My path to becoming an empowered patient has led me on a journey across the country visiting every kind of doctor you can think of! In my quest for crazy sexy health, I’ve discovered some MD jewels whom I’d like to introduce to you. You’ve probably heard about these folks because their knowledge is red hot, and I know my readers are serious health detectives, but just in case, here are some of my favorite white-coats.
Dean Ornish, M.D. is the founder and director of the Preventative Medicine Research Institute (PMRI) in Sausalito, California. His clinical research has demonstrated that comprehensive lifestyle changes may begin to reverse even severe coronary heart disease, without drugs or surgery. Further research has shown this to be true for a variety of diseases. Dr. Ornish’s Spectrum Program focuses on managing your diet, stress management, fitness and loving relationships. To learn more about how this program can put you on a path toward healing and wellness, read his book, “The Spectrum.”
Mark Hyman, M.D. is founder and medical director of The UltraWellness Center in Lenox, Massachusetts. He’s dedicated to a functional medicine approach (mentored by Jeffrey Bland, Ph.D.) to health, which addresses the root causes of disease. Being a board advisor for Mehmet Oz’s HealthCorps initiative and helping to rebuild Haiti’s health care system following the earthquake are two of Dr. Hyman’s countless contributions to public health. His book,“The Blood Sugar Solution,” explains his diet and lifestyle strategy for correcting insulin imbalance and improving overall health.
Neal Barnard, M.D. is the founder and president of the Physician’s Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM), a powerhouse of advocacy and education for preventative medicine and healthy vegan living. Dr. Barnard’s clinical research on the plant-based diet and its affect on health challenges such as diabetes and cancer is changing the way Americans view their dinner plates in relation to their medical charts. To learn more about his research, check out “Dr. Neal Barnard’s Program for Reversing Diabetes: The Scientifically Proven System for Reversing Diabetes Without Drugs.”
Keith Block, M.D. is the co-founder and medical director of the Block Center for integrative cancer treatment in Evanston, Illinois. Dr. Block treats the whole patient by combining cutting-edge conventional treatment with individualized and scientifically based complementary and nutraceutical therapies. His approach empowers individuals by putting many integral aspects of treatment, such as optimal nutrition and emotional well-being, back into their hands. Find out more about Dr. Block’s approach in his book, “Life Over Cancer.”
Richard Ash, M.D. is an internal medicine specialist who is a leader in the field of environmental medicine. He is the founder of The Ash Center for Comprehensive Medicine in NYC, which specializes in treating joint pain, allergies and heart issues. Dr. Ash strives to treat the whole person, not just symptoms, thereby getting at the exact cause of each complaint. He can be heard every Sunday on his radio program, “Sick & Tired of being Sick & Tired.”
Gabriel Cousens, M.D. is the founder and director of The Tree of Life Rejuvenation Centerin Patagonia, Arizona. Dr. Cousens promotes a raw vegan diet for optimal health and happiness. One of the most powerful illustrations of Dr. Cousen’s approach to healing, which addresses spiritual, emotional, physical and mental health, is through his 21-day program for reversing diabetes. You can read about this cutting-edge approach to diabetes treatment in his book, “There is a Cure for Diabetes.”
Kenneth Bock, M.D. co-founded the Rhinebeck Health Center and the Center for Progressive Medicine in Albany, New York. Dr. Bock has combined alternative and conventional medicine in his practice over the past 25 years. Most recently, he has focused on children with autism spectrum disorders and ADD/ADHD. His treatment approach, which includes diet modification, detoxification and nutritional supplementation combined with educational and behavioral interventions, has shown significant improvement in his patients. His book, “Healing the New Childhood Epidemics: Autism, ADHD, Asthma and Allergies,” will give you an in-depth look at this innovative approach.
Alejandro Junger, M.D. was drawn to create a detoxification and cleansing program after he experienced the patient side of the modern medical system. This experience led him to seek out alternative relief for his physical and emotional health challenges. Dr. Junger’s philosophy is that the majority of common ailments are the result of toxic buildup in the body. Learn about Dr. Junger’s approach to cleansing and rebuilding the body in his book, “Clean.”
Frank Lipman, M.D. is the founder and director of the Eleven Eleven Wellness Center. Dr. Lipman has combined the positive aspects of his western training with eastern practices, such as acupuncture, meditation, yoga and herbal medicine. He believes that the body has the innate capacity to heal itself and that we need to treat the underlying cause of disease and create balance, rather than treating symptoms and only providing short-term relief. He follows a functional medicine approach and was also mentored by Jeffrey Bland, Ph.D. Dr. Lipman’s system for healing and replenishing your mind and body is in his latest book,“Revive.”
Joel Furhman, M.D. is a board–certified family physician who specializes in preventing and reversing disease through nutritional and natural methods. He is the founder of a high nutrient eating style and a pioneer in the growing field of nutritional medicine. In Dr. Fuhrman’s 2-book set, “Eat For Health,” he lays out his nutritional approach to the prevention and management of chronic disease. Jeffrey Bland, Ph.D. is an internationally recognized leader in nutritional medicine. He has served as the chief science officer of Metagenics since 2000, and the president of Metaproteomics, a nutrigenomic research and development company. He also co-founded theInstitute for Functional Medicine (simultaneously creating the concept) to combine the progress in basic medical sciences with clinical medicine and address the growing problems associated with chronic disease. This approach views nutrition, lifestyle, exercise, environment, structural, cognitive, emotional and pharmaceutical therapies (tailored to the individual needs of the patient) as the tools for disease prevention and management.
David Rosenthal, M.D. is the medical director at the Leonard P. Zakim Center for Integrative Therapies. Under Dr. Rosenthal’s direction, the center offers integrated therapies to help alleviate many of the symptoms associated with cancer and its treatment. These interventions include acupuncture, massage therapy, Reiki, meditation, expressive arts, music therapy, nutrition counseling and Qi Gong (Chinese mind-body exercises). The peer-reviewed, evidence-based research performed at the center is helping to build knowledge of the effectiveness of these integrated treatments.
Donald I. Abrams, M.D. provides integrative oncology consultations for people living with and beyond cancer at the UCSF Osher Center for Integrative Medicine. He is also a professor of clinical medicine at the University of California, chief of hematology/oncology at San Francisco General Hospital, and president of the Society for Integrative Oncology. Dr. Abrams has a special interest in botany, which has led him to conduct clinical trials in integrative oncology particularly investigating medicinal mushrooms, traditional Chinese medicine interventions and massage.
Hope you’ll check out these kick-ass integrative MDs. Their wisdom has enriched my life and helped me manage my own inner and outer challenges.
Peace & kind white coats, For more by Kris Carr see her Crazy Sexy Guest Editor pieces here!
