It has been my vision to open up a health facility that will meet what I feel are the needs of the community. My impression is that there is a large majority of people who feel that their medical problems are not being adequately addressed by our current medical system. The dissatisfaction with traditional medical therapies is further exemplified by the growing percentage of patients seeking some alternative form of therapy. This statement is supported by the rising number of people with chronic diseases, increased number of children with Autism and ADD/ADHD, as well as those with cancer, autoimmune disease, and chronic pain. I feel the underlying problem with our present standard of care is that it is symptom-based and does not address medical diseases on a causative level. In other words, the medical community is focused on treating the effects of disease, not the underlying cause.

I am not implying that traditional medical treatment doesn’t work and in fact it has many attributes. Its most important strengths are its health prevention screenings and the care of acute medical problems, e.g. trauma, acute infections, respiratory difficulties, and various surgical procedures. In these situations relieving symptoms is paramount. The problem arises when this acute care model is used to treat chronic medical conditions, where the underlying pathology driving the disease process is not addressed. The therapies at Southern Maine Integrative Health Center will be directed toward the underlying processes that result in disease. My approach is integrative, where the best of both traditional and alternative therapies are employed.

The cause of all chronic medical problems can be attributed to four factors. These can be compared to the four legs of a chair where if one or more are distorted, imbalance will result thus predisposing to disease. They are diet, detoxification, genetics, and emotions. I will explain them briefly.

1. Diet- the problem with most diets is the combination of high toxicity (preservatives, additives, chemicals, pesticides, added hormones, rancid fats, processed food) and low content of vitamins and minerals. This creates an imbalance, the effects of which accumulate over many years. Toxicity has its greatest effect within the body’s cells, inhibiting enzyme systems and disturbing fundamental metabolic processes. The standard American diet of fast, processed, or microwaved food typically does not provide adequate amounts of vitamins and minerals necessary to correct metabolic imbalances. In fact, it takes a specific quantity of vitamins and minerals just to metabolize the food we eat. If these are not present due to poor diet or quality of food choices the body will compensate by taking them from other cells, thus creating deficiencies.

2. Detoxification- this refers to the ability of the individual to eliminate. This ability to eliminate is variable and quite different among individuals. The most important means of elimination is through the kidney, colon, and especially the liver. In normal healthy people there is a 1000 fold difference in their liver’s ability to detoxify. This probably had little significance a century ago, however now with the alarming number of chemicals and pollutants we are exposed to this has become a major factor explaining why one person will develop an illness and another will not. The single most important factor in maintaining optimal health is facilitating a person’s detoxification.

3. Genetics- when I mention genetics I am referring to the way a person adapts to the world or what is called their reactional mode. Certainly there are genetic tendencies that predispose us to various medical conditions ( Autism, Cancer, Heart Disease, etc.) however these are only predispositions. These diseases are not hard-wired into our constitution. By understanding this and making proper lifestyle choices, genetic tendencies toward disease can be modified and illness avoided.

4. Emotions- this is probably the deepest form of toxicity. Emotional traumas, even those occurring as a young child affect one’s present health and create barriers toward the healing process. It has been my observation that on a sub-conscious level many people experience physical ailments as a means of avoiding some past or present emotional trauma. Recognizing this and directing therapies toward addressing these traumas can have tremendous benefits with regards to relieving physical symptoms. Likewise, physical ailments can affect people emotionally with the most common symptoms being a combination of anxiety, insomnia, depression, weight gain, loss of libido, hot flashes, poor memory, or brain fog to name a few. By addressing the body’s neuro-endocrine system with the goal of naturally balancing one’s hormones and neurotransmitters, profound differences in outlook and quality of life can be attained.

At Southern Maine Integrative Health Center, we address these four parameters and also employ osteopathic manipulative treatment to correct any musculoskeletal imbalances that may be present. Our goal is to assist you on your path towards optimal health.

In my years of clinical practice, I have seen the consciousness of the community steadily evolve. A growing number of people see flaws in the present system, and are suffering from its shortcomings. I feel there are many who are looking for a practitioner who will address their problems at a causative level. It is those reasons that prompted me to open a health facility where the emphasis is finding the health of the individual, not solely treating their disease. These therapies involve partnering with people to address their medical issues from
a complete perspective, that includes physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual levels. These are proven therapies. I feel this is the future of medical care and with the growing number of stressors placed on us (diet, pollutants, life demands, etc.) its need will only increase.