Cathy Rosenbaum PharmD, MBA, RPh is a holistic clinical pharmacist and founder and CEO of Rx Integrative Solutions, a private consulting practice in holistic medicine. She is a traditionally trained pharmacist who also focuses on body mind and spiritual (holistic) interventions for healing. Dr. Rosenbaum bases her traditional and non-traditional health and medicine recommendations on a review of published medical clinical literature integrating both professional worlds, and honors the patient/physician relationship with the physician at the helm of the team. Dr. Rosenbaum hosts the weekly talk radio show called Your Holistic Health on WMKV 89.3 FM www.wmkvfm.org (www.FaithandFriendsRadio.com). For more information about Dr. Rosenbaum’s professional philosophy and personalized consultations in person or via telephone/Skype, visit www.rxintegrativesolutions.com.
 
Health E-Insights: Did you develop the seven balance point model?  
 
Dr. Rosenbaum: Yes, in 2002, after a trip to China to study herbal research and global healthcare solutions. I saw a model of health and wellness care that integrates Eastern and Western medicine, focused on mind body and spiritual elements of the healing journey. For years before for other reasons, a still small voice inside of me had quickened my desire to educate healthcare professionals and patients on how to get off or stay off of prescription medications as much as possible since these medications are running our lives. My seven balance point model is a way to communicate the powerful back-to-basics approach to living that I have come to cherish and wish to promote. This model begins with a strong patient/primary care physician relationship for accurate diagnosis, lab testing, and overall coordination of the total health team. It helps when the primary care physician is open to holistic approaches to healing. Aspects covered in the seven balance point model include physical, nutrition/dietary supplements, sleep, exercise, emotional, social, and spiritual components. Patients are referred to me to discuss evidence based healing options under each of these categories, without the use of prescription medications whenever possible. We work on consolidating the patient’s chosen health strategies and try to help him/her save money in the process. I teach patients how to talk with their primary care physicians about alternate ways to take prescription medications based on recommendations in the clinical evidence/published literature. But the physician is always the final decision-maker – not me, I’m just the seed planter.
 
Health E-Insights: Are a larger percentage of people weaning their way of prescription drugs? 
 
Dr. Rosenbaum: Unfortunately, no. Most people don’t even know how to start this type of conversation with their primary care physician, or are quite afraid to do so. Direct-to-consumer TV marketing for prescription medications does not help. As a trained clinical pharmacist, I get to stand in the gap between the patient and primary care physician and support both of them with evidence based recommendations that first cause no harm but in the end, may work to the patient’s advantage long term and bring the physician support. Patients and I talk about the long term side effects of prescription medications upstream so we can try to prevent as many as possible before they happen. I must continue to follow clinical studies and new information on side effects as it becomes available to be seen as evidence based, providing the kind of medical information you aren’t going to hear most places. Unfortunately, there is a need and role for the chronic use of some prescription medications, but they should be one of the last healing options offered by the physician, not the first and only. Alternate medication dosing strategies can help prevent long term medication related side effects. 
 
Health E-Insights: In what direction do you see the holistic health moving? 
 
Dr. Rosenbaum: If you had asked me this question before my trip in 2002, I would have said that holistic – mind body spirit – and alternative medicine were the most prevalent types of non-traditional medicine modalities practiced in the USA by non-healthcare practitioners and mostly in California and Arizona. Back then, these types of services were not as well known or accessible to the average consumer and seen as out there by mainstream medicine. Today, I see more holistic, complementary, or integrative traditional medical physicians and other healthcare practitioners involved in, or referring to, non-traditional practices such as acupuncture, naturopathy, as well as nutrition and dietary supplements. Many refer to massage therapists, guided imagery practitioners, yoga instructors, and others, creating a broader team approach to healing. Each patient’s needs are different, so the team is customized to each individual, very patient centered. Non-traditional practitioners get to know the patient more quickly and comprehensively because they spend time with them, sometimes over an hour per session, drilling into deeper questions that impact quality of life and healing. Trusting relationships are formed from this time investment. Not to say that can’t happen in the traditional medicine model, just takes longer. My dearest hope is that integrative health and medicine continues to take shape in the U.S. and gains traction. Perhaps the out of pocket expenses deter some from trying a more holistic approach to healing, but in most major cities, non-traditional modalities are quite accessible today. Some insurance companies will cover part of the expense. It’s important to ask. My guess is that Americans are thirsty for creative ways to manage life’s stress, and regain their peace and lasting joy not found by other means.
 
Health E-Insights: Did you always envision a career in health? 
 
Dr. Rosenbaum: From the time I was five-years old, I was blessed with the spiritual gift of mercy and compassion for the suffering and sick. My gifts, coupled with a fascination about medicine and chemistry, were the reasons I chose a traditional pharmacy career. However, I followed an unusual path through hospital based practice, academia, the pharmaceutical industry, and holistic medicine consulting in this career. My interest in the latter practice was quite unexpected, and not one I actively sought after. Let’s just say it was a calling and an answer to prayer to do the Lord’s will, and one which left me quite spiritually uncomfortable for awhile because I had not read enough about other philosophies and faiths different from my own. You might be interested in knowing that I still work in a hospital as a clinical effectiveness and safety officer in pharmacy so I am very close to traditional medicine practices and pharmaceutical interventions. I see myself involved in traditional medicine indefinitely to maintain professional credibility, and holistic medicine, [as] the advocate and gap closer.
 
Health E-Insights: What excites you most about your practice? 
 
Dr. Rosenbaum: In the past 12 years I have been humbled by the ease at which patients pour out their hearts to me, trusting that someone truly cares about them and wants to help them as a person, not just as a body part. Everyone has a story worth telling and healers need to take the time to listen. Traditional medicine is fractionated and does not offer enough time to get to know the whole person. Therefore, holistic or non-traditional medicine can enhance traditional medicine by offering time to inspire love and hope for a patient’s bright future, emotionally and spiritually. If and when a patient finally gets it and believes he or she can find joy, I will hear such things as “I want to volunteer in my community and give thanks for all my blessings” or “What can I do to help others now?” Typically, there are many tears shed at these precious moments, by the patients and by me.
 
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