicine can take these tough issues to task!

• Natural progesterone
  In contrast to the synthetic progestin of HRT, natural progesterone derived from wild yam or soy is identical to the body’s own hormones, and relatively free of side effects. In addition to relieving hot flashes and many other symptoms of menopause, studies have also found natural progesterone capable of reversing bone loss.
• Phytoestrogens
  Plants such as soy, alfalfa, fennel, licorice root, dong quai, black cohosh, and chaste berries balance female hormones and offer relief from hot flashes and other menopausal complaints.
  • Soy
    Rich in phytoestrogens, soy relieves many menopausal complaints, and has been associated with reducing breast and other cancer risks. It has also been linked with a reduction in heart disease and osteoporosis.
  • Black cohosh
    The potent phytoestrogens of black cohosh are very effective at treating menopausal complaints sans side effects. When compared with estrogen replacement therapy, in multiple trials it was found to offer equal or better results than its prescription alternative. Black cohosh also effectively treats depression and vaginal atrophy as well.
• Nutritional supplements
  There are several nutritional supplements which can alleviate hot flashes, including vitamin E, hesperidin, and vitamin C. In a study, the combination of vitamin C and hesperidin was found to relieve symptoms in 87% of subjects. Vitamin E also relieves vaginal dryness.
• Exercise
  Believe it or not, exercise can relieve hot flashes, as well as reduce the risk of developing cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and more.

Ready to quench that fire? Find a naturopathic physician near you today!