04/03/2017 - Dr Brad Jacobs on Integrative Health

Slow Living Radio is delighted to welcome Dr Brad Jacobs to talk about his integrated health approach and give us some insights on taking better care of ourselves.

Dr Brad Jacobs MD MPH ABIM

Bradly Jacobs MD MPH ABIM offers complete solutions for healthy, vibrant living. Dr. Brad addresses diverse concerns – ranging from chronic health issues, to healthy aging, to sustaining peak performance in the workplace. Dr Brad has a long and deep commitment to caring for patients using a technology-enabled, patient-centered, personalized, comprehensive, and whole person approach.

As a physician and educator, Dr. Brad’s integrative health approach responsibly combines the best of modern medicine with established wisdom and traditional East-West practices. Working in collaboration with his clients, Dr. Brad develops state-of-the-art diagnostic and therapeutic plans tailored to individual needs and circumstances. He provides cutting-edge clinical care by combining conventional medical treatments with the following:

• Acupuncture treatments
• Nutritional counseling, including dietary supplement recommendations
• Fitness and body awareness programs, including yoga and martial arts exercises
• Mind-body relaxation techniques

"My interest in integrative medicine was a natural outgrowth of being a martial arts student, which I began at age eight. Over time, I also learned Chinese philosophy, medical theory, and practical applications for promoting health and well-being – including cultivating our energetic body (“Qi”). Although not recognized as a biological system by conventional medicine, as a martial artist and a physician, I have experienced, both personally and professionally, how cultivating this life force confers health benefits."

Dr. Brad’s Biography

Dr. Brad maintains a private medical practice with three office locations (Cavallo Point in Sausalito, BlueWave Medicine in Palo Alto, and downtown San Francisco). Dr. Jacobs is a Diplomate of the American Board of Integrative and Holistic Medicine (ABIHM). He is also senior author of The American College of Physicians (ACP) Evidence-Based Guide to Complementary and Alternative Medicine. He has served as Endowed Professor and Founding Medical Director for the UC-San Francisco Osher Center for Integrative Medicine Clinical Programs where he also taught as an Assistant Professor.

He graduated from Stanford University School of Medicine and received a Master’s Degree of Public Health from University of California at Berkeley. He also completed an Internal Medicine Residency and General Medicine Research Fellowship at University of California, San Francisco (UCSF); Spine Medicine training at Kaiser Permanente; and 5-element and medical acupuncture training at both the San Francisco School of Acupuncture and University of California, Los Angeles. He is also trained in functional medicine, herbal medicine, nutrition, fitness, stress management, yoga and martial arts.

Dr. Jacobs leads executive health and corporate health programs. Clients include Google, PepsiCo, Gap Inc., Lilly Pharmaceuticals., Stanford Business School Beacon Program, and Harvard Business School Executive Education program.

He is founding Chair of the Medical Advisory Board for Pharmaca Inc. and a Board member of the American Holistic Medical Association.  Dr. Jacobs is married with 2 children and lives in Mill Valley, California. He enjoys backcountry skiing and surfing, and is a lifelong student of martial arts.

6 Pillars of Healthy Living™

Modern life keeps us so busy that we are often overcommitted, juggling multiple priorities and feeling out of control. This lifestyle is exhausting, unsustainable, and can damage health. Research has shown that 70-90% of health conditions can be prevented or adequately managed through lifestyle alone; therefore, a cornerstone of Dr. Brad’s innovative solution includes his trademarked “Six Pillars of Healthy Living”:

1. Healthy Eating
2. Active Living
3. Restorative Sleep
4. Stress Reduction and Awareness
5. Connection
6. Finding Passion and Purpose

As you think about your personal relationship to these six pillars, consider the following questions:

1. Healthy Eating. Is your caloric intake appropriate for the amount of energy you are expending? Are you eating the right types of foods? What is your relationship with food?
2. Active Living. How is your posture? What types of exercises, movement, and activity do you do on a daily basis? How do you feel about the level of vitality in your body?
3. Restorative Sleep. Is your sleep restful and sufficient?
4. Stress Reduction and Awareness. How well do you bounce back from adversity? How well do you manage a stressful lifestyle? Are you able to access the full potential of your mind?
5. Connection. How do you connect with yourself? With others? With nature?
6. Finding Passion and Purpose. Is your passion aligned with your values? How much time do you spend on those things that you are most passionate about?