Specialty List

Here is a list of member specialties. If you want to find a practitioner for one of these specialties, go to the "Find a Practitioner" page.

Acupressure	Acupressure is a non-invasive alternative to acupuncture. As the name implies, it involves pressure applied to points, which affects the body very similarly to acupuncture. Its advantages over acupuncture include allowing a patient to administer his/her own treatments once instructed on the technique, and being easier to administer to children and "needle-phobic" people. -Tracy Darling, M.D.
Acupuncture	Acupuncture is an ancient part of Traditional Chinese Medicine (which now has Japanese, European and Korean variations) that modulates energy flow (Qi) through specific points for healing the one system of body, mind and spirit. -Jen Rabenhorst, M.D.
acupuncture
Allergy	Allergy: A condition of extreme sensitivity to a single substance, or combination of substances either swallowed, inhaled, or exposed to the skin and which usually results in a cytokine, histamine or antibody reaction in an individual, which may be harmless or beneficial to the majority of other individuals. Symptoms can either be acute (eg, hives, or anaphylaxis reaction) or chronic (eg, any number of deseiase manifestations, physical or emotional), or hidden (eg, mild, moderate, or extreme fatigue after acute and/or chronic symptoms opf the allergies have disappeared). It has been estimated that 60-80% of the symptoms seen by family and general practitioners may be allergy-related. Ann McCombs, D.O. -See NAET
Alternative Medicine	Alternative Medicine is the specialty practiced by a wide variety of healthcare providers, who despite their diverse professional backgrounds, all agree, in principle, that the human body has an intrinsic ability to heal itself and remain disease-free when certain non-traditional (by US standards) modalities are employed. -Herb Smyczek, MD
Anti-Aging
Arthritis	Arthritis is a disease that causes pain and loss of movement of the joints. The word arthritis literally means joint inflammation (arth=joint, ritis=inflammation), and refers to more than 100 different diseases. It affects the movements you rely on for everyday activities. Arthritis is usually chronic. This means that it can last on and off for a lifetime. There are over 100 kinds of arthritis that can affect many different areas of the body. In addition to the joints, some forms of arthritis are associated with diseases of other tissues and organs in the body. People of all ages, including children and young adults, can develop arthritis. Dr. Jim Smith, D.O.
Auriculotherapy	"Auriculotherapy is a health care procedure in which stimulation of the auricle of the external ear is utilized to alleviate health conditions in other parts of the body. While originally based upon the ancient Chinese practices of acupuncture, the somatotopic correspondence of specific parts of the body to specific parts of the ear was first developed in France. It is this integrated system of Chinese and Western practices of auricular acupuncture which is presented." from auriculotherapy.com submitted by Dr. Jonathan Collin of the Townsend Letter
Autism
Auto-immune Diseases
Bariatrics	This refers to the specialty of weight control. See "weight control"
BHRT
Bio-Identical Hormonal Therapy	Bio-identical hormone therapy--replacing deficient hormones by methods which include an exact replica of the natural molecule that is in decline. This is opposed to the standard hormone replacement with unnatural molecules and their side effects. Drug companies can patent a molecule that they invent and profit handsomely from this. Natural molecules are not patentable, therefore not of significant financial interest. -Charles Turner, M.D.
Bio-Oxidative Therapies	Bio-Oxidative Medicine: The use of any therapy that encourages oxidative destruction of primitive organisms and cells, but also increases tissue oxygenation, thus increasing cellular efficiency. These include: Intravenous Hydrogen Peroxide Intravenous Ozone Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Ultraviolet Blood Irradiation Intravenous Vitamin C (The primary methods I use are IV Vitamin C and Hyperbaric Oxygen)-John Pittman, MD
Biological Dentist
Botanical Med
Cancer Care
Candidiasis	Yeast, including the organism Candida albicans, live in healthy bodies, on skin and mucus membranes, including the digestive tract. In small amounts, their presence is normal and causes no harm. However, when the immune system deteriorates, the hormonal balance is altered, or when the normal intestinal balance is affected, yeast can grow in number, a condition called "yeast overgrowth", "Candidiasis", or "Intestinal Dysbiosis". Candida is called an “opportunistic” pathogen because it only causes disease when it has the opportunity due to these imbalances. -Robban Sica, M.D.
