Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine

Close

Integrative Approaches to Rheumatoid Arthritis and Ankylosing Spondylitis

I am Mari Ricker, a Family and Community Medicine professor and the Director of Integrative Medicine in Residency at the Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine. I often encounter individuals with unique health challenges. I will be sharing two stories.

The first story revolves around a 61-year-old woman grappling with joint issues and an unexpected diagnosis.

The patient, a talented artist and craftsperson, reached out to me due to increasing swelling in her joints. She described her struggles, passion for baking delicious cookies, and admission of inconsistency in adhering to a balanced diet. Recognizing the importance of understanding her condition, we began with diagnostic X-rays, which revealed joint erosion. Despite her overall good health, it was clear that her hand pain was a significant concern.

Further medical tests confirmed what we suspected: rheumatoid arthritis. The rheumatologist offered disease-modifying agents as a potential solution, but the patient was apprehensive about the associated risks. She committed to try everything else first and sought my guidance.

Together, we embarked on a journey to explore holistic approaches to managing her condition. I formulated a holistic plan tailored to her needs. This involved incorporating anti-inflammatory herbs and supplements, such as holy basil, ginger, turmeric, rosemary, barberry, and Chinese skullcap, into her daily routine. Simultaneously, we focused on making substantial dietary changes. Sugar was eliminated, and dairy consumption was significantly reduced, aligning her diet with an anti-inflammatory profile.

Over three to four months, the patient experienced a remarkable transformation. Although the joint swelling persisted, her hand pain dissipated, signifying significant progress. Eager to gauge the effectiveness of our approach, the patient returned to her rheumatologist for further evaluation. The results were astonishing: her inflammatory markers had substantially decreased.

The rheumatologist concurred that, as long as her symptoms remained under control, there was no immediate need for potent disease-modifying drugs. This outcome was a powerful incentive for the patient to maintain her holistic healing journey. She was determined to safeguard her hands, essential tools for her artistic pursuits. Her commitment to this endeavor included the complete removal of sugar from her diet, successfully halting the progression of her debilitating condition.

This story highlights the impact of integrative medicine in addressing complex health challenges. It showcases the patient's resilience and dedication to preserving her health and creativity. Through our collaboration, she has found relief from her condition and renewed hope for a future filled with artistic expression and well-being.

The following story involves a 28-year-old man.The patient faced health challenges, battling ankylosing spondylitis and severe carpal tunnel syndrome. His livelihood depended on manual labor, making it exceedingly difficult for him to embrace the concept of "rest." To manage his debilitating pain, he had resorted to short bursts of narcotics, contemplating the prospect of long-term medication use. It was during this critical juncture that we engaged in a heartfelt conversation about the long-term consequences of relying on pain medication.

I outlined a spectrum of options for the patient, shedding light on various pathways to alleviate his suffering. I recognized that diet was pivotal in his overall health, so I delved into dietary modifications. The patient's eating habits, characterized by an excess of red meat and fast food, mirrored those of his family, including his wife and their four children. I recommended a shift towards an anti-inflammatory diet, emphasizing the reduction of sugar and red meat consumption.

Two years later, I noticed the patient on my schedule, and admittedly, I felt a hint of nervousness. I feared he might once again request pain medication, a conversation that had been both challenging and frustrating in the past. However, as he entered my office, his demeanor radiated a sense of tranquility and hope.

The patient shared remarkable news - he was pain-free. His ankylosing spondylitis no longer required intervention, and his wrists were devoid of pain. The transformation was attributed to a profound shift in lifestyle, particularly in dietary choices. With unwavering commitment, the patient and his family embraced a predominantly vegetarian diet. Despite limited financial resources, they had cultivated a small piece of land, establishing their garden and crafting their meals from scratch. These changes had unfolded over several years.

The impact of their dietary overhaul extended beyond the patient himself. Their children experienced improved sleep patterns and heightened energy levels, a testament to the power of early adoption of healthier habits. The patient couldn't help but express profound gratitude for the positive influence that this dietary shift had on his family's well-being, as he had grown up with dietary habits that he now believed had contributed to the development of his debilitating conditions.

This story exemplifies the transformative potential of integrative medicine. Through dedication, the patient and his family harnessed the healing power of dietary choices, transcending the limitations of their financial circumstances. Their journey is an inspiring reminder of the profound impact of lifestyle modifications on individuals and their families, instilling a renewed sense of hope and vitality.

Close

Integrative Medicine and Cancer: Chemotherapy and Beyond

Lise N. Alschuler, ND, FABNO. A Clinical Professor, Medicine and Assistant Program Director, Fellowship in Integrative Medicine

As a Clinical Professor in Medicine and Assistant Program Director for the Fellowship in Integrative Medicine, my journey has been enriched by the inspiring stories of individuals who have harnessed the power of integrative medicine to regain control of their lives. I will share two stories.

The first patient, a breast cancer survivor, had made impressive strides in her recovery journey. However, nearly a year after her diagnosis, a persistent challenge loomed. She could not sleep at night and experienced debilitating daytime fatigue. This impeded her ability to engage in her favorite daily activities such as cooking and socializing with friends.

