What You Should Know About
Integrative Medicine
At the Arizona Respiratory Center, we take seriously our responsibility to provide holistic medical care that fosters a collaborative partnership between patients and practitioners in the healing process. To accomplish that goal, we believe in the appropriate use of both conventional and proven integrative therapies to influence body, mind, and spirit.
The key to successful holistic healing, as described in the nation's first Integrative Medicine program at the University of Arizona, is neither to accept nor reject conventional or alternative medicine on principle. Instead, we believe that good medicine should be based in good science and that natural, less invasive interventions should be considered whenever possible in promoting health, preventing illness, and treating disease.
Research in Integrative Medicine
The number and variety of studies addressing alternative medical practice is growing rapidly across the nation. Indeed, at least two studies are already underway at the University of Arizona. The first will investigate the role of alternative treatment approaches in three common disorders of children: recurrent abdominal pain, otitis media, and cerebral palsy.
The second study will focus on ginger, turmeric, and boswellia - three botanicals widely used in Ayurvedic medicine to treat inflammatory diseases. Ayurveda, a 5,000-year-old medical system practiced primarily in India, includes diet and herbal remedies while emphasizing the body, mind, and spirit in disease prevention and treatment. University of Arizona researchers intend to identify the active compounds in these three herbs and study the mechanisms by which these compounds work in the body. This research will lead to clinical studies of arthritis and other chronic inflammatory conditions, including respiratory diseases such as asthma. Researchers at the University of Arizona are recognized for their work in natural products chemistry research, and the fruits of their labors hold promise not only for the field of complementary and alternative medicine but also for patients with respiratory disease.
Where to Get More Information
For more information, try these online resources.
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