Vis medicatrix naturae (Support the healing power of nature)

Many conventional medical practices obscure the reality that no person or medicine heals you. You heal yourself.  Healing occurs because biological systems are self-organizing and self-regulating. Naturopathic medicine uses the Latin phrase Vis medicatrix naturae ("the healing power of nature") to refer to the intelligent and ordered self-preserving nature of all living systems, and places it at the center of all medical treatment. Natural medicine uses therapeutics that do one or more of the following: (1) stimulate your inborn self-healing intelligence, (2) support it in some way, or (3) remove things that may be hindering its ability to restore balance naturally.

Ayurveda

Originating in India, Ayurveda -- literally, " the science of life" -- relies upon a unique system of psychobioenergetic diagnosis to individualize natural therapeutics (herbology, nutrition, manual therapies, detoxification, yoga postures, breathwork, energy balancing, sound healing) to enhance longevity by healing physical, mental, and spiritual imbalances. Ayurvedic philosophy informs HeartSong's approach to primary care. Ayurvedic consultations allow you to immerse yourself more deeply in this powerful healing tradition.

Homeopathy

Of all the natural therapeutics, homeopathy is perhaps the most subtle, yet profound natural therapy in existence. Acting deeply on physical, mental, emotional and spiritual levels, classical homeopathy rebalances and restores optimal function using energetically potentized remedies to gently stimulate the innate healing ability of body. Selection of remedies is based upon a highly individualized and well documented system of case analysis and interpretation. HeartSong offers personal homeopathic evaluations using the dynamic Cycles & Segments approach to remedy selection created by Dr. Paul Herscu, naturopath and internationally recognized homeopath.

Colon Hydrotherapy Treatment

Colon hydrotherapy, also called "colonics" or "colonic irrigation" can be used as a pre-operative preparatory procedure for colonoscopic or radiological exam or to support personal detoxification programs. The Angel of Water is a state-of-the-art open system for colon hydrotherapy. A gravity-fed stream of water gently washes through the colon, stimulating peristalsis and the complete evacuation of accumulated waste. You will leave feeling refreshed and rejuvenated.

Constitutional Hydrotherapy Treatment

Constitutional hydrotherapy promotes natural healing by improving circulation with alternating hot and cold compresses applied to the entire body. Improved blood flow enhances metabolic function, promotes the repair of damaged or infected tissue, relieves pain, and increases the body's ability to eliminate toxic waste.

Craniosacral Therapy

Craniosacral therapy releases restrictions in membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord to allow improved flow of the fluid protecting and lubricating these organs. Interacting with all physiological systems, the free and rhythmic movement of cerebrospinal fluid promotes healing on multiple levels – physical, mental, emotional, spiritual.

Enneagram Consultation

The Enneagram is a psychospiritual model for understanding the personality that allows you to deepen self-awareness and self-analysis skills as tools to enhance their ability to fully integrate human experience on multiple levels -- physical, mental, emotional, ecological, and spiritual. Consultations are designed to help you identify your own personal world view, and to understand the strengths and challenges that are associated with it so that you can expand your capacity to embrace yourself and realize your highest potential.

FirstLine Therapy^®

FirstLine Therapy is a therapeutic lifestyle program that is designed to help you learn to live in a way that enhances your health by improving body composition, optimizing the balance of water, fat, and metabolically active tissue mass. Improving your hydration and muscle-to-fat ratio is one of the most powerful strategies to slow the aging process and increase vitality. The program provides tools and guidelines for planning meals designed to improve body composition and utilizes bioimpedance analysis.  Go to Medical Technology for a discussion of bioimpedance.

Genotype Nutrition

SWAMI GenoType software, generously donated to HeartSong by Dr. Peter D'Adamo, naturopath and internationally recognized author and personalized nutrition expert, is capable of determining your GenoType and prescribing the appropriate GenoType Diet for you. It can also evaluate each of over 700 foods for over 200 individual attributes (such as its cholesterol level, gluten content, presence of antioxidants, etc.) to determine if that food is either a superfood or toxin for you. It then prints out a specific one of a kind diet in an easy to read, friendly format.

Heart Variability & Autonomic Nervous System Assessment

The autonomic nervous system is comprised of two branches. The sympathetic branch activates the glands and organs that the defend the body against attack. It is commonly called the "fight-or-flight" system. It is catabolic in nature, which means that it breaks down the body to create energy for defense. The parasympathetic branch, on the other hand, is anabolic, and concerns itself with nourishing, healing, and regenerating the body. Keeping yourself in a healthy parasympathetic state, and staying there as much as possible, promotes healing on all levels -- physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual.

