“I was told about my options for chemotherapy and radiation,” he said. “But I was hoping that I would learn about some of the nontraditional treatments, like nutrition, which could improve my chances of recovery.”

Maze decided to do a little investigating and soon discovered the Program in Integrative Medicine at the University of Kansas Medical Center. After doing some research and discussing it with his physicians, he decided to start intravenous vitamin C treatments being offered at the integrative medicine clinic at KUMC. While Maze did undergo traditional chemotherapy, he is convinced that his regular intravenous drip of vitamin C helped stabilize his immune system and led to a quicker recuperation.

Intravenous vitamin infusion is just one component of integrative, or complementary, medicine, which combines traditional medical treatments with more holistic approaches to healing. Integrative medicine may include dietary supplements, megadoses of vitamins, herbal preparations, special teas, acupuncture, massage therapy, magnet therapy, spiritual healing, and meditation.

The Program in Integrative Medicine at KU Medical Center focuses on preventing and treating disease by providing the body with optimal amounts of natural substances in conjunction with traditional Western medicine to help completely heal a patient.

The KU program has developed a national reputation, thanks in large part to its director, Jeanne Drisko, MD. Dr. Drisko is currently the president of the American College for Advancement in Medicine, which is the largest complementary medicine association in the country.

The program’s new clinic, which opened last summer, is painted in soothing light purple and yellow tones. The fountains gurgling in the waiting room are designed to relax and calm patients. The clinical space includes comfortable chairs where patients can receive their intravenous nutrient care, a teaching kitchen, and private patient rooms for acupuncture and massage.

The Program in Integrative Medicine is designed to collaborate with other departments at KU Medical Center. Dr. Drisko said she sees the therapies offered at the clinic as an important complement to other treatments like surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation.

For example, the program is currently collaborating with the University of Kansas Cancer Center on a research project to determine how infusions of intravenous vitamin C can help the effectiveness of chemotherapy for cancer patients. There is some early evidence that when vitamin C is administered intravenously, it may release hydrogen peroxide that acts on cancer cells, but not healthy cells.

The program is also conducting a new research study which will evaluate the effectiveness of bioidentical hormones in menopause. Bioidentical hormones are manufactured in the lab and have the same molecular structure as the hormones produced naturally by the human body. The goal of the project is to provide health care practitioners and patients with evidence-based recommendations for the use of bioidentical hormone replacement and whether there is any connection between the use of the hormone and the incidence of heart disease, breast cancer, uterine cancer or bone density changes.

As integrative medicine has earned more respect in the world of traditional medicine, more doctors are willing to recommend the approach to their patients. Charles Porter, MD, an assistant clinical professor for Mid-America Cardiology at KU Medical Center, said they have worked with the integrative medicine program in an effort to help make a number of their patients more satisfied with their medical experience.

“With some patients, integrative medicine fits within their belief structure, because they want an approach that is more natural,” said Dr. Porter. “Dr. Drisko tells them what they can use to complement the traditional medicine I am recommending, and it’s a bridge that still keeps them inside our system.”

Dr. Drisko said the key factor that is driving the growth in the integrative medicine movement is consumers.

“We need to recognize that we are in an era of patient-centered health care, and more people are asking to be in charge of their health care decisions,” said Dr. Drisko. “We provide options that are more than pharmaceutically-based and give them some control over treatment options.”

Maze, who started his vitamin C infusions in August of last year and is now in remission from his cancer, is a strong supporter of the program. He said he is grateful for all the information he received on living a healthy life, especially when it came to nutrition.

“I’ve really sought a new path when it comes to nutrition,” Maze said. “The integrative medicine doctors have provided me with so many resources on how to substitute things like sugar without feeling like I’m missing out on good food.”

Eric Jager, who is the chair of the Program in Integrative Medicine’s board and has also been a patient at the integrative medicine clinic, said KU Medical Center is working to make sure the program continues to grow its national reputation for providing quality alternative medical care.

“We’re proud that the program is conducting such cutting-edge research in integrative medicine and is helping an increasing number of patients recover from illness by using minimallyintrusive treatments,” said Jager. “We feel like the KU program has become a leader in providing health care that addresses the mental, emotional, and physical aspects of the healing process.” +