From Dr. Safran
Many people ask me about my training in Israel, about my methodology, and my treatment philosophy.
In Israel, medicine is truly complementary - holistic practitioners work hand-in-hand with conventional medical doctors toward the benefit of the patient...
(cont. below...)
Another important aspect of the methodology I follow is to educate my patients and teach them how to take responsibility for their own health and well-being. Patients with cancer are very good examples of this. By educating these patients about the chemistry of their disease and the effect of nutrition on this chemistry, they are empowered to make better-informed choices about their lifestyle and the positive or negative effects of their nutritional habits on their health.
Sometimes patients need more than information. During my residency in Israel I worked with two mothers who had lost children to terrorist attacks and another who, after many years of trying to conceive, gave birth to a baby with Down's Syndrome. Through personal development and guided imagery methods, they were able to learn how to accept the past, come to terms with the present and look forward to the future. These treatments were more emotional in nature, but the effects of the mind on the body and soul is a foundational philosophical component in the school of complementary medicine and all three are integral parts of a person's overall wellness.
Physical complaints don't always necessarily have physical roots. I've treated many patients who initially came to me because of health issues such as high blood pressure, digestive problems, weight issues, and auto-immune related complaints. Following the initial interview, which usually lasts for two hours, together we were able to find that the root cause is actually past psychological trauma. Past sexual abuse, traumatic events like divorce or the loss of a loved one can all manifest physically. Treating the symptoms may bring temporary relief, however it does not cure the underlying cause so the symptoms invariably return. Naturopathic medicine, as I practice it, understands the mind-body-soul interaction and codependence and the treatment plan take all three into account.
There are no magic pills or universal remedies. No one can be responsible for your health and well-being but you. My function is to help you learn and empower you to take responsibility for your own health by providing the information you need to make educated decisions about your individual health and needs. In addition to that, Phytotherapeutic and other natural methods of treatment are also beneficial in most cases to help regain the balance that has been lost between the mind, the body, and the soul, and to help get the healing process in motion.
No two people are alike. Each patient is a unique individual and each treatment plan is developed specifically for the individual patient. This approach is at the heart of the school of Naturopathic medicine to which I belong.
Dr. Milena Safran was born in Moscow, Russia, and immigrated to Israel in 1991 at the age of 22. Milena enrolled first in the Reidman International College for Complementary Medicine and then transferred to the Tsabar College of Natural Medicine, both in Jerusalem, Israel. Completing her course of study Suma Cum Laude and her residency, she was granted her degree as a Doctor of Naturopathy. Milena's doctoral thesis, entitled Interactions between Vitamins, Minerals, Amino Acids and Prescription Medications, became a textbook for future Naturopaths.
Milena wants to thank her professors:
Yudit Topol N.D.
Professor, Reidman International College for Complimentary Medicine.
Prof. Avshalom Mizrachi Ph.D
Academic Director and Head of the Faculty of Naturopathy,
Reidman International College for Complementary Medicine.
Dr.Sulma Gazit
Hebrew University Adult Stem Cell Project.