IIt wasn’t that long ago when anyone who mentioned acupuncture, herbal remedies, or other holistic alternatives in medicine was labeled “weird” or even “off their rocker.” Dr. Northrup remembers these times all too well as a pioneer in women’s health and wellness in the early ’80s.

Last month, however, Dr. Northrup’s appearance on Good Morning America marked a long-awaited turning point in our culture. For the first time since she began her quest to empower women to engage their inner wisdom and improve their health, Dr. Northrup didn’t have to defend the efficacy of mind/body medicine in the mainstream media!

On May 10th, Dr. Northrup appeared on the popular weekday morning show with co-anchor Diane Sawyer and ABC News medical editor Dr. Tim Johnson to discuss the “New Path of Healing.” This segment was a follow-up to coverage on Donna Karan’s Urban Zen Initiative, a new program set up by the renowned fashion designer to foster the lost art of caring in our hospitals and bring integrative medicine to the forefront of American healthcare.

As part of her work with Donna Karan on this new initiative to bring more humane treatment for those hospitalized with serious illnesses, Dr. Northrup was invited to appear on Good Morning America to talk about how mind/body medicine works. “During the show, I talked with Diane Sawyer about the benefits of yoga, meditation, and other kinds of therapies. Then Diane mentioned that she had a dog that was healed by acupuncture,” Dr. Northrup said. “As soon as she told me that, I knew that this show was going to be different.”

Dr. Northrup proclaimed, “I’ve been out there a long time. This was a moment when I truly realized that we had reached the mainstream. I felt the tectonic plates shifting!”

During the Good Morning America episode, Diane Sawyer and Dr. Northrup discussed how acupuncture, yoga, massage, and various other new methods of healing can help chronic pain, infertility, and menopausal symptoms. “There are patients undergoing chemotherapy who used acupuncture and didn’t lose their hair. There are also cancer patients who go through this process without experiencing difficult side effects,” Dr. Northrup explained.

“Stress hormones are so high in many of us, especially with today’s rigorous routines. Both yoga and meditation decrease these stress hormones which, over time, can result in cellular inflammation, often the root cause of disease.”

Dr. Northrup also pointed out several intriguing aspects of massage therapy. “Touch alone has been found to improve your immunity.” She also emphasized that meditation and other integrative methods of healing can help everyone finally realize the Higher truth: You are not your pain.

“It makes me feel so happy and fulfilled that there are such a large number of pioneers out there now in the many areas of integrative medicine, and that these fields are considered mainstream.”

Good Morning America airs daily on ABC-TV. For more details about the show or the episode which featured Dr. Northrup,visit www.goodmorningamerica.com.

Special Note: Dr. Northrup has recently participated in several Well-Being Forums with Donna Karan and a list of other celebrities for the Urban Zen Initiative. These forums united the world’s foremost leaders in integrative and conventional medicine, the most respected yoga instructors, as well as healthcare leaders, nurses, patients, and spiritual teachers. Dr. Northrup will elaborate on this groundbreaking initiative, the reason behind Donna Karan’s heartfelt mission, and what you can do to help in the September/October 2007 issue of The Dr. Christiane Northrup Newsletter. Click here to subscribe.