“How can an integrative practitioner help me to…?”
Each of our practitioners has navigated their own pathway of training and offers knowledge and skills that may give you more options for healing. Some of our doctors are pioneers in the field of integrative and functional medicine. Others have been trained in both Western and Eastern medicine and incorporate those healing philosophies into their practice.
In a previous essay I name some of the many options available at National Integrated Health Associates (NIHA) for assessing and treating a wide variety of health and dental concerns. We practitioners often refer to the “map” of Five Levels of Health & Healing popularized by Dietrich Klinghardt, M.D., Ph.D.
Functional Assessments, Specialty Lab Testing and more
At NIHA, we can use various diagnostic methods such as traditional and specialty laboratory tests, various types of imaging (such as breast thermography) and other methods shown on the five level map. A gifted therapist can help you look at your personal internal map of your life journey (including a timeline of shocks and traumas as well as your history of how you expressed your creativity). We look at where you’ve been, where you are now, and where you want to go.
To make progress in treating your health condition it helps to first think of these wise words, “It is more important to know what sort of person has a disease than to know what sort of disease a person has.” — Hippocrates (460-377 B.C.).
Whether you see yourself as being created by God or by the intricate process of millions of years of evolution, the natural laws are still the same. Western science through quantum physics has shown us that we are simultaneously substance and energy. I look at health management as the mindful or prayerful stewardship of the precious gift of life that we possess.
The human being is designed to be creative and to enjoy life. That requires both the ability to engage in activities and in relationships with others and also to relax, replenish our energy stores and repair damages from the activities of daily living. Maintaining flexibility and creatively dealing with Change keeps us healthy. The reason that we need doctors and health care practitioners is that the body sometimes can’t do it all. Extraordinary forces and events can overpower our innate healing system and leave physical and emotional scars that need outside help to remove.
Supporting the Body at Every Level of Healing
Recent advances in neuroscience have shown how important it is for people to have supportive relationships with others and to be aware of their body’s functions as they move forward in life. Dr. Stephen Porges is highly regarded by Dr. Klinghardt and they describe the body’s protective autonomic nervous system as also including a Social Engagement System. This explains the success of family systems therapy and Family Constellation events, which Dr. Klinghardt recommends for everyone. The growing appreciation of Mindfulness as taught and written about by Charles Gant, M.D. shows how important it is to listen to your body and to observe your emotions and thoughts.
For any patient, therapeutic recommendations may include nutritional/dietary recommendations, supplements, stress management techniques, and referral visits to other NIHA practitioners for biological dental care, chiropractic care, massage, acupuncture, manual regulation therapy, craniosacral Therapy, breathing/mindlfulness exercises, physical exercise recommendations and much more.
The Five Levels of Health & Healing is a helpful guide and can be used as options for choosing treatments so that your individual integrative medicine health support program includes treatments on more than the physical level alone. Our assessments and treatments at NIHA can provide major assistance as you move forward in the healing process. However, the final work of healing is done by your own innate abilities to creatively manage your life.
The end result of our work with you is for you to know yourself more deeply and to take charge of your own Journey of Health.
