Recognizing that healing involves the mind, body and spirit; Backus Hospital has created an integrative healthcare program offering services and education to meet the growing interest in therapies that complement and enhance the medical care we currently provide.
Integrating Ancient Wisdom with High-Tech Medicine
Recent surveys show that more than half of all Americans use some form of complementary or alternative therapy to enhance their healing or maintain their health.
Research has shown that relaxation techniques such as Massage Therapy, Therapeutic Touch, Reflexology and Reiki help to decrease anxiety, strengthen the immune system, diminish pain and accelerate healing.
While we often focus on the physical aspects of healing, we are learning that healing incorporates the mind, body and spirit. When mind-body techniques are used, benefits are often experienced on all three levels and there is often a greater sense of participating in the healing process.
Integrative Medicine Services
Integrative medicine can maximize the body's potential for selfing healing. Benefits of our services are a general sense of well-being, better sleep quality, increased range of motion, improved digestion, pain relief and relaxation. We are committed to providing the most appropriate and effective treatments for every person.
Integrative Medicine offers therapies and classes designed especially for the needs of cancer patients and their families.
Massage and energy therapies are offered through brief 'comfort care' sessions at the bedside on all units; free to patients.
Consider our services for:
- Anxiety and depression
- Arthritis
- Chemotherapy and radiation support
- Immune system support
- Insomnia
- Pain Management
- Stress Reduction
- Surgery preparations and recovery
Services offered:
Energy Therapy
Energy practices work to enhance the body’s own ability to bring its energy to balance, restoring a sense and well-being. These gentle touch techniques provide stress reduction and relaxation, as well as promote healing. The techniques being used are Healing Touch, Reiki and Therapeutic Touch.
Reflexology
An ancient therapeutic practice of applying pressure and gentle stimulation to sensor reflexes on the feet and/or hands. Stimulating these reflex points helps the body promote healing, reduce stress, open meridians, and release and eliminate toxins from the body. All practitioners are certified reflexologists.
Therapeutic Massage
Provides support to patients to assist in recovery, relaxation, and stress management. A hands-on manipulation of soft tissue which can include energy work, movement therapy, craniosacral and myofascial techniques. Massage facilitates a slowing down and quieting of the mind and body. It also helps relieve stress and pain. All practitioners are licensed massage therapists.
Therapeutic Pet Program
Interaction with pets promotes many positive and beneficial health effects. Pet visits promote calmness, provide a welcome distraction from discomfort and isolation, may lower blood pressure and heart rate. Pet teams visit patients on designated hospital units monthly and are certified through a recognized therapeutic program.
Yoga and Cancer
Improves quality of life in both newly diagnosed and long-term cancer survivors by reducing stress, fatigue and improving sleep and mood.
Yoga is an ancient practice that combines the breath with stretching, strengthening, and relaxation/meditation. Yoga cultivates a calm mind, stimulates organ function and strengthens bones and muscles.
- Learn gentle progressions of movement to stretch and strengthen
- Release stress and tension
- Improve clarity, awareness and focus
- Use breathing practices to improve overall energy