Integrative medicine
Our integrative medicine practitioners and therapists focus on the whole person—mind, body, and spirit—using evidence-based holistic medicine and integrative wellness strategies to treat conditions and promote long-term well-being.
Integrative medicine programs
At Sharp, our integrative medicine programs are used in conjunction with traditional medical treatment to help alleviate stress, reduce pain and anxiety, manage symptoms and promote well-being and balance.
Acupuncture focuses on correcting imbalances of energy flow caused by trauma, medication, stress or other conditions. Acupuncture uses the insertion of ultra-fine needles into specific points on the body to restore health and improve overall function and well-being.
Acupuncture is offered at Sharp Coronado Hospital.
This program is designed to improve the emotional and spiritual health of patients by using life-enhancing arts experiences such as visual art making, live music engagement, creative writing and sound healing. The program is led by board-certified art and music therapists and supported by a team of volunteers. The Arts for Healing team creates arts encounters and experiences to support the comfort and wellness of patients, their loved ones and hospital staff.
Arts for Healing is offered at Sharp Chula Vista Medical Center, Sharp Coronado Hospital, Sharp Mary Birch Hospital for Women & Newborns, Sharp McDonald Center, Sharp Memorial Hospital, Sharp Allison deRose Rehabilitation Center and Sharp Mesa Vista Hospital.
Clinical aromatherapy uses essential herbal oils to stimulate the sense of smell, which produces a calming effect on patients and helps to relax. This therapy is often used prior to MRIs and during a patient's hospital stay.
Aromatherapy is offered at Sharp Chula Vista Medical Center, Sharp Coronado Hospital, Sharp Grossmont Hospital, Sharp Mary Birch Hospital for Women & Newborns, Sharp Memorial Hospital and Sharp Mesa Vista Hospital.
Healing Touch therapy relies on gentle, noninvasive touch to influence and support the human energy system, which helps to restore balance, alleviate pain and expedite the healing process. It can also help with pain control, anxiety reduction, wound healing, depression and immune system enhancement.
Healing Touch is available at Sharp Chula Vista Medical Center, Sharp Coronado Hospital, Sharp Grossmont Hospital and Sharp Memorial Hospital.
Massage therapy promotes health and well-being, enhances the body's own restorative powers and can be beneficial for stress relief, headaches, muscle strain and in dealing with other chronic conditions. This therapy is provided for inpatients, outpatients and the general public.
Massage therapy is offered at Sharp Coronado Hospital. Comfort hand massage is offered at Sharp Chula Vista Medical Center, Sharp Grossmont Hospital and Sharp Memorial Hospital.
Pet therapy includes visits by a variety of certified therapy dogs.
Pet therapy is offered at Sharp Chula Vista Medical Center, Sharp Coronado Hospital, Sharp Grossmont Hospital, Sharp Mary Birch Hospital for Women & Newborns, Sharp Memorial Hospital and Sharp Mesa Vista Hospital.
Qi gong is the art of developing energy and promotes good health, vitality, longevity, mind expansion and spiritual cultivation. Regular practice is believed to restore energy, reduce stress and help maintain healthy and active lifestyles.
Qi gong is offered to the community at Sharp Coronado Hospital.
Reiki therapy is a Japanese energy therapy for conditions such as stress, chronic pain and the side effects of chemotherapy or radiation therapy. Practitioners use their hands on or above the patient's body to promote a multisystem relaxation response involving the body, mind and spirit.
Reiki is offered at Sharp Chula Vista Medical Center, Sharp Grossmont Hospital and Sharp Memorial Hospital.
Tai chi is an ancient Chinese martial art form that involves a series of movements performed in a slow, focused manner and accompanied by deep breathing. Each posture flows into the next without pause, ensuring that the body is in constant motion.
Regular practice can improve balance, reduce tension and increase joint flexibility, and can also help decrease high blood pressure, anxiety and arthritis pain.
Tai chi is available at the Sharp Allison deRose Rehabilitation Center at Sharp Memorial Hospital.
Tai chi is available to the community at Sharp Coronado Hospital.
Yoga uses physical practices and poses, including gentle stretches and breathing techniques, to encourage progressive, deep relaxation for both body and mind.
Yoga is available to the community at Sharp Coronado Hospital.
Requesting integrative medicine services
To request integrative medicine therapies while in the hospital, please tell your nurse or care team member. Most requests are fulfilled within 48 hours. You can also call us and leave a message:
Sharp Chula Vista Medical Center: 619-502-4070
Sharp Coronado Hospital: 619-522-3798
Sharp Grossmont Hospital: 619-740-6000
Sharp Memorial Hospital 858-939-3475
For services indicated as available to the community, please contact the appropriate hospital for the service.
Frequently asked questions
Integrative medicine is an approach to health care that addresses physical, emotional, mental, social, spiritual and environmental wellness. It combines conventional care we are familiar with — known as Western medicine — with holistic aspects of Eastern medicine (think: acupuncture and meditation).
Some patients are drawn to the more natural, less invasive treatments associated with integrative medicine. It promotes better tolerance of unpleasant symptoms and often uses less pharmaceutical medication than traditional treatment alone — without losing the positive benefits of modern medicine.
Many of our integrative services are provided free of charge to patients at our hospitals. There are no fees for reiki, Healing Touch, Arts for Healing, aromatherapy, pet therapy and comfort hand massage services.
Acupuncture and massage therapy are fee based. Please contact the Sewall Healthy Living Center at Sharp Coronado Hospital for details.
San Diego integrative medicine locations
We offer integrative medicine services at all Sharp hospitals.
