Treatments:

• Holistic and Complementary Alternative Medicine
• Nutrition Counseling
• Medical Acupuncture
• Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment

• General Family Health and Wellness – Preventative Medicine
• Well Woman Exams
• Well Child Exams
• School/Sports Physicals
• Vaccinations
• Skin Biopsies
• Repair Lacerations
• Suture Removal
• Trigger Point Injections
• Joint Injections
• Biodentical Hormones

Holistic and complementary alternative medicine

Health and healing should be viewed from a much deeper perspective - one that takes into account of not only the discomforts of disease but also the totality of wellness.

Holistic and alternative medicine holds a great deal of interest for us at Badger Canyon Family Health and Wellness. At present we offer only medical acupuncture as a service, but we are open to discussing other forms of therapy with you and making recommendations when we feel our knowledge base is adequate. We are happy to know what forms of alternative therapies you are currently employing, including:

• Naturopathic and homeopathic Remedies
• Vitamins and other Supplements
• Aromatherapy
• Nutrition and Exercise
• Biofeedback
• Traditional Chinese Medicine
• Chiropractics
• Behavior Modification

Nutrition, Food Allergies, and Food Intolerances

Food is the fuel we place into our bodies. We would not expect our cars to run on suboptimal fuel and we should not expect our bodies to either. Yet many of us do not realize the impact food has on us. We would be happy to discuss your diet and nutrition options and how to feel at your optimal level of wellness.

Sometimes eating healthily is not enough. You may have an undiagnosed food sensitivity. While most of us recognize the signs and symptoms of a food allergy: itching, hives, occasionally swelling and difficulty breathing, food sensitivity can be much more subtle and difficult to diagnose. If you suffer from chronic fatigue, diffuse digestive disorders, seasonal allergies, please feel free to discuss options with us. One option is the ALCAT test and we would be happy to tell you more about it.

Of course, in order for your body's "engine" to run optimally and use food completely, exercise is a key component. We would be happy to discuss what types of exercise and activity would be best suited for you.

Medical Acupuncture

Acupuncture is a term which describes techniques involving stimulation of anatomical points on the body. While we use sterile single use needles at Badger Canyon Family Health & Wellness, laser and simple pressure (acupressure) are also acceptable forms. Often mild electrical stimulation or infared heat is used in conjunction will acupuncture.

Acupuncture has been practiced for thousands of years in China, Japan, and other countries. In traditional Chinese medicine the body is seen as a delicate balance of two opposing and inseparable forces or energies. These forces flow through several different pathways in the body. Disease is seen as a long term complication of energy being out of balance. While two patients may have the same symptom - such as back pain or sinusitis, the imbalance may actually be in a different pathway for each patient.

During your first acupuncture visit, you will be asked a variety of questions in order to ascertain your best treatment plan. Questions will involve your medical health, symptoms lifestyle, and behavior patterns. Depending on the level of complexity of your problems, the first visit may be spent in an extended interview and examination/treatment may be delayed until the next visit. You may require a series of treatments - the number and frequency of treatments will be determined throughout your care.

I am most frequently asked if acupuncture hurts. Our needles are the diameter of a hair and while you may experience some mild discomfort, it is not generally painful.

The second most frequent question I am asked is what acupuncture can be used for. The answer is for a broad spectrum of diseases. Most commonly treated problems are:

• Sinusitis
• Back Pain
• Myalga
• Depression
• Emotional Stress
• Allergic Rhinitis
• Sciatica
• Arthralgia
• Fatigue
• Weight Loss Adjunct
• Common Cold
• Neuropathy
• Anxiety
• Smoking Cessation Aid
• Premenstrual Tension

Acupuncture is covered by some but not all health insurance plans. Please check your benefits with your individual health insurance carrier.

Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment

Who uses OMT?
All osteopathic physicians (D.O.s) from surgeons to family physicians are trained to use OMT to diagnose, treat and even prevent illness or injury. D.O.s are fully trained and licensed physicians able to perform surgery and prescribe medication. Sixty-four percent of D.O.s currently practice in the primary care areas of medicine although they can also be found practicing in other medical specialty areas such as cardiology and neurosurgery.

What is osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT)?
OMT is a hands-on treatment where osteopathic physicians (D.O.s) use their hands to examin you back and other parts of your body such as joints, tendons, ligaments and muscles, for pain and restriction during motion that could signal any impaired function.

What types of injuries or illnesses can OMT be used for?
OMT can be helpful in treating low back pain as well as relieving discomfort and/or musculoskeletal abnormalities associated with a number of disorders including asthma, carpal tunnel syndrome, menstrual pain, sinus disorders and migraines.

Who can benefit from OMT?
People of all ages have found relief from pain and dysfunction as well as improved mobility through OMT. Many D.O.s incorporate OMT into their treatment plans for top athletes, workers with on-the-job injuries and people with illnesses and injuries such as asthma and low back pain.

What is the difference between OMT and other forms of manipulation?
OMT, used to diagnose and treat injuries and illnesses, utilizes passive thrusting techniques, but also includes a variety of non-thrusting methods designed to affect muscles and soft tissues. OMT also optimizes blood circulation to maintain and restore health while other forms of manipulation tend to focus on spinal misalignment interfering with nerve transmission.

How is OMT prescribed?
A D.O.'s decision to use OMT is made on a visit-by-visit basis depending on the condition of the patient at the time of each visit. This leads to a significantly lower number of visits than other health care providers who use manipulation.

How is OMT performed?
Your structural exam will begin with an assessment of your posture, spine and balance. Your D.O. will then use his fingers to palpate your back and extremities. He will then check your joints for restriction and/or pain during motion and your muscles, tendons and ligaments where tenderness can signal a problem. Using a variety of OMT techniques, your D.O. will apply manual forces to your body's affected areas to treat structural abnormalities and will then apply specific corrective forces to relieve joint restrictions and misalignments. Based upon the complexity or severity of your problem, you may require more than one treatment.

Does managed care cover OMT?
OMT is an added treatment tool that is covered by many managed care organizations. Typically, the physician and the managed care plan negotiate the level of reimbursement.