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On Integrative Health Care

Rare sighting of the true Integrative Health Practitioner
Rare sighting of the true Integrative Health Practitioner

I read regular requests on our community social pages for “Integrative Practitioners” the unicorn we all long for.


The RACGP defines an Integrative Practitioner as “Integrative medicine reaffirms the importance of the relationship between practitioner and patient, focuses on the whole person and is informed by evidence. It makes use of all appropriate therapeutic and lifestyle approaches, healthcare professionals and disciplines to achieve optimal health and healing. The integrative medicine approach is holistic and considers spiritual, social and lifestyle issues, which are increasingly being recognised as important drivers of chronic disease and ill-health. It refers to integrative medicine modalities, which involves integrating complementary medicine into conventional healthcare using an evidence-based approach.

 

What this definition doesn’t allow for is the premise on which a practitioners approach is founded.

 

A psychologist is trained to see all conditions through the lens of psychological pathology.  An MD is trained to see all conditions through the lens of physical pathology.  A Somatic Practitioner is trained to see conditions through the lens of homeostasis.

 

Those trained in diagnostics and pathology have a central role as the primary point of contact within the health system.   Those trained in homeostasis have a central role to play in trauma, suffering, smoothing the bumps of life transitions, pain, including pain of unknown origin.

 

To work within scope is the ethical way to protect our patient’s safety.   To acknowledge and recognise the strengths of specialisation is the ethical way to build a truly integrated health system.

 

If we are to build a meritocratic community, merit must be given, where merit is earned.

 

Here’s a simple perspective that is in service to our patient-clients and which is also in service to ourselves:

 

“Everything has it’s place”

 

Just as you might have caffeine in the morning and chamomile at night, so too, we are wise to see our GPs for diagnosis, and a specialist for specialised treatment.

 

A dear colleague now practicing as a GP in Caborita uses the shelf analogy

 

“It’s like this, Lexy, he said, we reach for the lowest-grade intervention first…that’s the lowest shelf…it could be getting more rest or brewing a batch of broth…and that is often enough, especially if you get onto it early.  If that doesn’t do it, then we reach for the next shelf… maybe it’s your nutriceuticals…maybe even high dose…9 out of 10 times, that’ll be the end of it and you’ve saved yourself the time, effort and cost of a drawn out sickness.  1 in 10 times you might need a pharmaceutical, and that’s when we’re glad to have it. “

 

Ironically ,the last time I went to his office, the herbs were on the top shelf.  He told me the story of a Gold Coast MD and herbalist who lost his practicing licence for practicing outside the scope of medical practice.   On my last visit, the herbs were gone.

 

It’s my imperative to share this knowledge, which unfortunately, is not common place.  It is known amongst those who live closely with nature, those who are still in touch with their own mammalian urges to be close, those who still feel the pull of gravity when resting and those who follow a path of relational intimacy and trust.  

 

I wish I’d found these remedies in my text books at uni.  I wish I’d found them in my studies in pre-med or public health.  I wish I heard them mentioned by my own beloved GP, as a child or now as an adult.   It would have made my path so much easier.

 

But I didn’t.  I had to find them in the fringes.   

 

I hold knowledge from both worlds, and while I know many have tried and failed before me, and while I know there I surrender to the pull of my dharma.   That is all.


I'm Alexis Dennehy, post-grad educated in Trauma and Women's Health. I hold a Masters of Public Health from The University of Queensland and over 20 years clinical experience in Integrative- & Somatically-focused Health Care.


Join me at our Saturday morning Experience Lab. Sign-on Day Saturday 18th January. 8:30am for 8:45am Taringa Rovers Clubhouse.

 

 

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We acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land on which we live and work.  The Turrbal and Yuggara people of Maiwar, The Quandamooka people of Minjerribah, the Bunjalung people to the south, Waka Waka and Gubi Gubi to the north, Burrangum to the west, and particularly to the Gammilray people who have shared deep knowledge and lore.  We acknowledge sovereignty has not yet been ceded and we stand with you in reconciliation. 

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