Recognizing the domino effect of her sleep deprivation, we embarked on a comprehensive plan. We optimized her pre-sleep routine and gradually worked her sleep schedule back to a more regular pattern. Physical activity was also restructured, with intense exercises in the morning and gentle walks in the evening. I recommended dietary supplements, including a blend of adaptogens known to modulate the stress response and circadian rhythm. She embraced these changes wholeheartedly.

Over the following month, we witnessed a remarkable transformation. Notably, the adaptogenic herbs played a pivotal role in her newfound ability to fall asleep and enjoy uninterrupted rest. As her sleep quality improved, so did her life. She resumed cooking, rekindled her social life, and experienced a significant boost in her overall well-being. Her journey is a testament to the life-changing potential of consistent, restorative sleep.

The second patient I want to share faced a different challenge, undergoing chemotherapy for her cancer. Unfortunately, the treatment had unleashed the agonizing grip of peripheral neuropathy, characterized by painful numbness and tingling in her extremities. These symptoms had escalated to a degree that jeopardized the effectiveness of her chemotherapy, leaving her oncologist with two options - reduce the dosage, potentially compromising its efficacy, or terminate treatment prematurely.

In her case, we opted for a multidimensional approach. First, we introduced dietary supplements containing specific nutrients known to alleviate peripheral neuropathy triggered by this type of chemotherapy. Concurrently, we incorporated acupuncture treatments into her care plan. The results were nothing short of remarkable. Gradually, her peripheral neuropathy diminished from a distressing 7 out of 10 on the pain scale to a manageable 1 or 2 out of 10.

This improvement allowed her to continue her chemotherapy regimen unabated, a critical factor in her cancer treatment journey. Her story underscores the potential of integrative medicine in mitigating the adverse effects of conventional therapies and enhancing the quality of life for our patients during their battle with cancer.

Close

From Stress to Serenity: A Healing Journey in the Heart of Crete

I'm Dr. Esther Sternberg, research director at the Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine. My journey began as a rheumatologist and an arthritis specialist at the renowned National Institutes of Health (NIH), a journey that would eventually lead me to a profound realization of the power of the mind-body connection. This is my story of how Integrative Medicine healed me.

During my tenure at the NIH, I discovered that the brain's stress center plays a pivotal role in susceptibility to inflammatory arthritis – in rats! This discovery, which proved to be ground-breaking, provided the scientific basis for the mind-body connection in all animals, including humans, confirming that stress can make one sick, and, on the flip side, that believing can help healing.

Ironically, approximately nine years after this discovery, my life took a tumultuous turn. My mother was battling breast cancer, and I found myself a long-distance caregiver while settling into a new home in Washington, DC. Overwhelmed by the weight of work-related stress, I was suddenly struck by an inflammatory arthritis, similar to rheumatoid arthritis.

I embarked on a journey of medical tests and hospital appointments, including knee biopsies, and was poised to undergo more knee biopsies, liver biopsies, and specialized drug treatments. Yet, it was during this tumultuous time, shortly after my mother's passing, that a serendipitous encounter forever changed the course of my illness and my life.

One sunny day, as I sat on the deck of my new Washington, DC home, typing away at what would become my first book (The Balance Within), I was visited by my next-door neighbors-a warm-hearted Greek couple. They brought with them a feast of Greek delicacies, reminding me of my own Romanian heritage and my mother's cooking. Intrigued by my presence at the computer, they asked if I were a writer. I asked them why they wanted to know, and they said, "Because we've always wanted a writer to stay at our cottage in Crete." I replied, "I'm a writer!" and accepted their invitation, rather than going into hospital for my biopsies and treatments.

I was only in Crete about 10 days, but in that time I swam in the ocean every day, and gradually found myself able to climb the hill above the village where there were ancient ruins of a temple to Aesclepius, the Greek god of healing. I would sit there for hours in the shade of a small chapel overlooking the Mediterranean. Time seemed to stand still as I listened to the sounds of birds, and goats and sheep and the scritch-scratch of the caretaker's rake on the gravel. I would gaze out over the deep blue Mediterranean, and the bright white stucco houses of the village with their fuchsia Bougainvillea and didn't realize that I was practicing mindfulness meditation.

My newfound friends, the village grandmothers, shared their own tales of arthritis and fed me the nourishing Mediterranean diet rich in fresh vegetables and fruits, olive oil, and fish caught day. Each morning, we ate Greek yogurt mixed with honey and a fresh peach.

Among my neighbors, there was an 85-year-old man who was battling prostate cancer. Every morning, he would climb the hill and offer me an orange or a grapefruit picked from his own trees-before climbing further to the chapel to pray. Seeing his resilience inspired me deeply. If he, at his advanced age and with a serious illness, could make that daily climb, I too could rise to the challenge.

I began to feel so much better that one day I had an "ah-ha" moment, when I suddenly realized that if, when I got home, I continued to do all those things I was doing in Crete, that I would continue to feel better. And on the flip side, if I continued my old sedentary, stressful life, eating an unhealthy diet, I would continue to be sick. It was a revelation that would shape the course of the rest of my life.

