I want to introduce you to the concept of "Integrative medicine" which combines treatments from conventional medicine and Alternative Medicine. The Alternative medicine modalities I am going to cover are considered safe and effective and there is increased documentation for these modalities.  In Veterinary Medicine there is a big evolution underway, everyday more and more pet owners are seeking holistic and natural ways to treat the animals and more veterinarians like me are embracing modalities like acupuncture and eastern medicine with the goal of healing pets.

I’ll start by defining Alternative medicine as all modalities of treatment that deviate from the standard practice or CONVENTIONAL medicine.  Defining Alternative medicine is difficult, because the field is very broad and constantly changing.  This is a group of diverse medical and health care systems, practices, and products that are not generally considered part of Western or allopathic medicine as practiced by medical doctors or other health professionals.

I am certified in Veterinary Acupuncture which is considered to be a part of mind and body medicine, but it is also a component of energy medicine, body-based practices, and traditional Chinese medicine.I graduated from the Chi Institute as a certified veterinary acupuncturist and a certified Food therapist. I am also a certified Reconnective healer practitioner and studied under renowned doctor Eric Pearl and Claudine Kurtz.

For the purpose of this blog I will divide the Alternative medicine field in five broad categories;

Manipulative and Body-Based Practices

Manipulative and body-based practices focus primarily on the structures and systems of the body, including the bones and joints, soft tissues, and circulatory and lymphatic systems. Two commonly used therapies fall within this category:

• Spinal manipulation is the application of controlled force to a joint, mov...
• The term massage means Pressing, rubbing, and moving muscles and other soft ... In general, therapists press, rub, and otherwise manipulate the muscles and other soft tissues of the body.

Energy Healing

Some CAM practices involve manipulation of various energy fields to affect health. Such fields may be characterized as veritable (measurable) or putative (yet to be measured). Practices based on veritable forms of energy include those involving electromagnetic fields (e.g., magnet therapy and light therapy). Practices based on putative energy fields (also called biofields) generally reflect the concept that human beings are infused with subtle forms of energy; qi gong, Reiki  and healing touch are examples of such practices.

Whole Medical Systems

 These are complete systems of theory and practice that have evolved over time in different cultures and apart from conventional or Western medicine Medicine as practiced by holders of M.D. (medical ..., may be considered CAM. Examples of ancient whole medical systems include Ayurvedic medicine and traditional Chinese medicine.

Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine= whole system based on the balance of ying and yang energies in your body. In chinese medicine disease is created by imbalance of ying and yang and consequently health is the optimun balance of ying and yang. TCVM includes acupuncture, herbal therapy, food therapy and Tui Na (chinese massage) as the main means of achieving balance in the body.

Homeopathy= whole medical system that originated in Europe. Homeopa...

 Naturopathy= whole medical system that originated in Europe. Naturo...

Ayurveda= whole medical system that originated in India. It aims to..., homeopathy, and naturopathy.

Natural Products

This area of CAM includes use of a variety of herbal medicines (also known as botanicals), vitamins, minerals, and other "natural products." Many are sold over the counter as dietary supplements. natural products include probiotics -live microorganisms (usually bacteria) that are similar to microorganisms normally found in the human digestive tract and that may have beneficial effects. Probiotics are available in foods (e.g., yogurts) or as dietary supplements. They are not the same thing as prebiotics—nondigestible food ingredients that selectively stimulate the growth and/or activity of microorganisms already present in the body.

Mind and Body Medicine

Mind and body practices focus on the interactions among the brain, mind, body, and behavior, with the intent to use the mind to affect physical functioning and promote health. Many CAM practices embody this concept—in different ways.

• Meditation techniques include specific postures, focused attention, or an open attitude toward distractions. It increases calmness and relaxation, improve psychological balance, cope with illness, or enhance overall health and well-being.
• yoga used for health purposes typically combine physical postures, breathing techniques, and meditation or relaxation. People use yoga as part of a general health regimen, and also for a variety of health conditions.
• Acupuncture can be included here too. Other examples of mind and body practices include deep-breathing exercises, hypnotherapy, progressive relaxation, qi gong , and tai chi.

As you can see there are many modalities available for our furry companions!  Pet owners have more choices in vet care and perhaps an alternative to euthanasia in hard to treat or expensive conventional options. Ask your veterinarian about Integrated medicine or visit us at www.osahvets.com. You can also watch our Pet Connection show on PGTV available on demand. Please join me every second Tuesday at 7pm for a interactive webcast by logging in at Lakeland local, theledger webinar page,PGTV website or my osahvets website. I'll look forward to answer all your questions.