How to Find an MD Who Is Also a Holistic Practitioner?
Holistic health care practitioners don't have to be medical doctors, but they can be. According the American Board of Integrative Holistic Medicine (ABIHM) nearly 50 percent of Americans regularly use some type of alternative medicine including acupuncture. Holistic health care medical doctors practice in most specialties of medicine including pediatrics, psychiatry and family practice. Although doctors have been practicing this way for many years, the ABIHM had its first board certification examination in 2000, calling recipients physician-healers.
Other People Are Reading
Instructions
-
How to find an MD who is Also a Holistic Practioner
-
1
Educate yourself about the different modalities of alternative care to discern which would best suit your needs. The American Board of Integrative Holistic Medicine requires that the practitioners "approach the patient as an individual, living in a life system, which impacts their heath, with the awareness that you are a part of that system," according to its website. In addition practitioners treat the patient's mind, body and spirit.
-
2
Use the Internet to get a list of Holistic healers who are also physicians. The ABIHM certifies both M.D.s and D.O.s for this specialty. The ABIHM's website allows a search for member physicians by name, state, zip code and specialties. A random search of practitioners in Pennsylvania turned up 42 doctors with practices in everything from chelation therapy to weight reduction to arthritis.
-
-
3
Search for a doctor through the American Holistic Medical Association. Not all the doctors in their database are medical doctors, so make sure to look for M.D. or D.O. after the doctor's name. A random search of practitioners in Pennsylvania showed 12 specialists and all but one were MDs or DOs.
-
4
Ask for recommendations from labs that specialize in alternative testing services, such as micronutrient testing. You may also get recommendations from groups such as the La Leche League or your chiropractor.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
Interview the doctors once you've identified a few in your area. Since holistic practitioners rely on a quality personal relationship with patients it's important that you and the doctor are compatible.
