Our Team at Kentuckiana Integrative Medicine

Dr. Rafael Cruz believes that when mind, spirit and body are in synch and provided with proper mental exercise, nutrition, physical exercise, meditation and prayer, then health and vitality will naturally flourish and accompany us as we will lead vigorous, healthy and dynamic lives. The question is what are you putting into your mind and body? Do you read positive books or watch the violent nightly news right before bed? Which do you think restores you? Do you eat wholesome, healthy foods, or unhealthy foods like diet soft drinks, artificial sweeteners, high fructose corn syrup, and most any white foods – like sugar, bread and pasta? Are you passionate about your work and family? Are there changes with which you need help?

In terms of maintaining good health, prevention is clearly the best offense as opposed to the reactive approach most of us take towards our health and lives. We all need coaches in our lives. As health coaches, doctors, other health care providers and our medical staff can assist and guide your path to recapturing and maintaining health. Remember, however, that you are the quarterback. Your health coaches can give you the plays, guidance and support, but it is you who must play the game of life and play to win, because your life truly depends on how you play the game.

Dr. Cruz’s interest in Integrative Medicine began during his anesthesia training in the pain clinic. He saw that epidural steroid injections could be helpful but that usually relief of pain was limited and frequently did not work. A good result was pain relief for three to six months. He then began to learn about Prolotherapy injections that help to strengthen and regenerate injured joints and ligaments. Around the same time, his 55 year-old brother-in-law had a complete tear of his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) of the knee and was advised by three orthopedic surgeons to have surgery. Desperate to avoid surgery, Dr. Cruz’s brother-in-law found a physician Prolotherapist who injected his knee six times. This took place in 2004 and since those injections, he remained pain free and able to play golf and work for almost 4 years until he received Bone Marrow Messenger Signaling Cell Therapy. He is 75 and still has not had knee replacement.

As Dr. Cruz practiced Emergency Medicine and saw patients suffering from many acute problems that could be prevented, his focus gradually shifted toward disease prevention through Integrative Medicine. He has studied numerous medical oxidative and integrative-regenerative medicine therapies.

Ozone, a molecule with three oxygen atoms, has been found to be able to kill bacteria, fungus and viruses. Mayor and Minor Auto Hemotherapy have been found to boost the immune system and help support / prevent a wide variety of problems including infections, bronchitis, asthma, allergic reactions, recurrent mouth herpes cold sores and shingles. Ozone through olive oil can also be inhaled for difficult sinus, bronchitis and allergy cases and can also be administered via the ears with proper equipment for recurrent ear infections.

Another interest of Dr. Cruz’s is the use of Ultraviolet Blood Irradiation (UBI) along with Ozone. Both treatments enhance the biochemical and physiological defenses of the body. Both Ozone and ultraviolet radiation have been used to purify water and treat sewage and can also purify the blood of contaminants in the form of germs. This therapy is useful in many conditions, including infections, rheumatoid arthritis and circulatory issues.

Dr. Cruz also specializes in Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT). Male and female menopausal symptoms (“MENopause” for hormone imbalance in men) can really make a patient miserable. Fortunately, these symptoms can generally be effectively and safely treated with Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT), which can help dramatically to restore health and function.

Dr. Cruz looks forward to the honor of acting as your health coach and physician, while you play quarterback in the game of life.