Integrative medicine combines traditional western medical techniques with alternative or holistic practices with an goal of healing the whole person, beyond addressing the symptom that brought you to the office in the first place. Dr. Vinh Ngo is an integrative health specialist, practicing at Smart Medicine SF, in San Francisco. He takes a deep interest in his patients and helps them to lead healthy and active lives.
Integrative Medicine Q&A
What is integrative medicine?
Integrative medicine is a combination of conventional and holistic treatments to improve the total health and well-being of a patient, healing the true root causes of their discomfort and symptoms. Integrative health is highly customized to address the specific needs of each individual patient.
By putting the patient at the center of treatment, Dr. Ngo focuses on your overall health and well-being. You’ll have a comprehensive interview and examination so that Dr. Ngo can get to know you and your general health concerns. He takes an interest in your symptoms and may ask questions about related issues and concerns to identify the root cause of your symptoms. Once he has a thorough understanding of your health, he creates a treatment program to heal you, stop your symptoms, and generally improve your overall health.
What are integrative health treatments?
Dr. Ngo uses a variety of treatments and practices in his integrative health practice including bio-identical hormone therapy, nutraceuticals, and conventional medical treatments. Each patient receives customized care that is tailored to address their specific needs.
What conditions can integrative medicine treat?
Integrative medicine can treat a variety of conditions while improving your overall well-being. Some of the conditions treated by Dr. Ngo include:
- Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
- Inflammation issues
- Low testosterone levels and other hormonal imbalances
- Hypothyroidism
- Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO)
- Adrenal fatigue
What is bio-identical hormone therapy?
Hormonal imbalances often trigger seemingly unrelated symptoms. Sometimes, hormonal imbalances occur during normal changes of life, such as menopause or as part of the normal aging process for men. Bio-identical hormone therapy can restore hormonal balance to your body, whether it is due to a natural change in life or another issue.
Unlike traditional hormone therapy that relies on mass-produced synthetic hormones, bio-identical hormone replacement therapy uses samples of your own hormones to craft synthetic hormones that match your own, exactly. These treatments are monitored carefully to ensure that you maintain healthy hormone levels and enjoy improved well-being.
What are nutraceuticals?
Nutraceuticals are food-derived supplements with health benefits that exceed the basic nutritional value of the food. Nutraceuticals are used to address specific diseases and conditions by increasing your nutrient intake to give your body what it needs to heal. They can help to address inflammation and improve your body’s ability to fight infection.
Dr. Ngo is passionate about helping his patients to improve their health and well-being with integrative medicine practices. If you have questions about integrative health or are experiencing symptoms that are preventing you from enjoying your life, call or book an appointment online with Dr. Ngo at Smart Medicine SF today.