August, 2012

Month: August 2012

29
Aug
2012

Exploring Complementary & Alternative Therapies

There are many types of alternative therapies available that support natural self-healing and encourage sense of overall well-being. Alternative therapies can reduce stress, pain and fatigue. Where does one begin? Do your research and decide what is important to you when considering CAM.

The National Center for Complementary & Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) is a great starting point to gather basic, reliable information. The following fact sheets were particularly helpful:

What is Complementary or Alternative Medicine (CAM)?
CAM is defined as a group of diverse medical and health care systems, practices, and products that are not generally considered part of conventional medicine or standard care. Standard care is what medical doctors, doctors of osteopathy and allied health professionals, such as registered nurses and physical therapists, practice. Examples of CAM therapies include acupuncture, chiropractic, meditation and yoga.

Alternative medicine means treatments that you use in place of standard ones.

Complementary medicine includes nonstandard treatments that you use together with standard ones.

Are You Considering Using CAM?

Tell Your Health Care Provider About Your Use of Complementary Health Practices
Selecting A CAM Practitioner

For Additional Information:

Massachusetts Board of Registration in Medicine Acupuncture Unit
Massachusetts Board of Registrations of Chiropractors
American Message Therapy Association
American Music Therapy Association, Inc

Check out our website at Disabilityinfo.org, to search for various alternative therapies.

Alternative Medicine, Acupuncture, Holistic Health, Music therapy, and Art therapy.

22
Aug
2012

Personal Story of Road to Alternative Healing

categories: Health

I again found myself sitting opposite Dr. Maria Broderick in her offices in West Concord. The tone and texture of the space was soothing. The light from the sun was again beautifully illuminating the room. Today I wanted to know why.

Why have a practice that was focused on children and adults with disabilities? That seems so specific to me. I figured there might be an interesting reason why Dr. Broderick, has dedicated her life to this meaningful work. So, I asked her to share her story. It began with her childhood, before she was a doctor and simply known as Maria.

Personal story offers insight

When Maria was six years old she had appendicitis and spent time in the hospital. While in the hospital, she developed pneumonia and spent a longer than usual time there. Thinking this was a horrible experience, I asked Maria if she remembered being alone all that time she was in the hospital. Did she remember being lonely?

I was quite surprised when she told me she did not remember being alone or lonely. She remembered being one of many children in one large room. Not only were there some really sick children in the room, there were also children to play with once Maria felt well enough to play.

Listening makes a difference

There was one child that has never left Maria’s mind. He was an older child, maybe 13 years old. He had some sort of disability that required the use of a wheelchair. Maria remembered lying in bed in the evening when everyone else in the room was asleep and listening to this 13 year old young man talk to one nurse.

“He would ask her what kind of life could he could possibly have when he grew up. I do not remember what the nurse said, but I remember watching her listen to him. She really listened. How she spoke to him…her tone and manner…it really helped him. Even at six years old, I knew that was what I wanted to do for everyone.”

Six year old Maria dreamed a dream where all children were listened to in such a way that, regardless of their condition or station in life, they would find a way to their best selves. And now, Dr. Broderick does just that through her work in integrative health care, helping families with members on the autism spectrum.

16
Aug
2012

Wellness Center offers Alternative Healing to People with Disabilities

categories: Education, Health

I sat on the couch opposite Dr. Maria Broderick in her new offices. The red and brown earth tones in the room released my concerns of the day. The room glowed in the hue of the light of the setting sun. It was an appropriate setting to discuss Dr. Broderick’s approach to health and healing, in which she adds alternative therapies to more traditional ones.

I was interested in Dr. Broderick’s work at the Reservoir Family Wellness Center. Dr. Broderick directs the art of acupuncture and herbal medicine for families. She focuses especially on families and their children with disabilities.

An integrative approach that works

From the beginning of a child’s life, if that child is born with a disability, parents often receive mixed messages. Dr. Broderick has dedicated her life to helping these families and children by using an integrative approach to caring.

Dr. Broderick specializes in working with children on the autism spectrum and has been successful in addressing a common issue with these children: sensory impairment. One of the ways she treats sensory impairment is through a method called Qigong.

Qigong offers a new method of healing

Years of research show that Qigong Sensory Training can reduce sensory impairment. It can also improve adaptive behaviors in children. Dr. Broderick explains.

“Through Qigong Sensory Training, parents can realize the opportunity to direct their love for their children and their desire for closeness into an intervention that requires only their hands, their heart, their persistence and a few simple instructions to deliver.”

Very simply, qigong provides a way of touching that is not corrective or punitive. Caregiver and child do specific exercises together as a way to expend energy, bond more deeply and grow beyond the developmental delay. This method of healing helps parents learn how they can contribute, through their healing touch, to the health of their child.

Making life more joyful

“My purpose in life is to help anyone whose life is touched by autism and special needs…I want to help find the latest and greatest information available. There are so many ways to save time, money and frustration while making life easier, better and more joyful.”

Dr. Broderick is someone you can count on to help you to support the best vision of the healthy development of our children; all of our children.

01
Aug
2012

Alternative Healing Provides Support for All

categories: Education, Health

This month I am pleased to introduce a friend and colleague, Kathy Kopitsky, Director of Adult Foster Care and Shared Living, who is returning as a guest blogger. While Kathy is a professional in the field of disabilities, this month she shares her personal experience in becoming aware of the value of alternative healing.

Facing a life challenge

My Neurologist finished reading the test results, took off his glasses, looked at me and shrugged, “There is nothing more I can do for you.”

“Really?” Tears were welling in my eyes.

I had been living with a left facial palsy as the result of a viral infection for months. It seemed that everything from my speech to my eating was affected. I wanted this to go away. I had plans for my life, my career. Plans that did not include smiling like Shrek; plans that did not include spitting while I sang in the choir on Sunday morning; plans that had no room for facial palsy.

He put his glasses on and reread part of the report. He looked at me over his glasses and said, “Perhaps you could try acupuncture.”

Really?!

Acupuncture as an option

I was totally skeptical. I did not know much about acupuncture as a method of healing. And I had no idea if it could be of use to me. Who would willingly want needles inserted into their body?

After weeks of researching, I decided to visit with a practitioner who was opening a new office near my work place. I set up an appointment after work so that I could stop on my way home.

I chose the Reservoir Family Wellness clinic in West Concord. I made this choice because of the founder of the clinic, Dr. Maria Broderick. According to their website, Dr. Broderick could help me with the pain associated with my facial palsy.

Alternative therapies for people with disabilities

I was also interested to read about how Dr. Broderick has dedicated her practice and her life to working with families, specializing in children with developmental delays including autism. I was not sure what exactly that could mean. However, I have spent my life working in the human services field and wanted to support someone else who did too.
In the waiting room of Dr. Broderick’s new office, among other books and magazines on healing, was a copy of Autism Advocate with an article written by Dr. Broderick. I was warmly welcomed and my treatments began.

In the 6 months of my own treatment —which has gone well— I have had a chance to speak to Dr. Broderick about her work with families dealing with autism.

I want to share what I found with you, dear reader. In the coming weeks I will do just that.