Integrating Complementary Therapies into Your Health Care
A growing body of scientific research reveals a strong connection between the mind and the body. Saint Mary’s augments traditional medical treatment with complementary therapies to facilitate healing and contribute to overall wellness and an enhanced quality of life. Services are offered through The Wege Institute at Saint Mary’s and are free for patients staying in the hospital. Outpatient services are available as well for a fee. As a leading center for complementary therapies, The Wege Institute is the only hospital-based program of its kind in West Michigan. For patients with a wide variety of conditions, complementary therapies provide significant results.
Acupuncture
Both the National Institutes of Health and the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine report clear evidence that acupuncture can be effective for post-operative nausea and pain. When used both before and after surgery, researchers note quicker recovery time and a need for less anesthesia.
Art therapy
Medical art therapy uses art expression and imagery with patients who are ill or undergoing aggressive treatment such as surgery and chemotherapy. Using the overall medical treatment as an umbrella, it focuses on patient beliefs and emotions as well as imagery of the illness.
Music therapy
Studies show that music therapy helps reduce pre-operative and post-operative anxiety and fear. One study incorporated music in the holding area where patients wait before being taken into the operating room. Researchers say results strongly suggest that most patients would select such an option, and they would be less anxious.
Massage therapy
Massage therapy is useful both before and after surgery. It can reduce anxiety and elicit a general relaxation response – a physical state of deep rest that changes the physical and emotional responses to stress.
Pet-assisted therapy
Pet therapy consists of hands-on visits by our trained dog-handlers and their pets, or a pre-arranged visit from the patient’s own family pet. Research has shown that, in addition to the positive impact on the patient’s emotional well being, interacting with animals also has numerous therapeutic benefits such as decreasing blood pressure and stress levels, and improving pain management.
