WELL AHEAD
Integrative medicine find its way to the mainstream
The needles made taking a selfie impossible. I had several in my ear, on my face, head, wrists, and ankles. I felt like Pinhead on holiday, which made me want to take a photo of how I looked and share it on social media. But I also didn’t want to risk an accident, nor did I want to upset whatever invisible work was ongoing. So when the doctor shut the curtain, I dutifully kept my arms down and closed my eyes. 45 minutes later, I woke up and felt refreshed—and relieved that I didn’t roll over.
I’d gone to Centro Holistico trying to find a way to help the anxiety and bouts of depression that were affecting my sleep, which was already terrible to begin with thanks to a co-sleeping baby who still wakes at midnight to nurse, and an unhealthy addiction to my smartphone and its glowing blue light. After a quick check of my blood and an intensive consultation with the center’s Medical Director, Dr. Candy Drilon-Dalman, I was prescribed weekly acupuncture, bi-monthly colon cleanses and immunity booster IV drips. Oh, and I was told to eat more vegetables and get off the couch. “Just like any other disease entity, anxiety and depression is brought about by an imbalance in the body,” says Dr. Drilon-Dalman. “Acupuncture helps bring back the balance of Qi, and helps with the symptoms. Ideally it is done once a week.” Qi is, according to Traditional Chinese Medicine, the “energy” in the body. Disruptions, imbalances and blockages cause illnesses or diseases to develop. According to Dr. Drilon-Dalman, treatments such as acupuncture, moxibustion and electrical stimulation machines all work to bring back the normal flow—along with the help of proper lifestyle interventions such as diet and exercise.
While I skipped the coffee enema (thanks, birthing process), I religiously attended all the others, even found myself looking forward to them—despite a fear of needles. After a month I found myself sleeping better and feeling less anxious. Clearly, there wasn’t one single solution to my problems; rather, it took a lifestyle shift and a proactive, mindful mindset to get better. To be clear, I was never clinically diagnosed with a mental issue, but I did have enough prolonged episodes to warrant notice.
All of the doctors in Centro Holistico are medical doctors who have opted for additional training in healing modalities such as the acupuncture. So when it comes to things such as mental issues, they offer treatments that complement Western Medical concepts. “When we deal with mood and other psych disorders, we usually do a thorough consultation in order for us to know the other imbalances in the patient’s body, such as improper diet and detoxification, gut issues, etc.,” says Dr. Drilon Dalman.
“As doctors, we are able to create more holistic programs for patients. We are able to give patients a choice of what to do when it comes to their health. Eastern/alternative and complementary medicine play as big a role as Western medicine (sometimes even bigger) when it comes to treating a person’s condition. Integrative Medicine allows us to look at the patient as a whole, and not just at the disease. As Functional and Integrative medicine doctors, we are able to determine which path a patient should take when managing their disease, and guide them to whichever direction they decide to take. Western medicine is good when it comes to acute conditions, as well as in controlling symptoms. In what we do, our goal is not only to control the symptoms, but to look for the cause of those symptoms and correct it.”
Centro Holistico in Alabang is a small yet well-appointed space. They managed to fit a consultation room, two restrooms that also serve as colon cleansing spaces, several beds and overstuffed chairs for a range of alternative medical practices, including acupuncture, cupping therapy and reiki healing. The patients are varied, from the elderly to the severely sick, children and otherwise healthy-looking adults and adolescents.
Dr. Drilon-Dalman and her partners opened both the Alabang and Pasig branches to “make it more convenient for people to access these services that we think are essential to improve overall well-being.” The popularity of alternative medicine and other wellness theories have increased in the past decade, and more people are aware of crystals, smudging incense and other forms of alternative healing. At Centro Holistico, the services on the menu go beyond trends and hashtags. “The treatments that we chose to make available in the clinic are those that are proven safe and effective,” says Dr. Drilon-Dalman. “Before adding them to the roster of treatments, we do proper research and test these treatments as well.”
I’ve had many good experiences with alternative healing. While things such as Theta Healing and acupuncture have helped, I cannot commit to crystals and sound bowls just yet. I suppose you pick what works for you, what helps. It could be all in our head, or it could be really greater things, higher forms of beings at work. Perhaps what really counts is to act on knowing more about oneself and one’s body, understanding it better and to ask for and accept help. And yes, go ahead and take a selfie if you want.