Many years later, after coming to the Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine, I learned that I was unintentionally engaging in the seven domains of integrative health-movement, sleep, resilience, environment, relationships, spirituality, and nutrition.

Upon returning to Washington, DC, I continued to embrace these seven domains. I swam and walked almost every day, and returned to cooking the healthy Mediterranean diet like my mother used to cook. On summer evenings I would find a time to sit quietly on my deck, surrounded by the fragrant plants I intentionally grew in planters, deeply inhaling the scents of jasmine, gardenias, and herbs - rosemary, basil, thyme, oregano and lavender, breathing in those stress-reducing aromas of nature, and listening to the crickets and quiet night sounds. In the mornings I would take my breakfast on the deck too, savoring the morning light and birdsong.

I learned to listen to my body, pacing myself at work and cultivating positive relationships while distancing from the negative ones that hindered my growth. The journey was not a miracle cure, but a steady, conscious commitment to holistic well-being. My doctor saw the remarkable transformation, and I told me that I no longer needed knee biopsies, experimental drugs, or invasive procedures. Just keep doing whatever you're doing, he advised.

Today, I continue to live by the principles of integrative health, knowing that health is far more than the absence of disease. It encompasses every facet of our lives-our movements, sleep patterns, resilience, environment, relationships, spirituality, and nutrition. It is a journey I now share with others, a journey that led me to the Andrew Weill Center for Integrative Medicine, where I learned to blend the wisdom of science with the art of holistic living.

My story is a testament to the remarkable healing power that we each hold within us-a power we can unlock by embracing the seven domains of integrative health. It's a journey that transforms sickness into vitality, despair into hope, and illness into wellness.

One important lesson that I also learned is that you can't do it on your own – seek help: the help of integrative practitioners, family, neighbors, and friends. And of course, don't eschew all the amazing cures and treatments of modern conventional high-powered medicine. Integrative medicine can't do it on its own – if you need cancer drugs or surgery, get what you need. But practicing integrative health will help your body to receive those treatments and allow them to do their best job of healing.

Join me on this path, and together, we'll discover the boundless potential of integrative health, where belief becomes the catalyst for a healthier, happier life. Embrace the seven domains, and let the healing begin.

Close

The Power of Integrative Medicine: Partnering for Better Patient Outcomes - Randy Horwitz's Perspective

"I am hard-pressed to come up with a single, specific story that illustrates the value of Integrative Medicine," says Dr. Randy Horwitz, a passionate advocate of this transformative approach to healthcare. "Integrative Medicine, or IM, is not merely about treatments or supplements; it's about physicians becoming true partners in their patients' journeys toward better health."

Dr. Horwitz emphasizes the importance of an integrative approach to patient care. "It's not about one particular supplement or botanical," he explains. "It's about viewing each patient as a unique individual with specific needs and concerns." In his practice, Dr. Horwitz regularly receives follow-up emails from patients, a testament to the deep connections formed through IM.

One story that stands out to him was a patient who came to Dr. Andrew Weil-a middle-aged woman diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Before coming to Dr. Weil, she was encouraged by her local physician to sit in a wheelchair for parts of her day to become comfortable with her diagnosis; he told her that she would eventually end up in a wheelchair. The essence of Integrative Medicine lies in offering hope and support to patients, even in the face of challenging diagnoses. Instead of resigning to the wheelchair, patients like the one in this story are encouraged to stay hopeful while working towards better health. This approach, rooted in the principles of IM, recognizes the vital role of the mind in healing.

As Dr. Horwitz reflects on his practice, he shares the heartwarming stories of patients who have returned after a decade or more, reaffirming the positive impact of Integrative Medicine. He shares two recent messages he received:

"Dear Dr. Horwitz,
About 11 years ago, you did an extraordinary intake of my worries and concerns. This is a very high compliment. I am one of the premier prevention scientists in North America, for preventing mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders.

After a very grueling intake with nine million questions, you were pretty certain I would not die from metastatic subungual melanoma in my right ring finger. So far that is true. Today, I am 70 and doing well, by comparison to people my age.

I very much appreciate the incredible thoroughness of your efforts.

With gratitude,
Anonymous Patient"

"Dear Dr. Horwitz,
I saw you at your Integrative Medicine practice at U-A a dozen years ago. It was a remarkable set of meetings for me, and you provided a long, detailed Treatment Recommendation and Plan. I followed some of your suggestions (e.g., I started exercising religiously and still do to this day). While others I did not. In any case, I recently came across the plan you put together for me, and I am considering your recommendations again. You recommended that I read the book The Second Brain. I would like to learn more about mind-body relationships related to the GI tract.

Finally, thank you for your thoughtful consideration of my health issues and questions and your far-reaching, integrative advice. There is so much wisdom in your approach! Further, you accurately inferred that I had sleep apnea, which, on your advice, I was formally tested for and started treatment after that. That has also made quite a difference in my life.

Warmly,
Anonymous Patient"

Dr. Randy Horwitz's commitment to Integrative Medicine is a testament to the transformative power of partnership, hope, and "whole person" care. Through IM, he continues to impact the lives of countless patients, reaffirming that this approach goes beyond medicine-a journey towards better health and well-being.