Optimal Wellness & Reaching Your Full Potential

Holistic Medicine

I am grateful for the opportunity to describe my approach to holistic medicine for you. My perspective is that of a Co-Chair of the Past Presidents Council of the Academy of Integrative Health and Medicine, a teacher and practicing holistic physician since 1991.  

Holistic Medicine is the art and science of health and healing that addresses the care of the whole person; body, mind and spirit. It is a health-based practice guiding you to live optimal health in all spheres of your being; physical, emotional, mental, environmental, social and spiritual.

We start with a comprehensive evaluation of the whole you.

• Looking at and refining your aspirations and purpose you have for your life and health;
• The health concerns you have; what they mean to you and how they are affecting you;
• Illness and injuries you have had or now experience;
• The level of functioning of your body systems;
• Illnesses/problems are in your family;
• Your emotional and mental state;
• Your life and social experience;
• The environments you live and work in;
• Your daily habits including, diet, exercise, sleep, work, hobbies, meditation and spiritual practices;
• What herbs, supplements and medications you use; what sensitivities and allergies you have;
• Prior evaluations and treatments that were done, and what works for you and what does not.

We also do broad analysis of current status and fitness through

• blood and urine chemistries on metabolism, hormones, inflammation, lipids, kidney, liver function;
• scans of body composition lean/fat/bone health, brain function (quantitative EEG), stress levels at baseline/ during stress/ recovery phase;
• Detailed functional genetic profile to understand what diet and lifestyle factors are most likely to optimize your genetic expression and minimize disease state.

Further information is gleaned from a complete physical exam. This includes a high level medical exam and other appropriate assessments, such as a detailed osteopathic/ structural exam of posture/ alignment/ body ergonomics/ organ health and whatever else is indicated by your situation.

We then make a whole systems diagnosis in partnership with you. Together we develop a therapeutic, goal oriented plan with measurable mile posts.

This sets the right course and makes sure we are staying on it. Regular checkins and exams and testing as needed help insure great success.

Throughout any process, it is critical to follow good principles. The American Holistic Medical Association, founded in 1978, codified the following principles for the road to optimal results.

These include:

10 principles elucidated

As you see there is much more to holistic medicine than conventional, alternative and complementary treatments. It is a deep way of looking at our world, as well as practicing the best quality, cutting edge medicine in every moment.

Moving toward the ideal, Holistic medicine what all healthcare professionals are practicing.

To Your Best Health,
Mark L. Hoch, MD

Learning life skills for a healthy lifestyle through diet, exercise, stress management, healthy sleep, creating and living in healthy environments, understanding emotions, mental processes, social relationships and spiritual awareness.

Risk factor assessment for common chronic diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, and osteoporosis. Working with you to develop customized therapeutic plans utilizing lifestyle and other interventions to improve and maintain health and prevent disease.

Diet, vitamins, minerals, amino acids, herbs, and other nutritional supplements are used to optimize cellular metabolic functioning and organ function.  These therapies are integrated into your care plan after your health concerns are assessed.  Recommendations are based on scientific studies and extensive clinical experience with thousands of patients in several multi-disciplinary clinical settings.

Conditions treated nutritionally:

High cholesterol, diabetes / metabolic syndrome, congestive heart failure, Irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease, food allergies, hypoglycemia, osteoporosis, adrenal exhaustion and chronic fatigue, Immune support for acute infections.

Nutritional and other support used to optimize liver, intestinal, kidney and cellular functioning compromised by exposure to heavy metals (lead, mercury), solvents, and other chemicals.

Use of guided imaging, meditation, stress reduction, counseling, breathing exercises and Chinese Qi gong (Chi kung) to enhance health, manage stress and treat various health conditions.

Energetic Approaches to Healing:

Many of the world’s healing traditions see the body/mind/spirit as an energy system that extends beyond the biochemistry and physical structure of the body. Energetic approaches to movement, breathing, and meditation exercises from Chinese Qi gong and other traditions are utilized within the framework of your own values and life experience to optimize health and treat medical problems.

Osteopathic medicine was developed by Andrew Taylor Still, M.D. in the Midwestern United States in the late 1800’s.

Dr. Still promoted the concept that body structure and body function are intimately related. Healthy alignment of the body allows the blood to nourish the tissues and remove waste products, for the nervous system to function properly, and for us to move efficiently.

Too often structural imbalances are undiagnosed even though they are common causes of pain, restricted movement, feeling unwell, and eventually diseases.  Physicians familiar with the relationship between body structure and function are often able to go beyond treating symptoms by addressing the root cause of health problems.

The goal of osteopathic treatment is to help you to be able to do the activities you want with maximum function and comfort and minimal effort.

Dr. Hoch works with the body and our in born self-correcting mechanisms to help it realign itself rather than forcing tissues back into place. This approach often gives lasting results that do not require ongoing visits.

Birth trauma, misshapen head, colic, reflux, torticollis, feeding problems due to infant neck issues, plagiocephaly and brachial plexus injury.

Childhood Conditions treated osteopathically:

Injuries, falls, head trauma, leg alignment problems, scoliosis, and recurrent ear infections when there is a biomechanical component.  Jaw alignment problems, and enhancing the effectiveness of orthodontic work.