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In
addition to conventional medicine which focuses
primarily on
treating conditions with pharmaceuticals
and surgery, the Harford Holistic Center
offers
a wide array of
complementary treatment options.
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In this day of brief office visits, physician specialization
and sub-specialization, holistic primary care reclaims
the role of treating the whole patient.
As
primary care physicians,
skilled in diagnosis and treatment, we provide
comprehensive health care. Through preventive health
care and medical decisions that affect your future, we
guide you in taking care of your health.
As part of your overall health plan, we evaluate your
lifestyle including diet, physical activity, social and
emotional health, all of which affect your overall
wellness.
Through lifestyle modifications many common diseases
can be controlled or prevented before they occur.
We are committed to your journey to wellness,
wholeness and health. |
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| Herbal Medicine
is the use of plants for medicinal purposes.
Plant extracts are ingested in tincture, capsule, tea, or
infusion form, or are applied topically to the skin.
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Acupuncture
is an ancient technique in which a skilled
practitioner
inserts hair-thin needles into specific points
on the body to
prevent or treat illness. Practiced for over
2,500 years in
China, where it originated, acupuncture is
part of the
holistic system of traditional Chinese medicine
(TCM), which views health as a constantly changing flow
of energy, or
qi (pronounced "chee"). In TCM, imbalances
in this
natural flow of energy are thought to result in
disease. Acupuncture aims to restore
health by improving
the flow of qi.
According to the principles of TCM, qi flows through the body
via 14 primary “meridians” or channels. To strengthen the
flow of qi, or remove blockages in the meridians, an
acupuncturist inserts a number of tiny, sterile, flexible
needles just under the skin at certain specific points (called
acupoints) along the channels. There are four to five hundred
named acupoints along the meridians, some of which are
associated with specific internal organs or organ systems. If
you are suffering from nausea, for example, needles might be
inserted into acupoints on your wrist, while a vision problem
might be treated with needles in the foot. (Additional ear,
scalp, and hand points are also commonly used by some
practitioners.) Acupuncture practitioners believe that the
therapy stimulates the body's internal regulatory system and
nurtures a natural healing response. |
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| Aromatherapy
is the art and science of utilizing naturally extracted
aromatic essences from plant to balance, harmonize and promote
the health of body, mind and spirit. It is an art and science
which seeks to explore the physiological, psychological, and
spiritual realm of the individual’s response to aromatic
extracts as well as to observe and enhance the individual’s
innate healing process. As a holistic medicine, aromatherapy
is both a preventative approach as well as an active treatment
during acute and chronic stages of illness or disease. It is a
natural, noninvasive treatment system designed to affect the
whole person not just the symptom or disease, and to assist
the body’s natural ability to balance, regulate, heal and
maintain itself by the correct use of essential oils.
Essential oils are highly concentrated aromatic extract which
are distilled from a variety of aromatic plant material
including grasses, leaves, flowers, needles and twigs, peel of
fruit, wood and roots. This is a most pleasant and effective
individualized treatment for a wide variety of conditions.
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Hypnotherapy,
a clinically effective way of focusing the mind, is commonly
used as an alternative treatment for a wide range of health
conditions, including weight control, pain management, and
addictive behaviors including but not limited to smoking
cessation. Hypnosis is quite effective in pain management for
a variety of conditions such as fibromyalagia, migraines,
arthritis, musculoskeletal disorders, and many more.
HypnoBirthing ® is a wonderful alternative available in
natural childbirth . In addition, hypnotherapy could be used
in place of anesthesia, particularly in patients who prove to
be allergic to anesthetic drugs. In non medical patients hypnotherapy has been found to be
beneficial for problems such as motivation, procrastination,
decision making, personal achievement and development,
performance enhancement, academic achievement, self-esteem ,
buried or repressed memories, relaxation, and stress
management. And of course regression for those who have a need
to know.
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By realizing that humans are beings of energy, one can begin
to comprehend new ways of viewing health and illness, based
upon the understanding that the molecular arrangement of the
physical body is actually a complex network of interwoven
energy fields. This energetic network, which represents the
physical/cellular framework is organized and nourished by “subtle”
energetic systems which coordinate the life-force with the
body.
Vibrational medicine uses specialized forms of energy to
positively affect those energetic systems that may be out of
balance due to disease states. By rebalancing the energy
fields that help to regulate cellular physiology, vibrational
physician/healers attempt to restore order from a higher level
of human functioning.
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| Massage
Therapy, Reflexology, Shiatsu, and other types of
bodywork are hands-on therapies that release muscle tension
and improve circulation. Many therapies also affect
"reflex" points on the body, enhance lymphatic
drainage, and more.
Reflexology
Reflexology promotes the body’s marvelous
ability to adjust and balance during times of stress.
Simply taking time out to relax can help you let go of
tension and enjoy a feeling of restored balance in your
mind and body.
