I've been reporting on, learning about, and practicing integrative healing modalities for nearly two decades--and I'm constantly amazed at how powerful the most gentle therapies can be.

I really had the opportunity to put that to the test when I tumbled on the street, wound up in the emergency room, and required eight (ouch) stitches.

For me, the foundations of health care are having the knowledge and freedom to access all good health options. I'm also a great believer in Proactive Health Care, rather than Reactive Health care.

Proactive Health Care means laying the foundations for good health on a daily basis. You find areas of imbalance anywhere in your mind and body and seek out ways to address them sooner rather than later. Becoming Proactive means that you maintain your health through listening to what your body sensations, feelings, and thoughts tell you, and finding ways to support healing and balance.

But then there are those times when we find ourselves accessing health care in reaction to a health symptom, crisis, or wake-up call. We need to prepare for those kinds of situations as well so that we are ready to respond.

The emergency siren went off for me last week.

After dinner with a friend in Soho, I headed across a cobble-stoned street, wearing clogs and lost my footing. It was a pretty bad fall and soon Ms. Integrative Health found herself needing acute care- in a hospital emergency room--not my favorite place to be.

Although in 20-20 hindsight, I wished that I could have acted proactively (different shoes, leg strengthening exercises, being less rushed?) here I was having to respond reactively.

As a health journalist, health coach, and facilitator of Family Repatterning, one thing I know from years of looking into all the many integrative health care practices out there is that it's not just about sifting through information, it's about learning to discern what works for you. And that is individual.

Fortunately, I found that all the Proactive Health understanding I had developed really paid off in this situation because I was already familiar with a wide range of helpful options and practitioners. Folks came out of the woodwork offering arnica and wielding acupuncture needles, Even my haircutter had a favorite brand of homeopathy. I recommend familiarizing yourself with new modalities now, and finding practitioners that you trust.

Through one practitioner/friend, I accessed homeopathy to address the shock and bruising and acupuncture to strengthen my body's immune response. I used a natural silver homeopathic ointment to prevent infection, and health coaching for the feelings of sadness and fear that arose from this scary incident, while Gyrotonics helped rebalance my bones, muscles, and structure. Currently, I'm doing followup with DNA supportive nutraceuticals and energy medicine tools to minimize scarring and help the tissues rebuild rapidly.

All of this taken together has diminished the shiner of all times in just a week-- but still you better believe that I went out (walking slowly) to get some concealer so that I'd be ready for my presentation at an important meeting. Integrative/Proactive care means that you access everything that you need. It transcends party lines of us vs. them in medicine. It's about what works for you. Even if it's a beauty product.

Finally, one of the most critical things was help from my friends. Building a healing circle of support for the good times and the bad is something we all can do, and the caring counts most of all.

If you have any questions about Proactive Care, please join me and Deepak Chopra, Larry Dossey, and other great practitioners at the Better Health Campaign by signing up at: www.Health-Journalist.com