11 Integrative Medicine Breakthroughs Of 2011

It's been a year of big breakthroughs in integrative medicine, the approach that combines Western or allopathic medicine with complementary practices. So much so that Prevention magazine recently declared us to be in the midst of a "health care revolution" as ever more doctors work elements like yoga, acupuncture and mindfulness into more, quote, traditional care.

So we rounded up 11 of the moments we think stood out most in 2011 -- moments that thrust the spotlight on the potential benefits of adopting a more integrative approach when it comes to your health.

And of course, here's to many more of them in a safe, happy 2012!

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[phot9397]

09:19 PM on 12/31/2011

We are ready with our choice for good health. Simply choose from to suit our own.
www.thaimassageonline.com

[John Weeks]

04:26 PM on 12/29/2011

This is a nice review of changes in a year that was a good one for integrative medicine. The appointment of Ornish to the Advisory Group on Prevention, Health Promotion, Integrative and Public Health was a great step . It was particularly good given that the panel on which Ornish will sit also includes a licensed acupuncturist-MPH Charlotte Kerr, a licensed massage therapist-researcher Janet Kahn, and an integrative MD who graduated from the IM fellowship founded by Andrew Weil. Those of you interested in how other policy changes are supporting these positive steps might enjoy my separate HuffPo piece: Top 10 for Integrative Policy and Action in 2011 http://www.huffingtonpost.com/john-weeks/top-10-for-integrative-me_b_1157148.html

[Kali03]

11:33 AM on 12/30/2011

Thank you for linking--this was useful and interesting!

F&F

[flowereater]

03:41 PM on 12/29/2011

This is the first I've heard that Obama appointed Dr. Dean Ornish to his Advisory Group. This is good. I've been a huge fan of Ornish since the early 90's.

[iLdoRight]

02:29 AM on 12/29/2011

Acid indigestion caused on purpose by food manufacturers? I don't know this, but just recently something happened to make me wonder. I bought some pies, one at a time, to help eat away my "depression" and the first 4 were perfectly fine, same batch-no acid indigestion. The next to, same company, different batch, just eating a couple pieces ( about 1 inch wide across the center, total, 1/2 at a time ) gave me burning acid in my stomach and I wondered, "Do food companies also have ways to make money by intentionally giving people acid indigestion? Could they also manufacture and sell remedies? Or be in league with a company that does some "healing" of the condition? Years ago I would buy some glazed rolls that would always give me acid indigestion, the only thing I could see that might cause it on the label was palm oil. I don't know if that was the problem, but I do know I ate 4 pies with no problem, then on a different batch I had a problem. Dr. Joel Fuhrman says, "Eating one button mushroom a day along with greens and green tea can lower a woman's chance of getting breast cancer by 89%", I hope the study he saw was a good one. Pass it on just in case that is correct.

[chiodo08]

05:27 PM on 12/28/2011

once again us forward thinking "liberals" were ahead of this curve years ago...seriously this nation needs to recognize that there is no growth when conservative minds are in charge....would love to see more if not 1 liberal seat at the adult table when it comes to quality of life...

[AJW1976]

12:33 AM on 01/02/2012

Many of the treatments discussed in the article are actually antithetical to liberalism, which was based on logic, reason and respect for the scientific method.

The treatments themselves are often very conservative in that they tend to rely on tradition as their "evidence" of efficacy. It is the fetishization of the cultures in which they emerged that is new.

[Heywood Merton]

09:00 PM on 03/13/2012

If you think fetishization of the Mysterious East is new, you haven't been paying attention for at least a century.

[OverseasVet]

11:13 AM on 12/28/2011

As the integration of magic continues to croud out medical science, we will soon be graduating faith healers instead of MDs at our medical schools and witches will be walking the halls were science once ruled. The war on liberal education is finally paying dividends.

[StephenJK]

12:02 PM on 12/28/2011

Medical "science"? These methods have been around for 1000s of years, pal. Get a freaking clue.

[Heywood Merton]

09:06 PM on 03/13/2012

Oh, yeah? Which ones? Reiki: 20th century. Acupuncture: basically, 20th century (remember, the Chinese *weren't able to fashion needles* more than 400 years ago; it was originally just bloodletting). Homeopathy: 19th century. Yoga? Tai chi? Stretching and low-impact exercise isn't "alternative." What do you have in mind?

[Lonnie DeVorak]

09:46 PM on 12/28/2011

No magic here and no faith healers either. As StephenJK said......"These methods have been around for 1000s of years, pal" You need to do some research before putting your foot in your mouth.

[Mason McClellan LAc]

12:54 AM on 12/28/2011

Yeah for acupuncture!!

[Heywood Merton]

09:23 PM on 03/13/2012

Yay for placebo! Hope for proper sterilzation!

[SHIRLEY CARR]

12:01 AM on 12/28/2011

Pointing out just one part of the integrative ideas: how does a stroke victim include yoga in their everyday way of living. I have the positive mindfullness to do it, I only lack the equilibrium of doing such.

[StephenJK]

11:59 AM on 12/28/2011

Just try and experiment with the different exercises and see which ones work for you. Also, if you have anyone that can help you. In other words, "spot" you. That provides assistance with your balance. The biggest thing is, don't give up. I think you'll find that perserverance will definitely pay off for you. I wish you all the best, Shirley.