Chelation Therapy	Chemically chelation is a process of binding metals. Medically chelation, also known as chelation therapy, involves administering substances which bind and remove metals notorious in contributing to bodily harm, such as lead, mercury, and arsenic. Chelation is also used to reduce the toxic burden caused by excessive build up of metals which are otherwise essential for life, such as calcium and iron. Metal toxicity impairs function, resistance, repair and performance. It is implicated in the development and progression of many different symptoms and diseases. Various substances are used therapeutically to selectively target specific metal toxicity and related conditions. Chelation may be performed therapeutically with both man-made and naturally occurring substances. Pharmaceutical substances used to bind metals include EDTA, DMPS, DMSA, and penicillamine. Naturally occurring substances used to bind metals include cilantro, garlic, zeolite, malic acid, and vitamin C. Martin Dayton M.D.
Chemical Sensitivity	We live in an industrial nation that brings progress and wealth, but a consequence of our prosparity is industrial waste and a plethora of chemicals presenting a challenge to the health of many patients. From this segment of our society some are disabled, partly or completely, due to underlying extemeating problems such as long standing allergy and subsequant exposure to heavy metals, pesticide residues, fertilizers, etc. There is a solution to every problem, even Multiple Chemical Sensitivities. -Robert Battle, M.D.
Chronic Fatigue
Colon Hydrotherapy	Colon hydrotherapy, also known as colonic irrigation, is a procedure that involves the introduction of discrete amounts of warm water into the colon using a medically approved colon hydrotherapy device with a sanitary, disposable speculum and tubing. Patients undergo a series of 8 to 12 forty-five minute procedures, the purpose being to both remove impacted stool, mucus, infections, and dietary residue that are adhered to the colon wall as well as to exercise the muscles in the colon wall so as to improve elimination. -John Pittman, MD
Complimentary Medicine	This discribes therapies, often holistic techniques that are meant to enhance or be used in conjunction with mainstream medicine. Many of these specialties are under this category.
Degenerative Diseases
Detox Therapies
Diabetes
Energy Medicine
Environmental Medicine
Ext. Counter Pulsation
Fibromyalgia
Food Allergies	see allergy, gastrointestinal problems, NAET or Sensitivity Reduction Technique
Gastrointestinal Problems
Glutathione infusions
Heavy Metal Toxicology	see Chelation Therapy
Homeopathy
Hydrogen Peroxide
Hyperbaric Oxygen
Hypoglycemia
Hypothyroidism	The thyroid gland, a small butterfly shaped gland at the base of the neck, produces thyroid hormone, which control the metabolic rate. The metabolic rate is the rate which the body turns food into energy. It acts like the "thermostat" of the body, regulating temperature as well. If not enough thyroid hormone is produced or it if is not utilized properly, energy and heat production is lowered, affecting every cell in the body. Therefore, symptoms of low thyroid (hypothyroidism) are many and variable, including cold intolerance, cold hands and feet, fatigue, muscle weakness, constipation, weight gain (or loss), lowered immunity (frequent infections), dry skin, "chicken skin", hair loss, headaches, and many others. Conventional doctors use blood tests to diagnose hypothyroidism, however, these tests can miss 30 to 40 % of patients with clinical symptoms of low thyroid function. Clinical hypothyroidism is a diagnosis made by your hypo-metabolic symptoms and basal temperature. -Robban Sica, M.D.
Integrative Medicine	My specialty is "comprehensive integrative medicine," although, in the past, I have been a board certified in family practice. Currently, I am a licensed osteopathic and homeopathic physician in Nevada. My approach to treatment of patients is to provide the body with what it needs to bring about its own healing. At the New Hope Medical Clinic, we are striving to bring natural treatments to the practice for the benefit of our patients, which include: intravenous chelating agents, nutrition, and amino acids, as well as homeopathy, hormones, and allergy desensitization. We also use innovative treatments and diagnostics, some with research protocols, for the benefit of our patients, which include: biofeedback, ionized oxygen, food allergy testing, and stem cell therapy. Dan Royal, D.O.
Internal Medicine
IV Therapy
Laser	Laser is the use of light. In medicine, low-level lasers are used to reduce inflammation, promote circulation and facilitate healing. Various other lasers are used to treat acne, varicose veins, wrinkles, skin lesions, and to destroy other abnormal growths in the body. L Terry Chappell, M.D.
Light Beam Therapy
Longevity/Anti-Aging	see Anti-Aging
Metal Toxicology
NAET	NAET is a treatment involving muscle testing and tapping on acupuncture points to relieve allergies. SRT (Symptom Reduction Technique) combines NAET with several other techniques to treat allergies and sensitivities. L Terry Chappell, M.D.
