• HOME
• Common Medical Definitions
• General Practice
• Alternative Medicine
• Exercise and General Health
• Hospitals and Health Facilities
• Rehabilitation Services and Resources
• Preventive Care
• Dental Services
• Nutrition and Emergency Services
• Native American Services
• Environmental Safety
• Veteran Services
• Pregnancy
• Children’s Services
• Educational Resources
• Seniors
• Disability Services
• Disease Specific Resources
• Reconstructive & Cosmetic Surgery
• Dermatology
• Dependency and Addictions
• Domestic Violence Resources
• Mental Health
• Health Insurance and Other Financial Options
• End of Life
• Health and Wellness Directory

Alternative Medicine

ACUPUNCTURE

Acupuncture is one of the five branches of traditional Chinese medicine, incorporating 2,500 years of theoretical and practical knowledge. Acupuncturists see the body as a network of interconnected systems powered by and connected through energy called Qi. A common belief in Oriental medicine is that blockage of Qi causes pain. When there is no blockage, there is no pain. Acupuncture treatments commonly use tiny needles to placed along meridians (energy channels) and trigger points. The goal is to influence the Qi and bring the body back into balance.

AYURVEDA

Ayurveda is the ancient healing science of India, dating back several thousand years. Classical Indian thought relates that all of life is fundamentally spiritual and that the material world flows from this spiritual source. From this perspective, any illness that shows up in the physical body has an underlying cause, one that is rooted in the energetic, psychoemotional, and spiritual levels. Ayurvedic treatment focuses on the physical level, through the use of herbal remedies, massage, diet, and lifestyle modifications.

BIOACOUSTICS

BioAcoustics can most aptly be described as a cross between music therapy and biofeedback. The principles originate with the idea that the brain perceives and generates impulse patterns that can be measured as brain wave frequencies. These impulses are, in turn, delivered to the body by way of nerve pathways. The theory incorporates the assumption that these frequency impulses serve as directives that sustain structural integrity and emotional equilibrium. BioAcoustics seeks to influence the systems within the body that produce, interpret and use frequency.

BIOFEEDBACK

The basic goal of biofeedback is to provide individuals with increased information about what is going on inside their bodies, including their brains. The feedback makes learning about our bodies possible. In this fast-paced and stress-filled world, many people are unaware of the stress signals in their bodies. “Tuning” into the body’s signals is an important skill that can be improved with biofeedback training.

CHIROPRACTIC MEDICINE

The philosophy behind chiropractic medicine is that the spine and associated structures are central to wellness. Chiropractic doctors think about the body as a whole, emphasizing physiology and biomechanics. Chiropractic treatments are usually tolerated without pain or discomfort. Treatment may be applied by hands only, or your chiropractor may use a variety of instruments to help make the adjustment. Ideally, chiropractic treatments will help ease pain and improve muscle and joint function. Treatments are most often successful when the pain is mechanical.

CLINICAL HYPNOTHERAPY

Hypnotherapy is a unique form of therapy that provides access to subconscious activity through the use of hypnosis. Hypnosis is a natural state of awareness we all experience at least twice a day: before falling asleep at night and prior to full awakening in the morning. During private sessions, hypnotherapists consult with clients to determine the nature of the problem and utilize the hypnotic state to increase motivation, alter behavior patterns or gain access to other natural aspects of the subconscious mind. Clients are educated about hypnosis and taught self-hypnosis techniques that allow them to participate in creating relaxation and health.

COLON HYDROTHERAPY

Also called colonic irrigation, colon therapy or a colonic, is a safe and gentle way to hydrate and cleanse the colon. Warm filtered water is introduced into the colon, hydrating the tissues and any hardened materials that may be in the colon. The water helps to stimulate the body’s natural peristaltic action to release waste. The removal of this waste encourages better colon heath and functioning.

CRANIOSACRAL THERAPY

Developed by Dr. John Upledger, an osteopathic physician, craniosacral therapy uses light touch to detect and correct imbalances in the membranes of the central nervous system. In every body there are a number of imbalances present from the effects of injuries, accidents, illness and emotional trauma. Cranialsacral therapy uses the bones of the head (the cranium) and the sacrum at the lower end of the spine as “handles” to access the connective tissue lining of the brain and spinal cord.

ENERGY BALANCING

Energy Balancing is the science of stimulating and balancing the body’s life energy. For a person in a state of “dis-ease”, or imbalance, the flow of life energy has become obstructed. Energy Balancing releases blocked energy so healing can occur. It combines bodywork with personal guidance and support in the areas of nutrition, exercise, relationships, communication, and development of a positive attitude.

FELDENKRAIS

Using Awareness Through Movement (ATM) and Functional Integration (FI), trained Feldenkrais practitioners guide students in non-invasive ways to improve posture and breathing; reduce stress, fatigue, pain and tension; and develop more efficient, flexible movement. In ATM, movement explorations are guided by verbal direction and can take place in a classroom with others, or at home by listening to CDs or reading books. In FI, attentive movement is initiated by the teacher, following cues from the student’s nervous system response and body language. Comfortable street clothes are worn and the practitioner’s quality of supportive touch provides a sense of safety and ease, allowing the student to focus on the internal learning process.

The lessons are beneficial for people of any age, from the physically fit to those with movement troubles, and teach kinesthetic awareness and problem-solving skills through self-discovery. Physicist, judo master, and author Dr. Moshe Feldenkrais (1904-1984), who made breakthrough discoveries about the connection between movement and how we sense, think, learn and heal, said of humanity’s potential for change, “The only thing permanent about our behavior patterns is the belief that they are so.”

IRIDOLOGY

Iridology is a form of energy work in which the practitioner studies the iris of the eye to assess where the person might have energy blocks. It is used to assist clients in improving energy levels and overall well-being. After completing the assessment of the eye, the practitioner will advise the client to use diet, herbal teas/powders, tinctures, essential oils, flower essences, movement massage, medication or belief adjustments to assist the client in releasing their energy blocks.

MASSAGE

Massage Therapy is a profession that is widely respected within the healthcare field. Massage Therapy is an umbrella term that encompasses over 150 different techniques. Specialties include relaxation and wellness, chronic pain and injury recovery, infant, prenatal, geriatric, oncology, deep tissue, therapeutic and lymphatic techniques. Although there are many types of massage, each offers a way to impact the body’s structural, neurological, mental, emotional and hormonal systems.

Deborah Kimmet Massage Therapy & Movement Education
1048 Burlington, Ste. 108 544-4704

MINDFULNESS MEDITATION

Mindfulness meditation grows out of spiritual traditions from several different religions. To practice mindfulness, you practice cultivating clear, moment-to-moment awareness. You also focus on your “being” as opposed to your “doing” existence. Mindfulness becomes an internal resource which develops the skills to deal with challenging life experiences. The habits and thought processes you learn have been found to promote a deeper sense of being in charge of troubling experiences such as anxiety, chronic pain or illness, and the day-to-day stresses of life.

REIKI

Reiki is a gentle, noninvasive healing method based on the ancient practice of the laying on of hands. It’s a gentle, noninvasive touch either directly on your body or up to two inches above your body. Reiki aims to restore the unimpeded flow of energy in your body. By opening the body to its own healing energies, Reiki can ease acute pain, lower tension, and calm breathing.

Western Montana Integrative Healthcare Alliance

www.healthymontana.com
Composed of a large group of healthcare providers committed to promoting an integrative approach to healthcare. The group meets once a month at St. Patrick Hospital and is open to healthcare professionals who share this vision. The group sponsors a large conference each February called Bridging the Gap. Information for patients is available on their website.