As many as 12% of doctor’s visits in the United States are for ear, nose, and throat-related issues. Most otolaryngologic issues are treated as isolated symptoms, without consideration of systemic causes. Accordingly, treatment options traditionally include quick fixes, such as medications and/or surgery. While these treatments may be successful in the short run, they are often overused and result in recurrent symptoms. Long courses of these medications and/or repeated surgeries can also create problems of their own, resulting in chronic illness and setting patients up on an endless loop of illness and medications. 

Although rarely used in otolaryngology, Integrative medicine with a holistic approach can offer safer, more effective treatments for many common ear, nose, and throat issues. By assessing patients’ symptoms by their root cause, more effective treatment protocols aimed at reestablishing or maintaining homeostasis can be offered.

Session Learning Objectives:

1.) Evaluate common ear, nose, and throat problems.

2.) Analyze these symptoms to identify the root systemic causes.

3.) Apply Integrative Medicine treatments successfully.