Integrative medicine is an approach to care that blends:
If you have an ongoing condition, such as back pain or cancer, integrative medicine gives you more opportunities for healing. As you receive medical treatments from your AHN physicians, our therapists help relieve symptoms and side effects with complementary services. We all work as a team to help you feel better.
Our Center for Complementary and Integrative Health helps you achieve more of your health and wellness goals. We offer integrative medicine services that relieve pain and stress. They may also assist you to get more out of traditional medical treatments by helping your body work more efficiently. Our team also works with other AHN physicians to coordinate services when necessary, so you receive the best possible care.
Highlights of our program include:
Our wellness services help you feel your best while lowering your risk of serious illnesses, such as diabetes. And if you are living with a medical condition, we help you live a healthier lifestyle so you can avoid complications. These services include:
Getting proper nutrition is key to maintaining good health. And if you have a medical condition, such as heart disease or cancer, eating well helps you get the most out of treatment. We develop a personalized nutrition plan based on your body’s needs and the foods you like to eat.
Speaking with our physicians helps you learn how our integrative medicine services can help you. They take time to get to know you before recommending the services that are right for your health.
Our team also includes a physician specializing in family medicine and integrative medicine. This physician treats common illnesses and injuries by recommending integrative therapies. For example, if you have recurring migraines, you may benefit from acupuncture.
Meet Lavanya Karri, MD and Betsy Blazek-O’Neill, MD.
Our physicians learn about your health goals before developing a plan to help you achieve them. Your plan may include lifestyle changes, such as getting more physical activity, and integrative medicine therapies for stress relief.
These healing practices started in China and have been helping people feel better for thousands of years. Traditional Chinese medicine works by releasing the body’s natural healing energy, also called “Qi.”
Traditional Chinese medicine therapies we offer include:
We insert needles in specific areas of the body to unblock the flow of Qi. The needles are hair-thin, which minimizes discomfort during treatment. Some people don’t experience any unpleasant sensations during treatment, while others notice a dull ache or tingling.
We help you generate Qi through flowing movements and controlled breathing. Tai chi helps calm your mind while improving balance and restoring your ability to move.
Mind-body therapies help rid your mind of negative thoughts. We also flush out negative or sluggish energy to help you heal.
Mind-body therapies available at AHN include:
We teach you to breathe a certain way while trying to calm the activity in your mind. For example, our therapist may suggest breathing in for four counts and out for four counts while, you focus your mind on a favorite activity.
Our licensed massage therapists relieve muscle tightness by applying gentle pressure with their hands. We tailor care to meet your needs using a variety of massage techniques, including Swedish massage and deep tissue massage.
We teach you to focus on the present moment — not worrying about the past or future. At the same time, we help you focus on things that give you positive energy, such as a loved one or hobby.
When you practice meditation regularly, you experience less stress and can think more clearly.
Our bodies sometimes hold on to emotional and physical stress (tension) in our muscles. This tension causes tightness that’s difficult to release.
We guide you through exercises that tighten and release nearby muscles to help you let go of muscle tension.
This treatment is similar to acupuncture. It releases your body’s natural healing energy. But instead of inserting needles, we place our hands over specific areas of your body, channeling Qi to where you need it.
Insurance often covers a visit with one of our physicians or therapists to learn how our therapies may be right for you. We recommend calling your insurance plan to find out about coverage and potential out-of-pocket costs for specific services.
Call (412) DOCTORS (412) 362-8677 or request an appointment to learn more about AHN integrative medicine services.
