History

The philosophy of caring for the whole person started at Clifton Springs Hospital when Henry Foster, MD, founded a "Water Cure Sanitarium" in 1850 on the site of mineral springs, which had been used by generations of Native American healers. Recognizing and maintaining a deep commitment to his understanding of the interconnectedness of body, mind, and spirit, Dr. Foster incorporated the best of many therapies including conventional Western medicine practices, natural medicine, hydrotherapy, and homeopathy, during the time he owned and supervised the hospital. Guests came from all over the country and the world for rest and renewal at the Water Cure Facility.

For a century, the healing waters and natural therapies were utilized for a wide variety of conditions, both as "medicine" as well as rejuvenation and relaxation. In the 1950's, a shift away from natural remedies took place. With technological advances in medicine abounding, the hospital closed the baths and focused on the Western medical perspective.

Engaging the vision of using the waters and natural therapies, The Springs Integrative Medicine Center grew from the personal experience of a Clifton Springs' nurse who added complementary therapies at the end of her allopathic (Western medicine) cancer treatments for breast cancer. She followed the advice of her physician colleagues, under-going surgery, chemo-therapy and radiation; but as she experienced these treatments, she recognized that she needed more for her healing to be complete. She recognized that Western medicine could not address many of her needs. She looked at her treatment plan from a holistic perspective, adding therapies for healing body, mind and spirit, which included guided imagery, prayer, yoga, massage, Reiki, humor, diet, Chinese Medicine and acupuncture. In these she found the healing she needed.

After her successful healing, she and others, with who whom she shared her story, were aware it did not make sense that she had to go so far a field to find therapies to complete the Western therapies. The irony was especially obvious since Clifton Springs Hospital had been founded by a physician who incorporated many interventions besides Western medicine into the care given to people in this hospital, offering choices for healing.

Re-emerging awareness of the body-mind-spirit connection has brought Clifton Springs Hospital "full circle." On the 150th anniversary of the founding of the hospital, Clifton Springs Hospital & Clinic opened The Springs, to again offer therapies that focus on the health and healing of whole persons, providing care and treatment for patients, families, staff and guests from the community. The plan from the beginning was to bring back the waters for healing and to integrate therapies that would address the healing of body, mind and spirit. In November 2004, a wing of the Hospital was renovated for the current site of The Springs, offering the mineral waters with many other therapies for health and healing. The goal of The Springs Integrative Medicine Center is to bring all of these gentle, healing therapies to patients in the hospital and residents of the nursing home and to serve as a resource for the whole community.

For more information on Clifton Springs History, visit The Foster Cottage Museum website at www.fostercottage.org