Naturopathic Medicine	Naturopathic medicine is the art and science of using natural medicines such as botanicals, homeopathics, vitamins and minerals and diet, water, manipulation and related means to treat and prevent disease. Naturopathic physicans have attend 4 years fulltime at a CNME (Council on Naturopathic Medical Education-US Dept of Education-approved program) after their undergraduate premedical education. They must also successful pass NPLEX (Naturopathic Physicans Licensing Examinations) plus the state or province examinations before being allowed to practice naturopathic medicine. -Paul Richard Saunders, PhD, ND, DHANP
Neural Therapy	Neural therapy, a treatment system for chronic pain and illness, is based on identification and correction of imbalances in the autonomic nervous system (ANS). The ANS is a part of the nervous system that brings information from pain sensitive nerve endings (inside and outside the body) to “relay stations” called ganglia. The ganglia are in close contact with the spinal cord and they summate input from multiple sites and transmit the pain message to the spinal cord and the brain. Neural therapy attempts to interrupt the cycle of ANS over-activation. The practitioner takes a careful history, focussing on the temporal association of events and uses kinesiology to identify the focus. The most common foci are tonsils, tonsillar scars, scars in general, and teeth. The treatment involves injection of local anesthetics into autonomic ganglia, peripheral nerves, scars, glands, and trigger points. These carefully placed injections correct the nervous system balance, in part by introducing energy into injured tissues whose voltage is reduced. As the cells are recharged, they begin to function normally again. The injection SWITCHES OFF the interference field and SWITCHES ON self healing. The therapeutic effect from an injection may be apparent immediately or within 24 hours. There are few side effects to neural therapy. -Robban Sica, M.D.
Nutritional Therapy
Oncology
Pain Management	There are many modalities that Alternative practitioners utilize in managing pain conditions. Most practitioners have expertise in some of these areas and may refer to others or work in Pain Clinics that have people from varied backgrounds. The approaches to pain encompass far more than prescription anti-inflammatories and narcotics by the Alternative Practitioner. General approaches include *The search for underlying Nutritional Deficiencies, Allergies, Infections, and Toxins. *Supplementation with oral or IV Nutritionals, Herbals, Homeopathics, and Dietary counseling.*Manual Therapies which may include Massage, Physical therapy, Chiropractic, and Osteopathic, and Cranio-Sacral Treatments.*Movement therapies which include Yoga, Feldenkreis, Tai Chi and Qigong.*Energy therapies with Reiki, Accupuncture, Magnetics, Biofeedback, EDS, and QXCI.*Injection therapies of joints, trigger points, nerve blocks, tendons, etc. -Diane Culik, M.D.
Prolotherapy	Prolotherapy or Regenerative Injection Therapy utilizes the injection of sclerosing solutions to stimulate the formation of fibrous connective tissue.Prolotherapy restores impaired elasticity and the tensile strength of connective tissue in posttraumatic or degenerative conditions. Chronic sprains, and strains, overuse injuries, and repetitive motion disorders may represent a failure of the normal connective tissue repair process.Prolotherapy stimulates an inflammatory mediated response to trigger production of fibroblasts, which in turn will trigger the synthesis of procollagen-containing matrix. Collagen eventually converts from type I to type II and aligns with the exixting connective tissue. The common areas of needle injection for prolotherapy is at the fibroosseous junction or at the fibromuscular junction. -Jack Hinkle, D.O.
Psychiatry
QXCI	Quantum Xyrhoid Consciousness Interface: QXCI is an Energy Frequency machine that detects and sends energy frequencies to the body through the wrists, ankles and head for evaluation of toxins, infections, deficiencies, spinal balance, meridien therapy, and frequencies of herbals, homeopathics, vitamins, etc. It was developed by Bill Nelson and used around the world. -Diane Culik, M.D.
Reconstructive Therapies	please see Prolotherapy
Respiratory Medicine
Rheumatology	Rheumatology in orthodox medicine is the medicine of inflammation in joints and connective tissue. In allopathic medicine, pain and inflammation is treated with chemicals to suppress the symptoms with no regard for the underlying causes. Such causes could be, but are not limited to hidden infection, toxins, allergy, malnutrition, allergy, nutritional deficiency, hormonal imbalance, root canals, sleep apnea, oxygen deficiency, etc. The skilled integrative physician will look at the individual patient to assess which of these or other factors are at work in the individual patient and treat these causes rather than simply suppress the symptoms with chemicals. -Robert Jay Rowen, MD www.secondopinionnewsletter.com
Sensitivity Reduction Technique	Developed by Sherri Tennpenny, M.D. -See NAET
Systemic Constellation Therapy
Test	Test Description
Thermography	less invasive alternative to mammograms
Ultraviolet Light Blood Irradiation	ULBI withdraws a small amount of blood and exposes it to ultraviolet light. The blood remains in a closed system and is re-injected into the body. This has an oxidative effect that is used primarily to boost immunity and treat infections. L Terry Chappell, M.D.
Vitamin C IVs
Weight Reduction
Womens Health