Integrative Medicine: A Holistic Approach to Patient Care

Inpatient integrative medicine program eases patient pain and anxiety.

Written by Laura Roe Stevens

Margo Higuera, a 58-year-old massage therapist from Redondo Beach, was battling a serious infection called necrotizing fasciitis from an open wound. She was in pain and had a high fever as she drove herself to the emergency department on November 16, 2022. By the time she checked into the hospital, she hadn’t been sleeping for weeks. Not only did she have an infection and an open wound on her leg, she also lived with low back instability and a compromised nerve. Her pain and anxiety levels were at an all-time high when she was scheduled for same-day emergency surgery.

While the procedure was a success, the dressing changes were painful and the needed recuperation time was triggering her lower back. With a longer time laying in a prone position, it became worse—until Margo had a pinched nerve and searing sciatica pain.

Her physician decided to give her a nerve block, yet she was still uncomfortable and unable to sleep—“even with an IV drip of pain medication. My goal was to wean myself off the pain meds and go home as soon as possible, as I am my mother’s primary caregiver,” Margo explains. “You do not know how happy I was when Fabiana walked into my room!”

Fabiana Vidal is the coordinator of Torrance Memorial’s Integrative Health & Wellness Program. The pilot program began in 2019 within the oncology unit and is now expanding to other inpatient units. Integrative medicine incorporates conventional Western medical practices and treatments with complementary medicine treatments, such as essential oil therapy, yoga therapy including restorative poses, breath awareness, mindfulness and Reiki. Torrance Memorial is training nursing staff to be able to expand and offer access to these therapies to more patients.

For instance, the day after Margo’s emergency surgery, Fabiana visited to introduce the integrative services and offer a session. “Some people are anxious, and it helps to talk. Margo was excited and receptive. As a massage therapist, she understands the value of essential oils, deep breathing and proper positioning when in bed. She was just in a lot of pain and too stressed to remember to do them,” explains Fabiana.

During three separate treatments within her 10day hospital stay, Fabiana was able to help Margo relax, be aware of her breathing patterns and better position herself to ease the sciatic pain. “Fabiana is a natural healer, and I feel so fortunate to know her,” Margo says. “Right away she did Reiki energy healing on me, along with a guided meditation, and taught me breath awareness. I was so relaxed that I went right to sleep. It was the first night’s sleep I’d had in months.”

Fabiana also brought to Margo essential oils known to help with insomnia, pain and stress. The oils were dropped onto a cotton pad placed inside a Ziplock bag tied to her bed. “This allows patients to open the bag when they want to, controlling how much of the scent they want around their bedside.”

“She brought me a blend for pain with wintergreen and peppermint, and later lavender essential oils to help with my sleep and anxiety—and it worked!” Margo says. “I found I could go longer between pain button pushes when I smelled the essential oil blend and took some slow deep breaths like she showed me.”

The combination of therapies had a profound effect on Margo. “I was able to relax and sleep so much better every night. I had more positive thoughts, felt rested, and my feelings of well-being improved. I had an excellent medical team at Torrance Memorial, and I am especially grateful for Fabiana and the Integrative Medicine Program for helping me heal through an exceptionally challenging time.” •

Torrance Memorial’s Integrative Medicine Program offers a whole-person approach to health and quality of life. The program incorporates evidence-based complementary modalities with traditional medicine to help achieve optimal wellness. (All services do not require skin-to-skin contact.) Inpatient services offered by Torrance Memorial include:

• Clinical aromatherapy (essential oil)

• Yoga therapy (breath work, guided meditation)

• Compassionate care (listening therapy)

• Reiki therapy

• Functional nutrition