Integrative Medicine

Explore below about the science and practice of integrative medicine, medical acupuncture, mind-body medicine, plant medicine, and more.

medical acupuncture

what is acupuncture? 

Acupuncture is an ancient Eastern healing medical system dating back at least 3,000 years. Ancient texts mapped in detail specific acupuncture points, and how human energy circulates, interconnects, and interacts with the environment. Treatment consists of stimulation of these points using fine needles, which may be further stimulated with heat or electricity.

Dr. Shah's practice

Dr. Shah employs Japanese-style acupuncture (Kiiko Matsumoto style), which is a gentler treatment style than the traditional Chinese approach, as part of her integrative medicine toolbox. It emphasizes palpation of the body as a form of "checks and balances" to ensure accurate treatment. Japanese-style acupuncture also uses finer needles and less depth than the traditional Chinese approach. Dr. Shah also employs lidocaine-infused trigger point injections and corticosteroid joint injections when needed for pain relief.

the science

The scientific evidence behind the way acupuncture works and its efficacy is gaining significant traction. Modern research has found acupuncture points to be indeed active, biochemically and neurologically. 

Such renowned groups such as The World Health Organization, the American College of Physicians, and the NIH's National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health all agree that acupuncture can help manage and improve a variety of conditions, from pain to allergies to depression. Here are some great articles on the science: acupuncture and chronic pain, rewiring the brain in patients with carpal tunnel syndrome, nausea, chronic low back pain, another on carpal tunnel.

medical acupuncture can help with many conditions, click here to learn more.

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mind-body medicine

what is mind-body medicine? 

Mind-body medicine harnesses the innate power of your brain-mind and the positive human qualities of kindness, interconnection, and compassion to help heal conditions such as chronic stress, anxiety, depression, panic and insomnia.

This science-based integrative medicine approach can be thought of as mind-training, where you learn to dial down the body’s stress and inflammatory responses and dial up the body’s innate healing capabilities. By learning to rewire your own nervous system and positively reimagine perspectives in your life, true healing and transformation can emerge. Mind-body medicine can also help to mitigate the intensity of chronic pain and other uncomfortable ailments.

mind-body connection

Eastern medical systems are rooted in the concept that the mind and body are not separable. However, during the Renaissance and Enlightenment eras in the Western world, the notion that the mind and body are separate entities took hold and began to inform medical practices. Unfortunately, contemporary conventional Western medicine still works under the premise that the mind and body are separate.

Mind-body medicine uses ancient mind-training techniques such as mindfulness and compassion to heal the mind, which directly affects the body.

Studies have shown that some of the benefits of learning and using mindfulness include: lowering stress hormone and inflammation levels, decreasing blood pressure, and boosting your immune system. Mindfulness meditation has also been shown to lessen physical pain, depression, anxiety, ADHD, and age-related cognitive decline.

Other examples of mind-body medicine practices include meditation, yoga, tai chi, progressive muscle relaxation, biofeedback, EMDR, and guided imagery. 

Dr. Shah's practice

Dr. Shah employs non-secular contemplative psychotherapeutic practices, which combine mindfulness, compassion-based practices, yoga, breathing exercises, and other meditation techniques. She will teach you powerful tools that you can use right now as well as take home, practice, and develop over time. 

the science

Mind-body medicine research is a subset of integrative medicine that is rapidly growing and the science is astounding. Mind-body medicine integrates the evidence found within the research of neuroscience, psychiatry, endocrinology, immunology, and pain medicine.

The NIH's National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health explains that mind-body medicine focuses on "the ways in which emotional, mental, social, spiritual, experiential, and behavioral factors can directly affect health." Click here for some scientific articles on mind-body medicine.

mind-body medicine can help with many conditions, click here to learn more.

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plant medicine

what is plant medicine? 

Plant medicine is the subset of integrative medicine that harnesses the power of nature to heal. Humans have co-evolved with the plant world since the beginning of humanity, and therefore, plants are fundamental to our health and wellbeing.

Plant medicine is the utilization of plant-based entities such as herbs and botanicals in pill, tincture, oil, topical, or infusion forms, as well as anti-inflammatory, reparative plant-based foods, and the potent medicine of spending time in nature, to heal the body and mind. 

Dr. Shah's practice

Dr. Shah provides personalized herb / botanical prescriptions to support the treatment of your specific chronic disease(s), pain, or other autoimmune/inflammation-based disorders. 

She also focuses on anti-inflammatory, nutrient-dense, whole food prescriptions to help enliven your body, brain, and gut microbiome. She uses plant-based foods as the foundation to help you construct an eating plan to heal better. She always meets you where you are, folding in changes that you’re feeling ready to make.

Furthermore, Dr. Shah can help you systematically investigate your diet if you are suffering from food allergies or intolerances that may be exacerbating your health issues.

a little more

We all must eat food to survive, which seems simple enough. But, food and nutrition can also be complex, as they are deeply tied to our culture, heritage, and who we perceive ourselves to be. Our current food culture and climate, focused on fad diets, refined foods, and eschewing or adopting single ingredients, has left us in true dis-ease, suffering from overweight, chronic disease, and inflammation-based disorders.

Keep in mind, adopting a whole foods plant-based diet does not mean you have to become vegetarian or vegan; an ultimate goal of 75 - 80% minimally-processed plant-based foods is generally sufficient to heal the body and stave off inflammatory conditions. 

Dr. Shah never wants you to feel like you are sacrificing what you love to eat, her goal is for you to be able to eat in a way that is sustainable to your lifestyle and simultaneously makes you feel better. 

Bottom line: adopting a plant-forward diet makes good sense and even small changes add up.

the science

Eating a diet rich in vegetables, fruit, legumes, whole grains, and other plant-based protein sources like nuts and seeds, naturally increases the amount of antioxidants, bioflavonoids, and polyphenols in your system, which subsequently decreases the level of inflammation in your body. This, in turn, can help people lose excess weight and heal conditions such as autoimmune disorders, allergies, diabetes, coronary artery disease, and other inflammatory issues, as well as help optimize wellness.

There's a lot of gut microbiome talk out there. The latest research shows that microbial diversity is undermined by diets rich in sugar, meats and processed foods and that plant-based diets can do exactly the opposite. Dr. Shah will help you take the steps to enrich your gut microbiota by gently modifying your diet to one containing a variety of plant-based foods.

Furthermore, studies are showing the source of the proteins that we choose to eat, animal versus plants, can make a large difference in our risk for major health problems like cardiovascular disease, cancers, and early death. Take a look at the research on “Blue Zones,” places in the world where the longest-lived humans thrive.

It can’t be ignored that eating more plants is also healthier for the earth we all share. ♥

(Don’t know how to cook? Dr. Shah’s patients receive discounts on cooking classes at Brooklyn Kitchen!)

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 Together, you and Dr. Shah will develop a treatment & follow-up plan that will help you heal better and stay better. 

meet Dr. Shah

Have a question?

Do ask!

help@drpoojaamyshah.com

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