Healing Journeys with Suzie Daggett
You may have read recently about the problems and challenges facing local family practice doctors. Keeping a practice viable has become difficult due to many factors; yet, we have many doctors who offer supreme care to their patients, despite the difficulties. Kirsten Truman, MD, is a Board Certified Family Physician who offers her patients a blend of traditional western and integrative medicine. She has a deep interest in learning new techniques to get to the heart of healing to find ways to heal or cure difficult medical problems. Her following interview will give you a brief glimpse into why integrative medicine is an important factor in health and healing.
Have you found ways to combine traditional medicine and integrative medicine in your practice?
Yes, as a board-certified family physician, I am committed to offering the highest medical standard of care to my patients. Life-threatening diseases are truly improved, managed and often cured using the traditional medical approach. Few would argue of the importance of diagnosing and treating a severe infection, heart attack, or ruptured appendix urgently and skillfully in the traditional medical model. A disease that is the result of unhealthy lifestyles or, an inherited disease, is worsened by unhealthy choices. The examples of this are endless, but clearly, obesity, smoking, excessive alcohol use, sedentary lifestyle and negativistic thinking are closely linked to a myriad of illnesses. It is in this realm that the integrative approach seems most helpful. For example, when treating a diabetic, it is absolutely paramount to incorporate diet and exercise as part of a prescribed routine. However, traditional medical education does not really teach us how to do more that “prescribe” diet and exercise.
What is your approach to integrative medicine?
A patient receives a thorough work-up so I can deliver appropriate, standard medical management using both traditional and integrative means. I draw from many approaches to wellness and disease prevention, to offer my patients beyond a mere suggestion that they change in some way. Integration is the important concept here. For example, to use diabetes as a model, once I have made a diagnosis, I embark on traditional treatment which includes treating the diabetes with medication if necessary and managing collateral disease processes such as hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and heart disease. Once the patient is stable, willing and interested, I then help them to achieve their highest level of health, not just hold their diabetes “at bay”. It is not unusual for me to later decrease and even discontinue a patient’s medicines as their health improves.
How do you do blend the two schools of thought and treatment?
I incorporate treatments from a variety of traditions. I frequently prescribe supplements and apply principles of “functional medicine” - a newer branch of medicine based on combining biochemistry and nutrition to improve and sustain health. I use essential oils and other botanicals in a variety of areas such as in the treatment of PMS, perimenopausal symptoms, insomnia and wound healing. I often apply principles of Ayurvedic medicine, which is seeing its resurgence today because people are eager to find a path towards a truly holistic model of care. The concept of using our food as medicine is very important to me. Carefully selected and prepared food can truly make a difference in a variety of disease processes, even before any supplements or medicines are added. Finally, I teach my patients about the benefits of regular exercise, mindfulness, visualization techniques and meditation. I find this extremely helpful when addressing smoking cessation, anxiety, depression, and insomnia as well as helping people cope who are feeling overwhelmed with chronic pain or living with a chronic disease. My patients who have been open to one or more of these modalities have both amazed me with their improvement and taught me the value of empowering them through a holistic approach.
As a family physician, how do you feel you best serve your patients?
Through offering my expertise as a physician, I provide reassurance that major diseases are not being left undiagnosed or untreated, and I offer complimentary approaches which “first, do no harm”. Because of my in-depth knowledge of anatomy, physiology, pharmacology and disease process, I discern what may be helpful without creating a conflict with needed medical treatment. Further, many people who wholeheartedly ascribe to complimentary and alternative treatments want solid medical advice which allows them to make informed choices. Those who have embraced the traditional model are served by the fact that I can offer other possibilities to expand their idea of health and wellness. Often, this gives them a certain “permission” to pursue avenues to health that were not previously known to them. This can really make a tremendous difference to their quality of life.
What does the future of traditional medicine look like to you?
I see it as becoming more integrative and holistic. More people are being forced to take a long look at what they are doing in their daily lives that impact their health - partly because of the pressure of higher insurance premiums, co-pays and deductibles, but partly because physicians are seeking and incorporating ways to create higher levels of health and wellness in our patients. I am optimistic that if we invest in the integrative model, we, the medical community, and our patients will enjoy health, wellness and prosperity in abundance. The secret to creating this integrative model will lie in a culture and collective awareness that it is not about one way or the other way. “Alternative medicine” has already evolved into “Integrative medicine” and just that simple shift in consciousness from “either/or” to “both, and” has been a great revelation.
Dr. Kirsten Truman can be reached at her Grass Valley office, 530-274-2426
Healing Journeys is a column written by Suzie Daggett for the Grass Valley Union newspaper. Suzie interviews a variety of health practitioners most Fridays in the Wellness section. Click here to read past articles. Enter "Suzie Daggett" in the search box to get listing of all articles. |
