Complementary and Integrative Medicine in ENT

In this episode of BackTable ENT, Dr. Ashley Agan and Dr. Walter Kutz talk with Dr. Michael Seidman, an AdventHealth neurotologist with a unique interest in complementary and integrative medicine (CIM), about his holistic health approach to treating ENT-related disorders and his supplement company, PEAK 365 Nutrition.

First, Dr. Seidman explains his background in CIM. While attending the University of Michigan for his undergraduate studies, he majored in nutrition at the school of public health and human nutrition. Additionally, when he played professional racquetball, he was introduced to the use of nutritional supplements and the importance of a balanced diet. Since then, he has secured multiple million dollar donations to establish the first center for integrative medicine.

Next, Dr. Seidman explains the CIM philosophy. He believes that conventional medicine and medications are good at resolving the “quick-fix” issues, but a more holistic CIM approach can help patients effectively manage their chronic diseases. Although getting patients to change their unhealthy behaviors can cut healthcare costs in half, he believes that the patients must want to change these behaviors themselves. Dr. Seidman discusses the efficacy of automatic pattern interruption, where the physician helps the patient identify and eliminate triggers of unhealthy behaviors. He notes that diet, exercise, meditation, rest, and optimistic outlook are important pillars of CIM.

Then, Dr. Seidman delves into how CIM can help manage ENT-specific disorders. For Menniere’s disease, he recommends restricting salt and caffeine intake as well as a diuretic, if necessary. He also prescribes his Menniere’s patients 24 mg of betahistine a day, taken three times in 8 mg capsules. He notes that hearing loss can be stalled or reversed by red wine extract, but this has only been proven to work in mice. Finally, he recommends a ginkgo supplement for tinnitus. However, he warns listeners that not all ginkgo is the same quality, and that patients should look for the product in knowledgeable supplement stores, not drug stores.

Finally, Dr. Seidman discusses his motivation for starting his own monthly supplement company, PEAK 365 Nutrition, and the health benefits his supplements provide. Additionally, he encourages doctors to explore referring their patients to licensed and quality acupuncturists, chiropractors, and hypnotists.