The battle-hardened and emotionally-scarred Marine walks slowly toward the horse, head bowed and hand outstretched in a gesture of openness and equality. The horse, neither tethered nor shackled, doesn’t shy away or run, but instead moves silently, steadily towards the Marine. Neither is predator. Both are prey. The healing has begun.
Treating PTSD
This scenario--the treating of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) through the use of equine assistance--is just one of the healing modalities advocated by the Integrative Health Clinic and Program at the Veterans Administration Medical Center (VAMC) in Salt Lake City. This new concept was developed by a 3-person team at the VAMC including James C. Overall Jr., MD, a retired faculty member of the University of Utah Medical School and former physician at the VA hospital.
Working with Veterans
“I will be eternally grateful for the experience of working with the soldiers,” says Dr. Overall. “It was an incredible privilege to hear their stories. I owe them a lot for being open to the integrative concept of treating the emotional and spiritual being as well as the mental and physical being.”
Now in its eighth year at the VA Hospital in Salt Lake City, the Integrative Health (IH) concept encompasses physical, mental, spiritual and emotional health, all interconnected in every individual. It goes beyond the traditional western model of medical diagnosis and treatment, adding care for health and well being as an adjunct to conventional medicine.
Integrating Alternative Medicine
Fundamental is the integrative use of complementary alternative medicine such as acupuncture, aquatic bodywork, meditation, medical hypnosis, Qigong (Tai Chi), yoga and more. It even includes Native American sweat lodge therapy to provide a spiritual ceremony to meet the needs of Native American and other VA patients who wish to benefit from the tradition.
To date, the integrative health concept and program has been well received. It received national recognition from the Veterans Administration as a “Best Practice” and promptedthe formation of the Veterans Affairs Alternative and Complementary Medicine Field Advisory Committee in Washington D.C.
Integrative Health Benefits People with Disabilities
For people with disabilities, the integrative concept is an important step forward. For those of us living with the daily challenges of a physical, mental or emotional disability, it represents real change that can result in a better quality of life. As we are well aware, medical technology has its limits.
Dr. Overall confirms, “I learned through my training in internal medicine that medical technology is not enough.” Integrative Health is the “something more” that can make a difference.
What is not known at this point is how soon our health care system as a whole will embrace (and be willing to pay for) integrative health care that includes therapies for the spiritual and emotional as well as the physical being. With the initial acceptance of the Veterans Administration and the visionary leadership of professionals like Dr. James C. Overall, we can hope it’s not too long.
Check out more information about Veterans and the Integrative Health Network.
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See Military Veterans Rebuild Bodies at the Intrepid Rehabilitation Center for more information about more rehab services for disabled veterans.
Physicians discover Agent Orange exposure increases cancer risks among Vietnam vets. Learn more in Vietnam Vets Exposed to Agent Orange at Increased Risk for Prostate Cancer.
