holistic medicine for the people
HOLISTICA
Closing the gap
Our logo:
As most complex living organisms, human beings depend on a very delicate balance of a number of internal and external systems in order to maintain homeostasis.
In order to simplify our view of health, we have grouped the main systems of health in three different pillars: Nutritional, Emotional and Physical.
Nutritional Health: Because our bodies are sophisticated "chemistry laboratories", the ingredients that we put in them will affect our entire beings. The quality of the food that we consume can dictate from the amount of hormones secreted to the turning on and off of genes - modifying our DNA. Our Nutritional Counseling staff has been trained to gently guide patients into more holistic eating habits.
Emotional Health: All Eastern traditions see the emotions as an integral part of health, and the West is slowly beginning to understand the effect of negative and positive emotions on the body. For example, in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) every organ is associated with an emotion. When a particular emotion is expressed too strongly for too long or not fully expressed, the organ associated with that emotion can suffer. For example, the Liver in TCM is associated with the emotion of stress and frustration. Someone experiencing stress for a long time could eventually damage his/her liver. Acupuncture, energy medicine, massage, and meditation have all been proven to balance the person resulting in a more emotionally balanced person. Our staff works with patients suffering from a wide range of emotional symptoms; from depression, anxiety and addiction to PTSD and uncontrollable anger.
Physical Health: Because we have a physical body that is easily affected by our emotions and by what we eat, every time that we deviate ourselves from what is best for us, our bodies are affected. Since a physical illness can stem from many disharmonies, our entire staff can help to bring the entire person back into balance.
Closing the gap
Our board of directors:
Our board is formed by leaders of our community that share the common goal of making holistic medicine available to all those that cannot afford it. From CEOs to acupuncturists, to business owners, our board has the experience and expertise to make this dream possible! Meet our board.
Closing the gapDocuments:
Documents:
Please feel free to take a look at the following documents:
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1. Articles of Incorporation: Click here for PDF
2. Bylaws: Click here for PDF
3. IRS Determination Letter: Click here for PDF
Closing the gap
What we do:
We believe that having access to complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) should be the right of every person seeking a more holistic way of treating a health condition. Unless you have medical insurance that covers acupuncture, nutritional counseling, meditation, massage and energy medicine, these modalities are not options for the lower income population of our county.
Our goal is to help reduce the increasing rates of diabetes, obesity, stress and substance abuse in our community through education, and the incorporation of alternative treatments such as acupuncture, nutritional counseling, meditation, massage and energy medicine.
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With the help of many business partners, personal donations, and grants, we seek to maintain a highly qualified staff and provide free complementary and alternative medicine to those in Santa Cruz county that cannot afford it.
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Diabetes: According to the National Diabetes Statistics Report of 2014, more than 29 million people in the U.S. have diabetes. From 2001 to 2009 the U.S. population suffered an increase in diabetes of 23% and it is expected that by the year 2025 this number will increase to 51 million.
Several studies have demonstrated that acupuncture is effective in the modulation of the expression of nNOS (neuronal nitric oxide synthase) and NOS (nitric oxide synthase) under diabetic conditions. Chinese herbs have also been used for over 2,000 years to reduce and reverse diabetes. For example, a double blind study of 420 subjects found that Chinese Herbal Medicine significantly reduces the progression from impaired glucose tolerance to diabetes. Diabetes and other chronic conditions are associated with an increased risk of depression and anxiety. According to the Mayo Clinic, increased stress can also affect the ability of diabetics to properly heal themselves. Acupuncture has been proven many times for its effect in treating stress, depression and anxiety.
Because lifestyle choices and the food that is consumed make a difference in blood glucose, cholesterol, blood pressure and weight, it is crucial to work with a nutritional consultant. Food related diseases are the number one cause of preventable death in the United States. Poor diet is linked to certain types of cancer, obesity, diabetes and heart disease. Studies have shown that with the proper nutrition diabetes can be reversed (study).
Obesity: With more than one-third (35.7 percent) of adults considered to be obese, obesity is widespread and continues to be a leading public health problem in the U.S.
From the view of Traditional Chinese Medicine, obesity is treated as an addiction with an emotional component. Patients are evaluated according to their symptoms paying close attention to their emotional state.
Nutritional education plays a big part in reducing the rate of obesity. Our program addresses the need of being informed and guided in a one-on-one setting as well as in a group setting.
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Addictions:
A wide variety of controlled clinical trials, outcome summaries and anecdotal reports about the use of acupuncture in addiction treatment have been appearing since the 1970s in journals specializing in addictions, mental health, public health, criminal justice and acupuncture. These reports differ vastly in terms of methodology, populations studied, statistical sophistication and clinical relevance as well as in their findings about the value of acupuncture.
A very specific treatment protocol designed by the National Acupuncture Detoxification Association (NADA) has been proven to be very effective in the treatment of substance abuse. Studies have found strong evidence for the effect of the NADA protocol in improving patient outcomes in terms of program retention, reductions in cravings, anxiety, sleep disturbance and need for pharmaceuticals. Evidence also continues to grow for the use of the NADA protocol in psychiatric/behavioral health care, and humanitarian aid/trauma. See studies.