If you are not yet familiar with PremierMD in Bridgewater, NJ, you may be happily surprised to discover a medical practice that artfully blends the best of Western medicine with long venerated, traditional healing modalities from other cultures around the world. David Boguslavsky, MD, and his talented team intentionally bring this leading-edge paradigm to both of his practices, PremierMD, and Premier Medical Acupuncture, which allows Dr. Boguslavsky to incorporate the benefits of Eastern and Western medicine, ensuring a rich array of credible solutions to widely varying patient needs. 

PremierMD is best described as a technologically advanced, efficient, modern medical practice built upon a time-honored tradition of compassionate attention to each individual patient and their unique condition. It is primarily defined by its holistic approach, a term characterized by the belief that the parts of something are interconnected and can be explained only by reference to the whole. From a medical standpoint, holistic care refers to the treatment of the entire person, considering physical, mental, emotional, and social factors. This deeply integrated healing model is based on discovering and addressing the underlying causes of illness, as opposed to merely treating symptoms. 

Given our profound bio individuality, Dr. Boguslavsky finds that being Board Certified in both Family Medicine and Medical Acupuncture offers great latitude in providing care. This foundation enables him to utilize evidence-based medicine from around the globe to ensure patients are provided with a full spectrum of treatment options for their varying needs. In some cases, Western medicine offers the most useful treatment, whereas for others, a few well-targeted acupuncture sessions can accomplish more than months of physical therapy or drugs. 

Other patients find that medical cannabis is most effective for their issues, such as chronic pain or nagging insomnia. Cannabis contains cannabinoids, a group of closely related compounds which interact with our biologically innate endocannabinoid system. Endocannabinoids are cannabinoid-like molecules produced in our bodies and stored in our brains, organs, connective tissues, glands, and immune cells which act as a bridge between body and mind, with complex actions in our immune system, nervous system, and bodily organs. In other words, cannabis may help connect brain activity and states of physical health and disease. This mind-body medicine is available to patients qualifying under the NJ Compassionate Use of Medical Marijuana statutes. 

Dr. Boguslavsky has also seen promising results with various pharmaceutical medications, one case in point being    Spravato, a ketamine-based treatment for Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). John Krystal, MD, chief psychiatrist at Yale Medicine and one of the pioneers of ketamine research in the country, refers to ketamine as “the anti-medication” medication for treatment-resistant depression. 

Krystal notes that, “With most medications, like valium, the anti-anxiety effect only lasts when it is in your system. When the valium goes away, you can get rebound anxiety. When you take ketamine, it triggers reactions in your cortex that enable brain connections to regrow. It’s the reaction to ketamine, not the presence of ketamine in the body that constitutes its effects.” Currently, PremierMD is the only Spravato treatment center in Central New Jersey. 

For many loyal patients, the culture of caring that characterizes PremierMD is as healing as the evidence-based treatment options on offer. As Dr. Boguslavsky has noted, “We never run short on time or compassion.” Imagine a scenario in which every patient receives all the time needed for a full therapeutic evaluation and intervention. No matter your age, state of health, or specific condition, PremierMD offers a sanctuary for superb patient-centered family medicine and medical acupuncture. Here’s to living not only long, but also well! 

PremierMD is located at 757 Route 202-206, Ste. 104 in Bridgewater. For more information, call 908-450-7002 and visit MyPremierMD.com. See ad, page 9.

Kiki Powers is a contributing writer for Natural Awakenings.