Research shows that Americans are in pain. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently released a report estimating that 50 million Americans – just over 20 percent of the adult population – have chronic pain. About 20 million of them have “high-impact chronic pain” — pain severe enough that it frequently limits life or work activities.
There are a variety of options for the treatment of pain, from medication to meditation. Most experts agree that approaching pain management from both physical and emotional sides is important, as is taking a holistic approach and not just looking at the symptoms.
A holistic approach means thinking about the big picture. In a medical setting, holistic is a form of healing that considers the whole person — body, mind, spirit, and emotions — in the quest for optimal health and wellness. According to the holistic medicine philosophy, one can achieve optimal health — the primary goal of holistic medicine practice — by gaining proper balance in life.
Holistic medicine practitioners believe that the whole person is made up of interdependent parts and if one part is not working properly, all the other parts will be affected. In this way, if people have imbalances (physical, emotional, or spiritual) in their lives, it can negatively affect their overall health.
If you are looking for balance in your life and ways to keep pain at bay, plan to attend one of RiverView’s special Wednesday, November 28 health presentations titled, “Holistic Pain Management’’. Three RiverView Health professionals specializing in mental health, nutrition and acupuncture will present at noon and again at 6:30 p.m.
During the presentations:
Psychologist Dr. Brenda King will teach you how to tap into the power of your brain to manage pain through thought, attention, and relaxation.
Darcey Larsen, RD LD, will give tips on how to make over your kitchen and lunchbox with the power of anti-inflammatory foods.
Megan Scott, L.Ac.Dipl.O.M. will share how to restore your body ’s natural pain-relieving potential with acupuncture and tai chi.
King, Larsen, and Scott all practice out of RiverView’s North Clinic, Second Floor in Crookston.
The noon luncheon will be held in Meeting Room #1 of RiverView Health, 323 S. Minnesota Street, Crookston. Meeting Room #1 is located near the RiverView Clinic entrance on the north side of the building and across from the elevators on the first floor.
Preregistration is required for the noon luncheon. A boxed lunch can also be ordered for $3 but must be ordered when calling to preregister. Call Holly Anderson at 218-281-9745 to preregister.
The 6:30 p.m. presentation will be held in the Minnesota Room on the Crookston campus. Please enter through the main doors on the south side of the building and follow the signs. Preregistration is not required for the evening session.
The luncheon series is in its 20th year of sponsorship by RiverView Health. All men and women interested in improving their health are invited to attend.
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