When was the last time you asked yourself how you really are? L'Officiel speaks to Centro Holistico's Dr. Candy Drilon-Dalman to find out how we can address our health with a well-rounded approach that sees the individual beyond just their anatomy.&nbsp;

Keeping health as a top priority has never been so clear and urgent as it is now. Yet, current circumstances subject individuals every day to assorted stressors, resulting in just as varied and pressing wellness issues &mdash; anxiety at an all-time high, leading to sleep problems, resulting in weak immune systems, and ultimately leaving one&rsquo;s health vulnerable. Way too often, conditions are addressed singularly with band-aid remedies, without taking into consideration everything that affects the person from diet, level of activity, profession, even hobbies. L&rsquo;Officiel speaks to Dr. Candy Drilon-Dalman, specialist in Functional and Integrative Medicine and Medical Director of Centro Holistico, to find out how their center works on holistic health comprehensively and compassionately.

What can a patient expect at Centro Holistico?&nbsp;
Centro Holistico is all about holistic wellness. Wellness, as defined by the Global Wellness Institute, is the active pursuit of activities, choices and lifestyles that lead to a state of holistic health. We try our best to impart our knowledge on healthy living to our patients through our consultations, and make safe and effective treatments available in order for them to live a healthier, happier life. We consider what we do as holistic, because we take into consideration all aspects of a patient&rsquo;s life: physical, emotional, even spiritual. All of these aspects impact one's health, so it&rsquo;s important for us to know about these things.
Could you share what a first visit is like?&nbsp;
For new patients, they go through a consultation first in order for our doctors to properly assess them, and make recommendations on what they can do. For patients who are generally well or do not seem to have a complicated case, they can go through our Holistic Medical Consultation with Live Blood Analysis. This is usually a one-hour consultation. The live blood analysis, also called Nutritional Microscopy, gives us a better picture of how your lifestyle is affecting your health. For more complicated cases such as multiple co-morbidities or autoimmune conditions, we advise our patients to do the Functional Medicine consultation, a more in-depth, two-hour consultation. We go through every little detail in your life that possibly led to your current condition.&nbsp;
There are some who would rather try the treatments first. We allow this as well. Eventually, when they see that there&rsquo;s more to offer than just the treatments, they undergo the consultation as well.

Tell us about Live Blood Analysis. How is it any different from a blood exam?&nbsp;
Live Blood Analysis involves taking a single living drop of blood from the fingertip which is then placed under a powerful microscope. The image is then displayed on a screen for both the doctor and patient to view. Blood transports oxygen, nutrients, and other life-giving agents throughout the body to maintain health. It is also the medium for detoxification, delivering cellular waste to the liver and kidneys for elimination from the body. Blood can, therefore, serve as a predictor of health and provide an indication of illness well before symptoms appear.
This method of analysis is different from usual laboratory tests such as the CBC that quantify the levels of certain components in a sample of blood. Live blood screening gives an indication as to the quality of an individual&rsquo;s blood &mdash; an important foundation of preventative health care showing effects that diet, lifestyle and stress can have on our well-being.
Studying the shape and functioning of blood cells and plasma with a microscope can show signs of poor digestion, weakened immune system, vitamin deficiencies, bowel and liver toxicity, dehydration, increased cholesterol &amp; crystal formations, heavy metal accumulation, presence of parasites, fungi, and bacteria, and much more.
What kind of approaches/services are available for patients of CH?
The center offers Integrative Medical treatments such as Acupuncture, IV Nutrient Therapy (IV Vitamin drips), Colon Cleanse, Ventosa, IV Laser therapy, and more. Our doctors usually recommend a combination of different treatments to help address specific concerns. Each program is personalized per patient.&nbsp;

What are the best treatments for stress management, physical manifestations of stress, managing energy and burnout?&nbsp;
Acupuncture is the best for stress management! Studies have shown that it can help lower cortisol levels, which is the hormone that goes up when the body is stressed. Ear Acudetox is our favorite for stress. Initially this was only used for detox for drug addiction. Studies over the past few years showed that the same protocol helps with stress, mood disorders such as general anxiety disorder. Energy healing is also great to help with stress management. Our healers help rebalance the different energy centers in the body, which helps the body relax and improve resilience.
For energy and burnout, a combination of Acupuncture, IV Nutrient Therapy, and IV Laser therapy treatments are good to do. Having enough energy is more than just consuming your macros. You have to make sure that you have enough nutrients to support your metabolism, your cells&rsquo; powerhouse is working well, and your energy meridians are all in balance.&nbsp;
What processes have helped for people's stress, anxiety, and trauma in this pandemic?
Since we&rsquo;re a clinic and our practitioners are all licensed medical doctors, our centers have been open even during the community quarantine (except when the surge of cases was really high). We started offering teleconsultations for those who are not comfortable going out yet. We try to think of creative ways to address concerns while they&rsquo;re at home: supplements being delivered, our healers can also do distance healing for those who need it. A lot of our patients also prefer to go to the clinic, especially those who developed health issues during the pandemic. Sometimes, just breaking their pandemic routine, being able to talk to someone else, and knowing that they are doing something for their health makes them feel more &ldquo;normal."
How do you create a holistic health management plan that's sustainable for the individual?
The most important part is getting to know the patient and not just their diagnosis. We take time to know their routine, diet, sleeping patterns, what makes them stressed, what they do to relax. We figure out what will work for them, how they can implement it, and what they will not do no matter what we say. We always emphasize that this is a partnership, not a dictatorship. We will do what we can to help, share our knowledge and create programs. But at the end of the day, what they will do with it is entirely up to them. We don&rsquo;t give a pill for every ill. We heal by helping bring back the basic, most natural functions of the human body. The healing will not just come from us. They will have to own it.
Centro Holistico, Penthouse Level H.P.L. Building, Scout Rallos corner Scout Tuason Streets, Quezon City. (0917) 192-2472. QC@centroholisticoph.com
This article originally appears in L'Officiel Philippines June 2021.

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