“Integrated Medicine looks at the body as a garden”, according to Birgit Rakel, MD, who was a keynote speaker at the Healing Gardens Conference held at Medford Leas CCRC, Medford, NJ on April, 23, 2009. Dr. Rakel is a board certified in family medicine and is a faculty member of the Jefferson Myrna Brind Center for Integrative Medicine at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA. In her talk “Nature and the Prescription for Wellness”, Dr. Rakel shared her insights into the challenges that face an aging population and provided ideas for incorporating the benefits of nature into therapeutic programs and senior living communities. Her treatment strategies combine state-of-the-art conventional medicine with herbal and nutritional supplementation.

A large part of Dr. Rakel’s practice has been to focus on the needs of older adults. “Complimentary and Alternative Medicine for Older Adults” is the recent publication that she and Elizabeth R. Mackenzie, Ph.D. have edited as a guide to holistic approaches to healthy aging. The book is a helpful guide to issues addressing a variety of treatments, including art and music, massage, acupuncture, meditation, homeopathy, ayurveda, aromatherapy and therapeutic gardens. The information provides reliable and authoritative information on complimentary and alternative therapies that older adults can use to improve their health and quality of life.

Dementia Garden

Additional information on the publication can be found at: http://www.springerpub.com/prod.aspx?prod_id=38055