Holistic Health, CAM, Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) Susan Morrison Holistic Health, CAM, Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) Susan Morrison

CW Vol 2 Ed. 18 - Your Whole Health: Exploring Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM)

Caring for your whole self—body, mind, and spirit—is at the heart of our Constructing Wellness Program. We’re excited to introduce Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) and our new partnership with SoulBeing—bringing access to whole-body care right to you. With this expanded benefit, you and your household have easy access to CAM services that help you feel stronger, manage stress, and boost overall well-being—available to our entire team, not just those on our health plan!

What is CAM?

Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) refers to a wide variety of healing practices that are used alongside (complementary) or in place of (alternative) conventional Western medicine. CAM focuses on addressing health from multiple angles—physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual—often relying on time-tested traditions from around the world.

Common CAM practices include:

  • Acupuncture

  • Chiropractic care

  • Massage therapy

  • Herbal medicine

  • Yoga & meditation

  • Nutritional counseling

  • Energy healing (e.g., Reiki, qigong)

Meet SouBeing

As part of our Constructing Wellness Program, we’ve partnered with SoulBeing (soulbeing.com/cpm-constructors/) to provide you a vetted network of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) providers offering services in your local area across over 60 evidence-based care categories. SoulBeing providers are unique, offering specialized treatments and therapies designed to help you achieve whole-person health on your own terms.

The one-size-fits-all healthcare system of recent decades has not served us well, and with rising healthcare costs and declining overall health outcomes in our communities, the time for change is now.

SoulBeing is reimagining access to healthcare and wellness services that allows you to design an overall healthcare strategy that works for you today and evolves with your changing needs throughout your lifetime.

Holistic? Functional? CAM? Here's the Difference

While these approaches often overlap, here’s how they are distinct:

  • CAM (Complementary and Alternative Medicine): A broad category of therapies used outside conventional medicine, either to complement standard treatments or as alternatives. CAM includes individual modalities like acupuncture, chiropractic care, massage therapy, and herbal medicine.

  • Holistic Medicine: A philosophy of care that considers the whole person—body, mind, spirit, and emotions. Holistic medicine can include CAM therapies but also integrates conventional treatments, emphasizing balance, prevention, and wellness.

  • Functional Medicine: A systems-based approach within holistic care that focuses on identifying and addressing the root causes of disease. Functional medicine often uses advanced diagnostic testing, nutrition, lifestyle modifications, and CAM therapies but works within a scientific, evidence-based framework.

In short:

  • CAM is a collection of therapies.

  • Holistic is the philosophy behind whole-person care.

  • Functional medicine is a specific medical model that often uses both CAM and conventional tools.

All of these approaches work together to give you more options for your health journey.

View this Newsletter and links to resources here!

Or follow this link:

Reference: Explore our SoulBeing website!

4/30/2025

Read More
Functional Medicine, Magnesium, Hormones, Root Causes Susan Morrison Functional Medicine, Magnesium, Hormones, Root Causes Susan Morrison

CW Vol 2. Ed. 14 - CW Vol 2 Ed. 13 - Functional Medicine - What is It?

Whether you’re swinging a hammer or crunching numbers, staying healthy matters—and not just for work. In this Newsletter, we’re introducing Functional Medicine—a science-based approach that digs beyond symptoms to address what’s holding you back, so you can feel well in all aspects of life. From the field to the office and to home with family and friends, here’s how it can help you thrive on and off the clock.

Functional Medicine Basics

  • What It Is: Functional Medicine looks at your body as a connected system, finding and fixing the root causes of issues like pain, fatigue, or stress.

  • How It Works: Using advanced tests (think gut health or hormone checks) and custom plans (diet, lifestyle, therapies), the Functional Medicine doctor will tailor treatment to your needs—whether you’re on-site or at a desk.

  • Why It Matters: Less downtime, more energy, and better focus for work—plus the vitality to enjoy family, hobbies, and everything else that makes life good.

How Functional Medicine Helps You

Functional Medicine is all about you—your body, your day, your life. Here’s how it plays out, straight from the playbook of the Institute for Functional Medicine (IFM), the pioneers of this approach:

  • For Field Crew: Lugging steel beams or pouring concrete? That wear-and-tear could be inflammation grinding your joints like sandpaper. IFM notes that diet—like too many processed carbs—can spike inflammation by 50% or more. Functional Medicine could dial that back, so you’re not just powering through shifts but also hitting the trails or tossing a ball with your crew at home.

  • For Office Staff: Zoom calls and late-night emails frying your brain? Your gut might be the culprit—IFM says it’s the “root” of 80% of chronic issues, from fatigue to fog. A custom plan could reset your system, turning those bleary afternoons into sharp focus—and leaving you energy for a post-work run or movie night.

Picture This!

Imagine a construction worker who’s been battling nagging shoulder pain after years of lifting, or an office admin who can’t shake that mid-day crash despite coffee on tap. Regular doctor visits might say “take it easy” or “try more caffeine,” but Functional Medicine takes a different angle. For the field worker, tests might reveal inflammation tied to poor nutrition or low magnesium from sweating it out—fixed with a targeted diet shift and supplements. For the office admin, it could uncover a food sensitivity or stress spiking cortisol—handled with a gut-friendly plan and relaxation tweaks. The result? They’re not just patched up—they’re back to lifting with ease or powering through reports, with energy left for life outside work.

What Functional Medicine Offers

Here’s what it brings to the table:

  • Acupuncture: Eases pain or tension—great for sore backs or stiff necks from screens.

  • Nutritional Therapy: Builds meal plans to cut inflammation or boost stamina, tailored to your day.

  • Hormone Testing & Balancing: Checks stress or energy levels, using natural fixes like supplements.

  • Gut Health Optimization: Fixes digestion with probiotics or diet shifts—key for energy and immunity.

  • Chiropractic Care: Aligns your spine, helping with fieldwork strain or office posture slumps.

Who’s Behind It?

  • Functional MDs: Doctors with added training (300+ hours via places like the Institute for Functional Medicine) in nutrition, systems biology, and lifestyle care.

  • Naturopaths: NDs with 4-year degrees and expertise in holistic therapies like acupuncture and botanicals.

✅ Try This: Swap a soda or energy drink for water and a handful of nuts or a banana—steady fuel for any shift!

✅ Stay tuned—this month, we’re rolling out a new tool to explore Functional Medicine options and HSA benefits, making it easier to take charge of your health!

Remember, no medical advice here, just tips for a healthier lifestyle! Consult with healthcare professionals before starting any new health regimen.

View this Newsletter and links to resources here.

4/2/2025

Read More