Integrative Medicine: Dean Ornish Speaks Out

Last week I attended the Institute of Medicine’s Summit on Integrative Medicine, sponsored by The Bravewell Collaborative. While I found many speakers at the conference extremely exciting, it was marrying science and practice to focus on PREVENTION, in the powerful keynote address of Dr. Dean Ornish that was the highlight for me. rnAlmost everyone interested in health has heard of Ornish. He is a “voice” here on intent.com. For over 30 years, he has been extolling the virtues lifestyle changes, including diet, for healing individuals who are sick, obese and have heart disease. He is the author of six best-selling books. rnOrnish’s is founder of the Preventive Medicine Research Institute in California. His drugless and surgery-free program is now covered by Medicare and Highmark and available in hospitals across the country, where thousands of people are using it preventively. Why? Because his studies show that with proper lifestyle changes, prostate, breast and other cancers are not only reversible, but preventable, as well. Furthermore, by changing what we eat, how we deal with stress, and how we spend our time, we can “turn on” disease-preventing genes and “turn off” genes that promote cancer and heart disease! rnSo what do we need to do to regain our health and stay well? Here is Ornish’s plan in a nutshell:

• Improve Nutrition – Eat mostly plants: predominantly fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, soy products, nonfat dairy, and egg whites in their natural forms, as well as some omega 3 fats. Many foods have better anti-inflammatory properties than drugs! Did you know that pomegranate juice can reverse heart disease, and that turmeric when combined with black pepper reduces Alzheimer’s by increasing the bioavailability of the anti-inflammatory ingredient curcumin over 2000%!
• Avoid & Manage Stress – Begin a daily practice of stretching, meditation, deep breathing, progressive relaxation, and imagery. Develop a routine of listening to and watching videos for guided meditation and yoga Did you know that chronic stress decreases brain volume, and that meditation enhances immune function?
• Add Exercise – Alternate aerobic exercise with strength training. Work with a trainer to find the program that is best for you, and change the Frequency, Intensity, Time and Type (The FITT principle) as you change. Did you know that exercise increases brain volume?
• Include Psycho-social Support – Connect and communicate with those who understand, listen to and have time to speak with you. Loneliness is one of the major triggers for illness, while intimacy promotes healing. With nurturing relationships, you'll feel better and live longer regardless of your health issues. Did you know that support groups double the life expectancy of some women with breast cancer?

Integrative medicine is transformational! The Ornish program works and is easier to comply with than medication because it changes so many variables at once, and you feel better quickly. Run out and buy Ornish’s book The Spectrum: A Scientifically Proven Program to Feel Better, Live Longer, Lose Weight, and Gain Health! rnHow far we have come in our understanding of how to integrate traditional and complementary medicine, and to make the patient, not his/her disease, the focus of attention. Ornish truly demonstrates the difference between Illness and WEllness. It’s the I and the WE! rnTo listen to the whole talk and other speakers, as well. go to http://www.imsummitwebcast.org/