Complementary Alternative Medicine and Therapy

There are other choices for a patient’s health care

By David Podos

Patients today have many choices when seeking help from a health care professional. There are primary care physicians, sports medicine doctors, physician specialists, nurse practitioners, physician assistants and therapists, to name a few. Visit this website for more info on sports medicine.

Most, if not all, have been schooled in traditional western medicine. That’s what they use to diagnosis and treat their patients.

However, there are other choices for a patient’s health care and for a growing number of people.

Complementary alternative medicine has been the way to go for them. A chiropractor duluth ga has been treating patients who were in a car accident successfully using alternative treatments.

In most instances a patient uses complementary alternative medicine(CAM) at Wolschlager Wellness along side and in conjunction with traditional western medical treatments.

Some examples are acupuncture, massage and vitamin and herbal treatments.

A survey, conducted by nutritionist Kathy Wong for Very Well Health, points out the main reasons why people are using CAM: “55% of adults said they were most likely to use CAM because they believed it would help them when combined with conventional medical treatments. Interestingly, 26% used CAM because a conventional medical professional suggested they try it.” She further said that 36% of US adults aged 18 and older use some form of CAM. Click here to learn more about these treatment plans.

 

Jack Kunkel, a practicing alternative medical doctor in Utica, is the author of “It’s Fat Loss, Not Weight Loss.”
Jack Kunkel, a practicing alternative medical doctor in Utica, is the author of “It’s Fat Loss, Not Weight Loss.”

Jack Kunkel is the author of “It’s Fat Loss, Not Weight Loss.” He is also a practicing alternative medical doctor located in Utica. He holds a doctorate and Ph.D. in natural and alternative medicine from Quantum University, a Master of Science degree in clinical nutrition from New York Chiropractic College in Seneca Falls and a bachelor’s degree in science from Empire State College.

Kunkel also holds a number of awards and certifications. He is board-certified as an alternative medical practitioner, as well as holding certification from the American Council on Exercise, plus he is a certified health coach, personal trainer and weight management specialist to name just a few.

“I grew up with a broken brain. I was this skinny then fat teenager. I didn’t have any muscle. I was uncoordinated. I wasn’t able to play sports,” he said as he explained what motivated him to pursue a profession in natural and alternative medicine. “In my mid-20s I got really sick. I had four medical diagnoses. I had hypothyroidism, low testosterone, adrenal fatigue and depression. I am also dyslexic. Going through all this motivated me to not only help myself but to help others stay healthy.”

“Alternative doctors provide many different treatment plans for their patients. I would say my treatments first start with bio individuality, meaning we are all different so each patient of mine is treated respecting their individuality,” he added. “Kinesiology is a main part of my practice.”

In 1964, chiropractor George Goodheart — known as Dr. Goodheart —made the first correlation between finding a weak muscle using manual muscle testing. He looked beyond his own chiropractic profession to the fields of bio medicine, nutrition, biochemistry and other methods to increase the health and well being of patients based on using the body itself as a diagnostic tool.

“In applying kinesiology, I use the body’s energetic system to explain what is happening. What I mean is you are using the system’s autonomic nervous system which runs everything,” Kunkel said.

“Whether you look at Chinese medicine ayurvedic medicine or Western medicine, it’s all based on the autonomic nervous system, because it truly runs everything, it tells the cells when to fire, it’s making everything in the body work. That is all energy medicine. When we use kinesiology it’s a 13-step process that allows us to find out what’s wrong with the body and how to fix it. What I like to point out and what people need to understand is alternative medicine doesn’t replace your medical doctor and his or her treatments. I know many physicians in the area and I work with them closely. I also do testing that will determine how much metals may have bio accumulated in your brain. I use urinalysis to help show how much inflammation you might have in your body.

Alternative medicine is here to stay and is growing. I am grateful that my practice has quadrupled in the past year.”

Healing arts

Misty Torres is a New York state-licensed massage therapist. She received her degree from SUNY Morrisville in 2008. She also has a continuing education certification for the practice of cupping, body mechanics orthopedic massage, deep tissue massage, hot stone massage, and pregnancy massage. She practices her massage therapy at Lush Beauty Bar, located in New Hartford.

Misty Torres is a licensed massage therapist. She practices at Lush Beauty Bar in New Hartford.
Misty Torres is a licensed massage therapist. She practices at Lush Beauty Bar in New Hartford.

“I became a massage therapist because I really like helping people and making them feel better. When people suffer from ongoing pain it’s nice to be able to offer someone a relaxing atmosphere where I can help them. When I was a young teenager my best friend and I gave each other back massages and she told me I was really good. So, I pursued getting my education in massage therapy as soon as I graduated from high school. Also, my faith is very important to me, so I am guided by that as well and pray for my clients that I will be a blessing to them.”

In an article written by Jeanie Lerche Davis for Web MD titled: “Can Prayer Heal?” she describes a man who was going for his third angioplasty and stent replacement. Doctors told him the procedure was risky with the possibility of stroke, heart attack and even death.

“Though he did not know it at the time, the patient had prayers sent to him during the procedure from nuns, monks, priests and rabbis. The procedure was successful and the patient feels strongly that prayer pulled him through,” Davis writes.

Torres said massage is good for so many things as it affects all the body systems.

“It helps in providing proper blood flow, reduces stress and anxiety, you sleep better. It helps with headaches, depression, fibromyalgia, carpel tunnel syndrome and so much more,” she said.