We at ASHA believe that all the health professions are useful and belong on the same team. To make the best use of the team members, we only have to know what each team member is best used for and when.

Take muscles as an example. There are three main reason why muscles get out of balance: how you use them (biomechanics), how the organs or meridians affect them (biochemistry or bioenergetics), and how the mind affects them (mind-body interaction).

If a patient presents themself with a neuromusculoskeletal pain that involves nerves, muscles and bones, we might suggest that a chiropractor and a massage therapist work together to try to correct their problem. However, if they fail to get good results, we have to look at something else to help them. It could be that the pain is due to a type of structural imbalance that does not respond well to conservative treatment and requires surgery. Or, it could be that a nutritional problem is a major factor. Then, we might send them to our nutritionist. If the biochemical factor was not responding to nutritional intervention, we might look at homeopathy, naturopathy, herbology, colon therapy, detoxification, etc. for help. If we thought that medication was helpful or necessary, then we would send her to an MD before trying something more conservative. If we suspected that the mind-body component was the crucial one, we may send her to a psychotherapist who might use talk therapy or a body-centered approach.

The same type of common sense approach can be applied to any health situation. Every situation is affected by mind-body interaction, biochemistry and biomechanics. You start in the area you think is most likely to help and proceed to other areas to complement the first treatment or as an alternative to it. You start conservative and proceed to the more radical when the conservative fails, or you start with the radical when it's obviously indicated. Change lifestyle first, then try conservative treatment and resort to radical treatment like surgery or drugs as a last resort (unless needed sooner). This is the general approach we use.

Eastern Medicine has had this model for thousands of years. Western Medicine is catching up. We believe in both Eastern and Western approaches to health. We choose to have a doctor of oriental medicine and doctors of western medicine on our team. We believe that everyone can benefit from changing lifestyle first. Nutrition and massage are the most conservative approaches to treating the physical end of the spirit-mind-body system. We would proceed to chiropractic and acupuncture next, with medicine as a last resort.

We believe that while mind and body are interdependent, the spirit and the mind are more causal than chemistry. However, the gross (body) sometimes is more the key than the subtle (spirit-mind). Consciousness (awareness) rules chemistry more often than the reverse.

Refining self-awareness, improving self-image, refining beliefs, improving discrimination, refining intuition, enhancing sensory perception, developing emotional maturity, accessing purpose and meaning, or any parameter of spiritual, mental or emotional well-being are crucial and desirable. Accomplishing any or all of these is a goal of our healthcare team. Improved mental health is one of the most reliable ways to minimize long-term healthcare costs. Therefore, we strongly recommend a focus on the mental health aspects of the system as early as possible.