So we have all heard of herbal supplements and integrative medicine. Some of us may have used it ourselves or recommended it to a patient, but who do we turn to for reliable resources and help? Is there anyone out there on the Web who we can trust?
Dr. Andrew Weil, M.D. is probably one of the most recognized names in integrative medicine and is a pioneer in the specialty. He received his medical degree and undergraduate degree in botany from Harvard University and is the founder and director of the Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine at the University of Arizona Health Sciences Center located in Tucson, Ariz.
Additionally, Dr. Weil serves as a clinical professor of medicine and a professor of public health as well, as the Lovell-Jones professor of integrative rheumatology.
He has authored several books with sales of approximately 10 million copies. He donates all of the after-tax profits from the royalties of Weil Lifestyle LLC products to the Weil Foundation -- a not-for-profit organization, which supports integrative medicine training, education, and research. Since 2005, more than $3 million in grants have been provided in the form of grants and gifts to medical centers and non-profits nationally.
His Website offers several interesting tools for healthy lifestyle modification, including a Vitamin Advisor, a free, no-obligation questionnaire that discusses diet, lifestyle habits, age, gender, health concerns, medications, and other factors. Answers are processed with their "proprietary physician-approved algorithms" which help determine which supplements are recommended to suit an individual's needs. This information can be shared with a healthcare provider as well. His site also offers information on a personalized wellness guide, pages on exercise and wellness, cooking and recipes, spiritual care, etc.
Given so many of our patients are seeking alternative therapies, either in combination or as primary therapy, it is important that we understand to our best ability the resources out there so that we can work in conjunction with alternative practitioners such as Andrew Weil.
At our cancer center, we offer integrative medicine and wellness services, including acupuncture, diet/nutrition, mindfulness-based stress reduction therapy, Reiki and massage, yoga, and exercise/ rehabilitation.
Do your cancer centers offer such services and how are they received by patients and staff?
Have either you or your patients used products by Dr. Weil or attended a seminar? If so, what did you/they think? What are your thoughts from a healthcare provider standpoint?
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