Autonomic nervous system evaluation allows you to see the status of your sympathetic-parasympathetic balance so you can take the steps necessary to move yourself into a parasympathetic-dominance state. Heart variability allows you to assess your exercise tolerance.

Herbal Apothecary

The term herbal apothecary refers to both an individual who makes herbal formulations and a collection -- pharmacy -- of previously prepared herbal medicines. At HeartSong, the term is used to refer to the production and personalized formulation of herbal medicines made on site, using fresh plants from our own gardens as well as dried plants from other organic sources.

Infrared Sauna

Infrared sauna heats tissue several inches deep, enhancing metabolic processes and increasing cellular energy production to promote healing. Raising body temperature causes infections to heal more quickly since viruses, tumors and toxin-laden cells are weaker than normal cells and do not tolerate heat well. The deep penetrating heat infrared energy helps skin eliminate toxins more effectively than other forms of heat therapy.

Orthomolecular Medicine

The term orthomolecular, coined by Linus Pauling, literally translated as "the right molecules in the right amounts". Orthomolecular medicine, also called orthomolecular nutrition, refers to the practice of treating and preventing illness by giving the body optimal amounts of substances that naturally occur in the body. Originally inspired by the work of Linus Pauling, molecular biologist and Nobel Prize winner, in his successful treatment of psychiatric disorders using high doses of specific vitamins and other nutrients, orthomolecular nutrition is now used worldwide to restore and promote health by both conventional and alternative health care providers.

Marma Therapy

Originating in India, marma therapy involves the manual stimulation of marma - junction points in the body between consciousness and matter -- to restore balance between physical matter (the body) and subtle energy (consciousness). Marma therapy sessions are deeply relaxing and allow you to experience new ways of connecting to yourself by deepening your conscious awareness of energy in the body.

Meditation for Medical Purposes

There is a growing body of research demonstrating what ancient and modern practitioners of yoga and Ayurveda have already discovered -- that quietening the mind and body has far-reaching effects on our bodies and our minds. Both basic and clinical research indicate that cultivating a more mindful way of being is associated with less emotional distress, more positive states of mind, and better quality of life. In addition, mindfulness practice can positively influence the brain, the autonomic nervous system, the stress response, the immune system, and health behaviors, including eating, sleeping and substance abuse. The question is not whether meditation can benefit your health, but what form of mindfulness practice is best suited to your lifestyle and personal preferences.

Phytomedicine

Phytomedicine, also known as botanical medicine, herbology, medical herbalism, and herbal medicine, relies upon plants and herbs to create natural remedies that invite healing via multiple biochemical and energetic pathways. HeartSong relies on a wide selection of Western, Ayurvedic and Chinese herbs to promote natural healing as a vital component of routine primary care.

Specialized Nutrition

Many health problems are related to poor dietary habits, or to nutrition that is inappropriate for a specific individual, due to differences in genetic make-up or past history of illness. Based upon a detailed assessment of your health, specialized nutritional guidelines designed to to restore health and to promote longevity, are provided as part of your overall treatment plan at HeartSong.

Vibration Therapy

Vibration exercise, also called whole body vibration therapy, is a neuromuscular training method, originally used to increase bone density in astronauts, that is now being used in the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis. Vibration therapy is an easy way for someone of age or condition to increase joint mobility, muscle strength, overall circulation, bone strength and density, and overall fitness.

Yoga and Yoga Therapy

Yoga is a 3500 year old science of mind, practiced in India. As a sister science to Ayurveda, it enumerates a system of psychology that is extremely comprehensive and complex. One branch of this science, hatha yoga, has become very popular in the United States, and is used by many practitioners as a form of physical exercise, rather than for mental health. Practices from all branches of yoga are utilized in treatment protocol at HeartSong, depending upon your interests as well as your medical condition.

Grounded in the therapeutic and philosophical tradition of Phoenix Rising Yoga Therapy and the original Kripalu Meditation on Motion yogic practices taught by yogic master Amrit Desai, yoga therapy at HeartSong integrates nondirective dialogue, guided meditation and self-reflection with yogic practices, including asana (physical posture) and pranayama (breathwork), is used for personal counseling to help you "digest" your life experiences more fully by increasing self-awareness.