Holistic Medicine
Holistic medicine, by its very nature, is humane to the core. The wholeness of its scope will set up a lifestyle for the animal that is most appropriate to promote wellness. The techniques used in holistic medicine are gentle, minimally invasive, and incorporate patient well-being and stress reduction.
Holistic thinking is centered on love, empathy and respect. This mixture of healing arts and skills is as natural as life itself. At the core of this issue lies the very essence of the word "(w)holistic". It means taking in the whole picture of the patient-the environment, the disease pattern, the relationship of pet with owner-and developing a treatment protocol using a wide range of therapies for healing the patient. Once the symptoms have been treated, the task is not complete until the underlying disease patterns have been redirected. The patient, as well as the client, will be guided to a new level of health.
Holistic Services Offered
Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine (TCVM)
TCVM is a holistic approach that considers the pet as a whole: body, mind, spirit, diet and environment. In holistic medicine, disease is the result of an imbalance of the energy flow of the body. Acupuncture is believed to balance this energy by redirecting its flow and, thereby, assisting the body to heal. It is a method of encouraging the body to promote natural healing and improve function.
In medical terms, acupuncture can assist the body to heal itself by affecting certain physiological changes like increasing blood circulation, releasing hormones and neurotransmitters (endorphins, cortical), regulating the endocrine system, relieving muscle spasm, stimulating the immune system, etc. Substances released as the result of acupuncture not only relax the whole body, they regulate serotonin in the brain which plays a role in human and animal disposition. Please visit our acupuncture page for more details.
Veterinary Spinal Manipulation Therapy (VSMT) (aka chiropractic)
At its core, VSMT views the foundation of the body as the spine, which is made up of vertebrae, muscles and nerves. Spinal misalignments may affect nerve and muscle function, resulting in pain or decreased function to that part of the body. VSMT is used to correct misalignments in the spine, restoring motion to the spine, and proper nerve and muscle function. It can decrease pain, increase performance, movement, and well being.
Pets may become misaligned during a trauma, over-exertion, or just normal "wear and tear" of everyday life. Correcting the misalignment(s), by performing an adjustment, will allow the body to work at full function and heal itself! The adjustments are gentle and low force, but have a large positive impact on overall health of the animal. VSMT allows the body to perform at its best, resulting in optimal health. A variety of animals and conditions respond well to spinal manipulation therapy. It is a natural, drug free, addition to your pet's total health care program.
Chinese Herbal MedicineThe use of specific herbs and plants for medicinal purposes has been practiced for millennia all over the world. Herbs have healing powers that are capable of balancing the emotional, mental and physical dimensions of animals. For ease of dispensing, herbs are available in a variety of mediums, including capsules, powders or tea pills. Herbal remedies are prepared for pets suffering from heart disease, arthritis, and intestinal irregularities. To further serve the medical needs of his clients, Dr. Heller is continuing advanced coursework in Chinese Herbal Medicine at the Chi Institute.
Nutritional Counseling
Proper nutrition is the best preventative medicine. Each pet patient is designed a specific diet which will be palatable, preservative free, practical and cost-effective, environmentally sound and in keeping with the client's abilities to provide.
Mega-nutrients, Augmentation Therapy
Supplemental minerals, vitamins and nutrients are prescribed that support the organs and body tissues, aid body detoxification and give energy to assist in the healing process.
Homeopathy & Homotoxicology
Homeopathy is a method of medical treatment designed to stimulate the body's own healing processes in order to cure illnesses. It is based upon the discovery that a substance in small doses may alleviate symptoms similar to those it causes at higher doses. The phrase "likes are cured by likes" is often used to describe a basic concept behind homeopathy. Homeopathic remedies are made from natural sources - plants, minerals, viruses, bacteria or animal substances. The remedy does not cover the symptom, but rather treats the deepest constitutional cause of the illness. The homeopathic remedy is successful in its treatment because it contains the energy essences that match patterns present in the diseased state in the ailing pet.
In Homotoxicology, diseases are considered to be ultimately caused by toxins. Furthermore, disease symptoms are said to be the result of the body's attempt to heal itself and should not necessarily be suppressed.
Vaccination Titer Testing
Using a titer test reveals each pet's antibody status. These results are then interpreted in an attempt to determine if the pet is currently protected against a specific infectious disease or if the pet may require immunization.
Holistic Consultations
Our initial meeting may take around one hour and subsequent visits usually last around 30-45 minutes. As many patients seek holistic care due to a current illness or disease, please provide copies of any prior relevant veterinary records, including diagnostic testing such as x-rays or bloodwork.
Case Studies
