WINDBER — Reiki, aromatherapy, massage and acupuncture treatments offered in Windber Medical Center’s Institute of Integrative Medicine are offered to enhance modern medical care, not as substitutes.
“The combination of therapies is definitely the way to go,” said Cindy LeComte, the hospital’s principal partner for ancillary services. “We use physicians and medical practitioners and other professionals to explore all your options.”
Windber leaders object to the term “alternative” when it comes to nontraditional options, preferring “integrative” or “complementary.”
“They are not replacing traditional treatments. They are just supplementing them,” said Darrell Ellsworth, senior director of Windber Research Institute’s heart program.
Windber’s staff develops personalized treatments using different modalities, often using complementary therapies for stress reduction, LeComte said.
“We aid relaxation before and after surgery,” LeComte said. “They have been in the (operating room) holding area. That is really a stressful area while you are waiting. With music or somebody to massage your hand, you don’t feel alone anymore. You feel like someone cares.”
Many of Windber’s integrative medicine programs are overseen by Dr. Craig Fockler, a family physician certified in acupuncture.
“We have been very conscious with any new modality to focus on education, continuing education and research,” LeComte said.
While Ellsworth admits the complementary programs often have little evidence-based studies to back them up, Windber is taking a first step to develop some of that evidence.
A study funded through Yamaha Music & Wellness Institute of Meadville is examining the effectiveness of music therapy at the molecular level, Ellsworth said.
Heart patients in the study used special electronic keyboards to improvise music as part of their therapy. Windber’s scientists then analyzed proteins created in patients’ cells to look for music-generated changes.
Initial results should be available in a few months.
An ongoing study of patients in the Dean Ornish Program for Reversing Heart Disease is also tracking changes in participants’ cells.
Ornish is a regimented diet and exercise program that also includes relaxation and stress reduction components from Windber’s integrative medicine options.
The idea is to find out what molecular changes are related to positive outcomes, what treatments are associated with those changes and how to maximize the benefit.
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Institute defends treatments
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