[SHIRLEY CARR]

01:26 PM on 12/28/2011

Thanks for the virtual push. Sometimes that's all this little old engine needs. Will do and thank you, StephenJK.

[tinasuzan]

07:36 PM on 12/27/2011

Now IF and that is a big IF health insurance actually covered these alternative methods.

[dpkjj]

09:32 PM on 12/27/2011

Amen to that. I spend a fortune on chiropractic care (bad back), nutritional supplements, exercise classes, and so forth. Not a penny reimbursed. If I chose to go the route of surgery, heavy-duty perscription meds, all would be covered, including treating the side effects of the meds.

[Tea for me]

05:27 AM on 12/28/2011

My HMO pays for 12 visits a year....for acupuncture...for chiropractic...and I get additional gym coverage, too...a good start. This is part of my Medicare supplemental, now, too.
Tea

[Denise Maher]

07:00 PM on 12/27/2011

agree that this is a great roundup--but also that breakthroughs may not be the perfect word. It's still a terrific slideshow--thanks! -Denise, alternahealthgrrrl.com

[DrP]

06:51 PM on 12/27/2011

OMG. I didn't know that Obama had appointed Ornish to an advisory role in his administration. I have been an Obama supporter, despite many points of disagreement in the past three years, but this may be a deal-breaker.
With the Republican field looking like a dog and pony show, what do I do now?

[Veronica]

07:51 PM on 12/27/2011

Gee, I don't know. Maybe don't get so hysterical about a single doctor you don't care for in a mere advisory role? I notice you don't even say why you hate Ornish so much.

A "deal breaker?" Really?

[flowereater]

04:01 PM on 12/29/2011

It had the opposite effect on me. Obama gets 10 points for appointing Ornish.

[flowereater]

03:53 PM on 12/29/2011

I love Ornish. I am simply flabbergasted whenever I run across someone who decries his down to earth and extremely successful approach to heart disease.

[DrP]

10:23 PM on 12/29/2011

I hold nothing personally against Dr. Ornish, I'm sure he means well. However, he ignores the science of insulin-resistance. His diet is not appropriate for most of us and he unwittingly has contributed to the obestity/"diabetes" epidemics by promoting low-fat diets. I have personal experience with making the mistake of following an Ornish diet for 20 years, which I fortunately abandoned just in the nick of time, probably a few months before getting a "diabetes" diagnosis. 12 years later after switching to a low-carb diet, I have never had an abnormal blood sugar reading. I shudder to think what my life would be like (or if I'd even be alive) had it not been for Atkins, Eades, Taubes, Volek, Phinney and the other brave souls who tell the truth about low-fat diets.

[Happy Nataraj]

04:04 PM on 12/27/2011

this is really exciting and inspiring

[catzoned]

11:20 AM on 12/27/2011

I have fibromyalgia. The best rememdy that I have found for pain management is trigger point myotherapy. Of course fibro requires adequate REM sleep, nutritious diet and exercise to tolerance. But my myotherapist has healing hands and I feel so much better with her treatment.

Trigger point myotherapy is a non-invasive treatment for relief of acute and chronic pain. No meds, injections or manipulation are used. TPM interruptions the pain-spasm-pain cycle by deactivating trigger points in muscles with gradual sustained pressure.

Trigger point therapy helps conditions other than fibromyalgia as well. My myotherapist helped my tendonitis as well.

[sammi 56]

11:45 AM on 01/01/2012

Good to know-- thanks!!

[pepper1311]

11:06 AM on 12/27/2011

This had me till A-fib cured by yoga. No a-fib is aberent pathways around the pulmonary veins in the left atrium. No cure except for pulmonary vein ablation.

[Mirabai305]

03:08 PM on 12/27/2011

You are almost correct. The pulmonary veins carry blood from the right ventricle to the lungs for oxygenation. They have nothing to do with the electrical pathway of the heart muscle. Ablation is a systematic destruction of key cells within the atrium that are sending the aberrant signals. There is no involvement or destruction of the pulmonary veins.

[pepper1311]

05:28 PM on 12/27/2011

PV's are arteries, they recieve blood from the lungs then to left ventricle for distribution. I had a PVA four catheters in left groin, two in left and on in neck, they use cold heat to burn around the pulmonary veins in the left atrium. Circuit begings in right atrium and crosses to left , but misses correct point in left atrium. I did live this and was very well versed by the EP who invented the Proceedure at Penn. I was patient #1

[GinRN]

07:27 PM on 12/27/2011

Mirabai305, here is some info on pulmonary vein ablation:
http://my.clevelandclinic.org/heart/atrial_fibrillation/pulmonaryvein_ablation.aspx
"Research has shown that atrial fibrillation usually begins in the pulmonary veins or at their attachment to the left atrium. There are four major pulmonary veins and all may be involved in triggering atrial fibrillation."

[GinRN]

07:29 PM on 12/27/2011

Where did you see mention of afib? The yoga section I read just said helps with back pain, which is a no brainer.

[pepper1311]

02:30 AM on 12/28/2011

Please read the entire article.

[David4FreePress]

09:35 AM on 12/27/2011

It was a very good year, and Integrative Medicine will only get better.