Orthodox Western Medicine – Dr Anne Small
The Medical doctors at the Centre are fully qualified Western-trained medical practitioners.
These doctors complete a comprehensive medical history and physical examination for each person who consults them. Where necessary, the doctors request relevant pathology testing and make referrals.
With this information, the doctor will arrive at a diagnosis or diagnoses. The doctor will then discuss treatment options with the client in order to arrive at a treatment plan that is suitable for, and agreeable to, the client.
Treatment options depend on the results of history, examination and other testing and options may include referral to another medical or complementary therapist, advising about nutritional supplements, prescription for medication, suggestions for self-management of symptoms. At all times the client will be involved in his or her health / wellness management plan.
What is Integrative Medicine? – Dr Anne Small
Integrative Medical practice involves the combination of Orthodox Western Medicine and Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) such as Naturopathy, Chinese Medicine and Osteopathy. The doctors at the Moonee Ponds MindBody Health Centre have expertise in both Orthodox and Complementary medical practice. Thus, as well as physical symptoms, our doctors will also enquire and investigate issues relating to environmental, emotional, psychological and spiritual symptoms.
In addition, the client will be assessed for likelihood of toxicities, for example, heavy metal toxicities and food related problems.
Our doctors are experienced in evaluating specific functional pathology tests, for example – salivary hormone testing and Functional Liver Detoxification Profile (FLDP) that can provide more information than ‘routine’ diagnostic testing.
Dr Small will often prescribe nutritional supplements, bio-identical hormones and other treatments where required. They have significant knowledge of the healing benefits of other therapies provided at the Centre and will refer to these experts where necessary.
Bio Identical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT) – Dr Anne Small
Bioidentical hormones have the same chemical structure as the hormones that our body produces.
Bio identical hormone therapy has been used in the USA for over 20 years. To date there have been no conclusive studies that demonstrate an increase incidence of adverse effects – for example, hormone dependent cancers (breast, ovarian) or cardiac and blood clotting disorders – as can occur with the use of synthetic/chemical hormone replacement.
Bioidentical hormones currently available include oestrogen, progesterone, testosterone, DHEA, melatonin and a thyroid hormone that includes two active forms – T3 and T4. People with hormone deficient states can be treated with these hormones, for example, peri menopause, menopause, andropause, myxodema and other ovarian dysfunction status such as Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS).
Because BHRT’s have the same chemical structure as hormones produced in our body, there are few side effects and the majority of people who use BHRT, report minimal side effects.
Our experience with people who take BHRT indicates that these people feel their symptoms are much improved on BHRT compared with when they were taking synthetic hormone replacement.
BHRT’s are prescribed by medical doctors and are prepared and dispensed by compounding pharmacists who have expertise in Compounding Therapies.