Alternative Medicine- Just One of the Great Things about Living in Tucson

There are so many great things about living in Tucson. We are surrounded by beautiful mountain ranges and desert national parks like Saguaro National Park. We have tasty food and we can prove it! We were designated a Unesco City of Gastronomy in 2015. Tucsonians are multicultural and one of the best demonstrations of this is our annual All Soul’s Processsion which is our spin on Mexico’s DÍa de los Muertos celebration. The most common answer people will tell you when asked why they live in Tucson is because we have more than 350 days of sun per year!

Tucson is Abundant with Alternative Medicine Options

Here’s how I know.

It’s relatively common for Tucsonans to have a naturopathic doctor, an acupuncturist, a massage therapist, or other alternative providers that they use regularly. The University of Arizona here in Tucson had one of the first integrative medicine programs in a conventional medical school.

When I talk to people in other regions of the United States, they often tell me that they don’t have access to an alternative provider. They would love to be able to access this type of care. They are seeing what types of alternative providers there are online as a result of the reach of social media and often have to find providers in other regions due to the lack of access in their areas. The University of Arizona here in Tucson had one of the first integrative medicine programs.

What is Alternative Medicine?

Alternative medicine, also referred to as complementary or integrative medicine, encompasses a diverse range of healthcare practices, products, and therapies that are not considered part of conventional or mainstream medicine. These approaches are often used in conjunction with or as alternatives to conventional medical treatments. Alternative medicine may be based on traditional practices, cultural beliefs, or emerging philosophies.

Types of Alternative Medicine in Tucson

Common types of alternative medicine available here:

1. Naturopathy: My favorite, of course! An approach that emphasizes the body's ability to heal itself through natural therapies, lifestyle changes, and nutritional support. Naturopathic doctors like myself were trained in many of the following on this list including herbal medicine, homeopathy, chiropractic type adjustments, massage therapy, and mind-body medicines. I’ve also received additional training in psychedelic medicine.

2. Herbal Medicine: The use of plants, plant extracts, and herbs for medicinal purposes. Many regions have herbal medicine traditions that are unique to the plants in their areas and we are no exception here in Tucson. 

3. Acupuncture: A traditional Chinese medicine practice that involves inserting thin needles into specific points on the body to stimulate energy flow.

4. Massage Therapy: There are many different styles and techniques to help support the body’s healing.

5. Chiropractic Care: Focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of mechanical disorders of the musculoskeletal system, particularly the spine.

6. Homeopathy: Based on the principle of "like cures like," homeopathic remedies use highly diluted substances to stimulate the body's natural healing processes.

7. Ayurveda: An ancient system of medicine from India that emphasizes balance in the body's energies (doshas) through lifestyle, diet, and herbal remedies.

8. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM): Includes practices like acupuncture, herbal medicine, and various mind-body techniques to achieve balance in the body's energy.

9. Mind-Body Therapies: Practices that focus on the connection between mental and physical health, such as meditation, yoga, and mindfulness.

10. Psychedelic Therapies: These medicines help create a non-ordinary state of consciousness that can facilitate healing on mental, emotional, and spiritual levels. It’s currently limited by law but at the time of this writing, ketamine is legal in Arizona and there has been legislation introduced to make psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy legal here.

A Reflection on Alternative Medicine in Tucson

When I began to explore alternative medicine as a career thirty years ago it was still considered fringe. I remember how Andrew Weil began to introduce these traditional therapies into mainstream awareness and how excited I was at that time. This just made sense! I suspect that the term alternative medicine is starting to fade away as there becomes more acceptance and embracing of these forms of healing. So many people are growing up with these concepts as a given and not “alternative”. It has been a gift to observe these changes occurring over the years. I look forward to the future’s advances and hope to continue to be a part of them.