Reflexology
is a Holistic Treatment working the pressure points in
the feet, and/or hands and ears to stimulate the body's
own healing potential.
Beyond relaxation, reflexology has been shown to
improve circulation. Increasing circulation boosts
the supply of oxygen and nutrients to your muscles and
other tissues and speeds the elimination of waste products
such as lactic acid and stress hormones. This in turn
reduces muscle tension and soreness, decreases healing
time for injuries and reduces swelling from injuries or
illness. Immune function skin
tone, and the ability to concentrate also improve when
circulation is increased.
Because it promotes overall health,
reflexology is used as
complementary care for people with a variety of
conditions. In Switzerland nurses working with terminally
ill cancer patients routinely used reflexology to decrease
pain and make patients more comfortable. In Great Britain
reflexology is part of the National Health Service. Of the
26% of Danes who have tried reflexology as a complementary
therapy, 73% of these experienced benefits, including a
gain in energy, improved mood, and improved
sleep.
Sessions can range from 20 to 60 minutes; no clothes
need to come off. Check with your insurance company -- in
some cases reflexology
is covered.
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The Benefits of Massage
Massage is a method of touch and communication designed for promoting
health through relaxation, self-awareness and
empowerment.
“Touch” is a major aspect of
our lives. It is one of the ways we relate and
evaluate our external and internal environments.
Massage has evolved through experience and research to
what it is today: A Method of Relaxation and Stress
Management that has a wide range of benefits.
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Relieves muscle tension,
stiffness and spasms.
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Reduces anxiety and mental
fatigue
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Promotes joint flexibility
and increases range of motion
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Provides a nurturing and
caring touch
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Increases your awareness of
your own physical and psychological well-being
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Provides a deep state of
relaxation
These benefits have been
documented in the U.S. and Europe and Asia.
In the realm of alternative
medicine, we understand that stress carried for any
excessive length of time can harm the body. Massage
therapy is certainly one means for relieving stress.
At the Harford Holistic Center
our massage therapists are certified nationally and in
the state of Maryland. Their areas of expertise are
Swedish, deep tissue, myofascial, hot stone,
reflexology, reiki, and pregnancy massage. They are members
of professional organizations such as the American
Massage Therapy Association, and the National
Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and
Bodywork. These therapists continue their education
taking courses in Zero Balance, aromatherapy, rain
drop, Vodder drainage techniques, gau shaw, and other
unique healing modalities. |
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Many women suffer with premenstrual syndrome, and others
facing menopause have questions about the safety of
conventional treatment using animal-derived estrogen.
The period after menopause provides other
challenges, with waning hormone levels causing changes
in libido or other conditions.
Treatments to help regulate female hormones and
modulate the effect of cycling include nutritional and
herbal approaches, stress reduction using massage,
energy medicine, meditation, exercise, and bioidentical
hormone replacement. |
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| Americans
are bombarded with conflicting messages about what diet is
the optimal one. Obesity
has become an epidemic, but nutritional deficiencies are
increasingly recognized in overfed people.
Holistic medicine
physicians have learned that there is not one
optimal diet that meets all needs.
We use careful history and examination, and both
conventional and cutting-edge laboratory testing
techniques to identify metabolic problems, nutritional
deficiencies and food sensitivities.
Treatment includes a personally tailored diet,
exercise and stress reduction plan, as well as specific
recommendations for necessary nutritional supplements.
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The Key to
Successful Treatment...
...is
that recognizing that addiction is fundamentally an
illness of the mind and soul manifesting in the body.
While the physical affects of withdrawal must be
addressed, it must also be recognized that individuals
are taking drugs because their souls and spirits are in
pain. The only substitute for the emotional high they
seek is to heal painful emotions and spark the passion
of each individual, the very essence of life.
True
Healing
Can
only come from unconditional love, support, acceptance
and nourishment. Addicts must be loved and cared for –
inspired into loving themselves. Not only will these
individuals recover from addiction, they will inspire
others in their community to live fully and completely.
In this way, a holistic approach benefits individuals,
family, friends and community at large.
Individualized outpatient treatment plans are developed
and coordinated by
Carol L. Bowman, M.D. Plans may include, but are
not limited to the following modalities:
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The
natural world is in constant communication with itself.
There is a consciousness and a rhythm that is ever
present and natural. Human beings used to be connected
to this non verbal form of communication. As life has
sped up and existence has become mechanized, that
natural ability has been lost or suppressed. This leads
to a sense of malaise, and confusion regarding pets,
plants, and personal health. A whisperer is one who is
tuned in to the vibration at which communication occurs,
and can act as a facilitator and mediator. This can
help with pets that are ill or having behavior
problems. It can be helpful for gardening and
landscaping as plants have a sense of where they will
thrive. It is also helpful when communication with
one’s own body is desired. Often direct communication
with living cells can facilitate health.
Pete Langhorne
offers consultations to those who wish to have direct
communication with the natural world.
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