Many people find it difficult to locate a medical group that treats the whole person: mind, spirit and body. Many medical groups focus solely on traditional western health care and others provide only alternative care or body work. Luckily, a new type of integrative health care center is becoming popular. Using the best knowledge and techniques from a wide variety of alternative medicine disciplines, integrative health centers provide care for the whole person.

One of the more effective treatments offered by alternative and integrative medical centers is acupuncture. Acupuncture is a system of healing based on balancing the body s life force energy known as Qi. Qi flows along channels throughout the body known as meridians, channels similar to the nervous and circulatory systems. An imbalance in the body s energy may result in distress signals in the form of symptoms. Treating the person s basic constitution as well as alleviating the symptoms is part of the treatment plan. Using thin, sterile, disposable needles, the acupuncturist inserts the needles along specific points of the meridian pathways to help balance and unblock the flow of Qi.

Acupuncture treatment is beneficial for many ailments including many types of back pain (general pain, lower back pain, upper back and shoulder pain) and headaches (migraines, cluster headaches, sinus headaches). Visiting an integrative health center, like the Integrative Health Center of Chapel Hill, will allow you to try acupuncture in combination with other alternative medicines, such as Chinese Herbal Therapy, and of course the best of western medicine. This combined care provides patients with a complete solution that respects the interconnectedness of the body and the mind.

Most people are not trained doctors or alternative medical practitioners. The lack of complete knowledge on all the available treatments can lead to a health plan that neglects potentially life altering and greatly beneficial treatments, like acupuncture. The power of an alternative health center is how they integrate all of the possible options and use their knowledge to craft a health care plan that is complete. A complete plan may include movement classes, meditation for stress reduction, acupuncture, a disease medical management.

By attending to the whole person and respecting the interconnectedness of one s body and mind, alternative medicine and integrative health care doctors, practitioners, and class instructors believe they can help you achieve significant improvement in your overall health and well-being. Visit the Integrative Health Center of Chapel Hill to see how working in partnership can lead to optimal health care.