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Dr. Brian Berman’s Seminar on November 19, 2005
On November 19, over 100 alumnae and friends came to the Davis Library to attend the seminar conducted by Dr. Brian Berman. The founder and Director of the University of Maryland Center for Integrative Medicine (CIM), Dr. Berman discussed the programs at the center, now in its 15th year. It is the first academic center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) in the USA and a NIH Center of Excellence in CAM for the past ten years.
Dr. Berman and his team of 50 medical professionals at the Center for Integrative Medicine, located on the grounds of the Kernan Hospital in Baltimore, emphasizes the wholeness and wellness of their patients in treating chronic pain and sometimes life-threatening conditions in adults and children. In recent years, increasing number of people have turned to CAM for their health care because the orthodox treatment didn’t work in their cases or has adverse effects or because the patients sought holistic approach and more active participation in the treatment of their illness.
The term CAM is used to encompass an array of treatment and diagnostic techniques, ranging from acupuncture, biofeedback, chiropractic, herbalism, homeopathy, and hypnotherapy, to Tai Chi, Qi Gong, mediation, yoga, and pressure manipulations. There are over 300 types of such therapies. When blended with conventional, western medicine, many have proven to be very effective in treating a variety of illness and disorder. In a clinical trial, the researchers at CIM have found that traditional Chinese acupuncture significantly improved function rehabilitation and pain reduction for patients with osteoarthritis who were also taking pain medication. Acupuncture has shown clear and promising evidence in treating adult post-operative pain, post-operative dental pain, myofascial pain, low back pain, and as an adjuvant to treat chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting.
Activities and therapies that focus on the interrelationship of mind and body, such as relaxation techniques, meditation, prayer, hypnosis and biofeedback have shown success in reducing pain, insomnia, stress, and anxiety.
The center is also concerned with the consistency of traditional Chinese medicine, both diagnosis and treatment. Research is underway to study the quality of care, the quality of herbal medicine, and the effectiveness of treatments. CAM places emphasis on early prevention, or early stages of the disease, and promote wellness of the patients.
To promote health and prevent illness, Dr. Berman encourages healthy diet of low in fat, plenty of fruits and vegetables, whole grain, and reduced consumption of fatty red meat as part of a lifestyle, which of course includes plenty of exercise.
For more information please visit the University of Maryland Center for Integrative Medicine website: www.compmed.umm.edu. The slides of Dr. Berman’s presentation can be found on the BEINU website: http://www.ad-tek.com/beinu.