Alternative medicine: possible fit for Alaskans and Alaska natives.

• Author: Bohi, Heidi
• Position: HEALTH & MEDICINE

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When the post-surgery knee pain still wasn't getting any better and the only thing the drugs were doing was to make her feel dull and fuzzy headed, Denise Gallup followed her daughter's recommendation and scheduled an appointment with an acupuncturist. Self-admittedly, she says, she's a bit cynical about most things. At the same time, she says, "I was willing to try anything new."

After the second weekly visit, the pain was gone and so was the inflammation. What's more, she says, is that she discovered information she never knew about her body and overall health. Rosemary Cody, the acupuncturist, took a holistic approach to Gallup and spent time really talking with her about her health, her history and her lifestyle. Instead of telling her what she should or shouldn't do, Gallup says, Cody asked questions.

Although this was the first time Gallup sought out unconventional--or alternative--medical treatments, she was so appreciative of this more personal approach to wellness that when she later tweaked her shoulder on a hike, this time she made an appointment for Rolfing, an integrative and holistic system of therapeutic bodywork that loosens up and reorganizes the soft tissue of the body. Since then, she has also become a patient of Dr. Michael Fischer, a conventionally trained family physician who complements his approach with functional medicine, which is personalized medicine that deals with primary prevention and underlying causes for serious chronic disease instead of symptoms.

LET'S TALK

Instead of immediately examining her, writing a prescription, then taking her money, Gallup says he talked with her for an hour about everything from her family and the medical history of the family, to relationships and other emotional issues. It is this emphasis on the whole person, prevention, the body's ability to heal itself and empowering patients to be healthy by learning about their bodies and playing a participating role in their healing processes that is at the core of this school of thought, both conventional and alternative practitioners agree.

"Successful medicine is based on asking the right questions no matter who you are or where you are," Dr. Jason Harmon, a naturopathic doctor (ND) and owner of Avante Medical Center, an Anchorage clinic specializing in integrative and progressive medical services, says. "If you don't have time to ask the right questions you either get lucky or you only treat the symptoms or part...