A Great New Tool to Educate MDs on Nondrug Pain Relief
Editorial Staff
A one-page "pocket guide" titled "Moving Beyond Medications" could be a critical first step in educating medical doctors (particularly those who would like to pull away from the grips of Big Pharma) about the value of acupuncture and other nondrug therapies that have been shown to be effective at relieving pain.
The guide, developed by four of the leading organizations dedicated to promoting integrative health – the Academic Consortium for Integrative Medicine and Health (ACIMH), the Academic Collaborative for Integrative Health (ACIH), the Integrative Health Policy Consortium (IHPC) and the Academy of Integrative Health and Medicine (AIHM) – recommends that doctors educate patients on "evidence-informed non-pharmacological and self-care approaches to managing pain and promoting wellness," including, but not limited to acupuncture, massage therapy, chiropractic manipulation, physical therapy, psychological approaches, mind-body therapies, yoga, tai chi and other movement therapies.
Click here to view / download the pocket guide, which recommends patient education on nondrug pain-relief options as part of a five-step process (step 1: assess the patient's pain and well being; step 2: set goals jointly with the patient; step 3: educate the patient about integrative pain management options; step 4: develop a treatment plan with the patient and address potential challenges; step 5: follow up –troubleshoot and modify treatment plan as needed).
It is recommended that the guide be disseminated by individuals and organizations to all health care providers, particularly those unfamiliar with the benefits of integrative medicine and/or those who commonly prescribe as a primary pain-relief strategy. In fact, it may serve as an initial outreach tool for AOM practitioners to initiate referral relationships with MDs and increase patient access to nonpharmaceutical pain-relief services such as those you provide.
Pelvic pain has a prevalence of >25% in women and >15% in men, and up to 50% of cases are undiagnosed, demonstrating that there is a definite need for pelvic care awareness among health care practitioners. As holistic practitioners, acupuncturists offer a safe space for clients and are often the practitioners clients seek out when nothing else has worked. Thus, acupuncturists are presented with an opportunity to serve an underserved population.
Though the creation of a financially sustainable, health-promoting model feels far away today, we are casting a vision for a full return on health, believing that this compels us to keep one foot firmly rooted in caring for the sick and the other foot firmly founded in maintaining health. Shifting from a fee-for-service model to value-based care using a phased approach is paramount.
Traditional Chinese medicine and the Vedic traditions both offer rich frameworks for understanding human health, emphasizing the balance of physical, mental, and spiritual aspects. The concept of "souls" or spiritual components in TCM, namely Hun, Po, Shen, Yi, and Zhi, bears significant similarities to the yogic concept of koshas. Their similarities and differences provide insights into how these systems contribute to holistic health practices.
