HOLISTIC MEDICINE
By Dr. Steven M. Johnson, D.O.
Dear Friends,
I am often asked what makes my medical practice unique. I usually answer, “Holistic Medicine.” The common reply is, “What does that mean?”
Holistic Medicine is how I hope medicine will be practiced in the future. It means that illness and prevention of disease are looked at from many points of view. It is common in modern medicine to focus on the specific organ or body part that is unhealthy and to find ways to treat that symptom. This approach lends itself well to controlled research trials and incredible advances in acute care medicine.
However, this approach has proved lacking when it comes to the management of chronic disease and disease prevention. The recent research findings on Estrogen and Vioxx make this point clear. Many patients were harmed by the side effects of these medicines. Medicines can affect the “whole body” in complex ways. It only follows that many functions in the body might contribute to a particular ailment. The buildup of toxins can affect immune function and cancer; stress can lead to hormone imbalances and heart disease; tension patterns can affect chronic pain and fibromyalgia; liver imbalance can affect sleep; poor digestion can lead to allergies and arthritic pain; and misalignment of the spine can lead to headaches, to give some examples. Holistic Medicine looks at each symptom in the context of the whole person.
Holistic Medicine also includes the mind-body connection. More and more evidence demonstrates how profoundly our thought patterns affect our organs through the autonomic nervous system. These thought patterns begin shaping us as infants. Child rearing has a huge impact on stress and health patterns later in life via pathways of brain development. Holistic Medicine is not meant to be separate from conventional medicine but rather an extension that makes medicine more complete.
I also practice Anthroposophical Medicine, which takes Holistic Medicine a step further. Here we look at the connection of specific organs in the body to health conditions and their connection to natural medicine and specific therapies.
My goal at 21st Century Medicine is to find better ways to treat chronic disease and improve our quality of life. My goal is to do this in a way that educates us to take better care of ourselves while supporting the body to use its own healing capacities whenever possible. Options to conventional pharmacotherapy are always considered.
Below are some of the treatment modalities I offer in the practice:
• Osteopathic and cranial sacral treatment
• Trigger point and joint injection therapies
• Detoxification and nutritional strategies
• Biological hormones and specialized testing of hormones
• Herbal, vitamin, mineral, dietary, and Homeopathic treatment for chronic conditions such as menopause, premenstrual syndrome, insulin resistance, weight problems, heart disease, diabetes, arthritis, colitis, fibromyalgia, cancer support (including Iscador therapy), and auto-immune conditions. Many of these treatments can be intensified through the use of intravenous infusions and injections if necessary. Chelation Therapy is also used for detoxification and cardiovascular support.
• Homeopathy for common family practice problems
• Microcurrent/acupuncture therapy for chronic pain (also facial rejuvenation)
• Basic conventional internal medicine and primary care
• Mind-body counseling
• Appropriate referrals for cranial sacral therapy, massage, acupuncture
• Integrating holistic and mercury free dentistry (an important part of good health)
• A wide variety of professional-quality supplements
• Hospital coverage at Clark Memorial Hospital
In this practice I am available for specialty consultation or primary care. Please do not hesitate to speak to any of our staff about the practice and other modalities offered at 21st Century Medicine.