Top 5 Influences In My Journey into Integrative Medicine

July 24, 2015 by msilvermando26 9 Comments

The road leading to my discovery of integrative medicine started with a realization that there were tools missing in my “box.” Simply prescribing medications for diseases that clearly had multiple origins – physical, psychological, emotional and socioeconomic – was not adequate to address my patients’ needs.

I also felt I had to change some of my own health and wellness behaviors. So, I embarked on learning about new diets and ways to reduce stress.

I found books, personalities, websites and podcasts along my journey. Finding information about nutrition, techniques to manage stress and improve self-image, and a new paradigm for patient care, have been exciting for me.

I am happy to share my list of resources with you. I recommend these to anyone who is interested in living a fuller and richer life:

1. “The Tapping Solution” by Nick Ortner. Interesting book explaining the “Emotional Freedom Technique,” which involves acupressure-type tapping to relieve stress.
2. “The Silva Mind Control Method” by Jose Silva. Written decades ago, this is an elegant instruction on meditation and how to use your mind more effectively. I currently use this; it is a great way to relax and concentrate as well.
3. Website and podcast “The Prosperity Show” by Joan Sotkin. Sotkin teaches financial skills by first exploring people’s inner beliefs. I think this ties in nicely with medicine because both financial and physical health start with healthy inner thoughts. This is the philosophy Joan teaches.
4. Institute for Functional Medicine. This organization teaches physicians a new paradigm for taking histories on patients by tracing disease origins on a timeline. There are practitioners who follow this, and patients looking for fresh perspectives can look for them on the website.
5. Dr. Joseph Mercola’s website. He is an osteopathic physician who has a wealth of knowledge regarding integrative practice and especially nutrition. Highly recommend subscribing to get daily emails about many different topics. His articles on various products, especially foods, are insightful and packed with useful information designed to educate about maintaining optimal health.

As I continue to learn about integrative medicine, I am sure to find other resources to add to this list. I’d be interested to know from you about resources you’ve found helpful in your journey to better health.