Our practice is founded on the principle that all human beings have a mind, body, and spirit, and that the best treatment of patients is based in this understanding. Dr. David and Suneya Hogarty have their roots in osteopathic medicine which emphasizes looking at the whole as well as the individual parts. More recently this philosophy has been described as integrative. The term integrative means that no part of a person is separate from the rest, and that even a disease that has a strong physical component also affects the mental/emotional and spiritual components. This view differs from the more traditional modern medical view, which says that some problems are physical, some mental, and does not even acknowledge the spiritual dimension of suffering.
Integrative also implies that we use what is best from both modern medicine and more ancient traditions. This means that we use the best available technology to aid in the diagnosis and treatment and disease, while never forgetting that it is most important to take time to listen to patients, and to put hands on. Another way of saying this is that we have a high tech, high touch approach to medicine.
So while we use modern medicines, we also use our hands to treat patients (this is called osteopathic manipulation, or OMT for short). We also use the wisdom of Chinese medicine through the use of acupuncture, herbal medicine, and Qi gong (a type of meditative exercise). Dr. Suneya is also developing expertise in using the healing power of food in helping restore health. At the end of the day, we are interested in using tools from many traditions as long as they work, but always doing so with a focus on the whole patient.
