The Integrative Medicine Approach To Your Health Care Needs

It's Your Choice!

People who come to the Center can choose to have a consultation with one of our holistic physicians for design of a personalized comprehensive treatment plan; they can choose to see only an individual complementary practitioner, such as a massage therapist, Chinese herbalist, or acupuncturist; they can come to the Center for their primary care needs, or they can choose a combination of services.

Even if you choose to see just one practitioner, you benefit from the skill and knowledge of our entire staff because of our team consulting approach. A good example would be our primary care patients, who benefit from integrative medicine and complementary therapies while their primary care needs are attended to. This is Integrative Medicine at its best.

Many new patients choose first to see an individual doctor or nurse practitioner for an extensive initial assessment and personalized written treatment plan. The goal is that patient and physician work together to come up with an integrative medicine plan that works- a plan that takes into account the benefits of all proven health options including conventional medicine and complementary therapies.

Good Medicine Requires Time

At the Center, doctors and practitioners take the time it requires to learn about more than just symptoms and ailments. They take the time it requires to see the complete picture -- from your health history to current concerns, from support systems to your personal health goals and individual values.

"Our initial intakes are usually an hour or more," explains Dr. Stram. "We review the patient's complete history and develop a unique and comprehensive treatment plan. There are so many options open to people. The Center's model allows for the healing of the whole person, not simply the ailment."

A good example might be a person who comes in with chronic tendonitis. Traditional medicine might call for a shot of cortisone for a temporary relief of symptoms. The integrative model at the Center might include massage therapy and acupuncture leading to a more complete and long-lasting healing process.

From chronic pain associated with migraines, sports injuries, and arthritis, to dealing with cancer and chronic illnesses like heart disease and diabetes, the Center's practitioners take the time to get to know the whole person. Educating our patients about all their options is a key goal. As a patient, being well educated helps you to be proactive in your own healthcare, promoting a successful partnership with your practitioner.

People Who Might Benefit

People who might benefit from the Center include those who have health concerns that they feel have not been completely addressed because of time limitations and/or the complexity of their needs. We're here for people who are:

Looking to improve their health and quality of life through lifestyle changes that they can control, from nutrition and exercise to stress reduction
Trying to manage chronic pain and/or illness and who wish to supplement their treatment with complementary therapies
Concerned about the side effects from their medication, from Hormone Replacement Therapy and cholesterol management, to high blood pressure
Seeking sound medical advice regarding their diet and/or the vitamins and herbal remedies that they are using
Working to come back from an injury
Looking for effective ways to stop smoking
Struggling with eating disorders
Dealing with the symptoms of menopause
Seeking help with coping, relaxing, and enjoying life while dealing with chronic illness or depression
Needing optimal immune support while undergoing cancer treatment therapy
Dealing with infertility; having intrauterine implants, in vitro-fertilization or other reproductive enhancing therapies.

First Of Its Kind

All healthcare issues are deeply personal. People are interested in directing their own healthcare. They are turning to the Internet as a source for health care information, and they are searching for options and choice. The first wellness center of its kind in the Capital Region, the Center for Integrative Health and Healing offers a balanced approach to meeting the needs of people who want not only to treat illness, but also to prevent it - to manage and improve their health and their quality of life. With traditionally trained physicians on staff, and licensed complementary practitioners, the Center is a bridge between conventional medicine and complementary medicine for people who want to take advantage of all the safe and proven effective therapies available.