How Yoga, Oriental Herbs and Acupuncture Help Treat Cancer

My background as a radiation oncologist has blinded me, in many instances, to only dealing with the patient’s disease and its treatment. Failing to integrate the many wellness alternatives I am aware of into that patient’s care is failing to maximize the patient’s quality of life.

To address this oversight, along with a group of respected practitioners across multiple disciplines, I founded the USA Wellness Community of Lodi. The community brings together the many disciplines that Integrative Medicine comprises—from holistic and alternative therapies to naturopathic and allopathic treatments. As the community has evolved over the last two years, conflicts between these very devoted and knowledgeable practitioners have arisen as to how to approach each patient. These variances are to due to the fact that each discipline arose in a relative vacuum and there has been minimal cross-fertilization between these universes. Wellness is defined in many ways and it has no measurable endpoint. Our community defines wellness as: feeling as healthy as one can, having the best mental outlook possible, and living as long as one can. The first two of these factors are dominant during cancer therapy.

With this philosophy of treatment, we designed work groups that encompass the following areas:

• Nutrition: traditional nutrition, oriental nutrition and herbs, and naturopathy
• Movement therapy: yoga, tai chi, traditional physical therapy and Pilates
• Meditative and mind therapy: marriage and family counseling, meditation, integrative imagery, harp and music therapy
• Pharmacological therapy: medical doctors, pharmacists, oriental medicine and naturopathy

To maximize our patients’ quality of life, we must expose them to the many aspects of Integrative Medicine. Most primary physicians and oncologists are not trained that way, but it is time that changed. Each patient in our community has access to a panel of experts including a medical doctor (MD), a naturopath (ND), a doctor of Eastern Medicine who is also a licensed acupuncturist (DOM, LAc), and a movement therapist. These specialists, among others, decide on the best way to provide comfort and wellness.

The USA Wellness Community of Lodi will soon launch a Web site addressing the issues that the Gilbert Guide Blog does, and will include the involvement of our entire broad-based clinical staff. Our interdisciplinary staff can introduce you to the world of Integrative Wellness and some simple ways for you to apply this approach to your specific problem, but for more in-depth issues, consider a membership.

Most patients and professionals aren’t aware of the entire range of medical and wellness disciplines, and oftentimes haven’t dealt with them before. The formation of the Wellness Center of America marks the first time that cancer patients have been exposed to multiple, integrated disciplines ranging from MDs to harp therapists.

I will let you know when our Web site and programs are up and available, but in the meantime, I encourage you to ask your physician if there are dedicated wellness practitioners in your community.

Harvey Gilbert, MD

Posted in Natural Remedies, Naturopathic Medicine, Recovering from Cancer, Senior Health, Tips for Healthy Living, Treatment Options, Yoga