Shahar’s Work
Integrative Medicine
Integrative Medicine
Evidence Based
Integrative Medicine
Dr. Lev-Ari’s (Ph.D.) work in Integrative Medicine combines the best of mental, nutritional, acupuncture, and lifestyle treatments with mainstream modern medicine to provide care for the whole person—mind and body. For nearly a decade, Dr. Lev-Ari served as Director of the Integrative Medicine Center and Laboratory at Tel Aviv Medical Center (Ichilov Hospital), Israel’s largest acute care facility. The hospital serves approximately 400,000 patients annually and facilitates 1.8 million patient visits. As a premier government-affiliated academic medical center with 1,500 beds, the institution serves over one million individuals in the greater Tel Aviv area, including visitors to the metropolis. In this leadership role, Dr. Lev-Ari directed a team of 20 therapists specializing in diverse modalities, from mind-body practices to acupuncture, touch therapy, and integrative nutrition. The team developed customized integrative medicine programs and lifestyle consultations for approximately 5,000 cancer patients and survivors, prioritizing their individual healthcare needs as an integral part of Tel Aviv Medical Center’s comprehensive care approach.
Dr. Lev-Ari was honored to receive the Outstanding Scientist Award from the Israeli Society for Complementary and Integrative Medicine, under the auspices of the Israel Medical Association . The Israel Cancer Association appointed Dr. Lev-Ari to edit the handbook of integrative medicine guidelines for the Israeli population.
Acupuncture
Dr. Lev‑Ari team has evaluated acupuncture in several clinical contexts. thier work spans fertility care, musculoskeletal pain, oncology, and geriatric rehabilitation. Highlights include a randomized controlled trial showing sustained pain relief in knee osteoarthritis, a study linking acupuncture to higher pregnancy rates during intra‑uterine insemination, evidence that acupuncture and reflexology can lessen chemotherapy‑induced peripheral neuropathy in breast‑cancer patients, and observational data indicating functional gains in older adults undergoing rehabilitation.
Herbal Medicine and Cancer Research
Medicinal herbs and their derivative phytobioactive compounds are recognized as potent treatments for a variety of diseases. As Head of the Laboratory of Herbal Medicine and Cancer Research, Dr. Lev-Ari led an Israeli delegation to India that culminated in a landmark collaboration memorandum between the Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS), India’s Ministry of AYUSH, and Tel Aviv Medical Center. Supported by grants from the Israel Cancer Association and the prestigious Edmond de Rothschild Foundation, Dr. Lev-Ari’s team conducted multiple innovative studies assessing the role of traditional medicinal herbs—including Curcuma longa (turmeric), Moringa oleifera, and Boswellia serrata—in inflammatory and cancer prevention pathways. The research yielded significant findings: medicinal herbs combined with pharmacological agents synergistically inhibited the survival, migration, and invasion properties of various cancer cells. The team also elucidated the mechanisms by which phytobioactive compounds regulate nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) and inflammatory pathways. Furthermore, this pioneering research has contributed to developing and validating scientific tools for creating standardized therapies from botanical sources.
Preventive Medicine
This prospective study investigated whether a one-stop-shop screening center can lead to an increase in early-stage detection of cancers. 17,104 healthy asymptomatic adults at the integrated cancer underwent the entire spectrum of recommended cancer screening tests. Surveys elicited an excellent patient satisfaction rate. The great majority of cancers were detected at an early stage. When compared with the Israeli general public, the percentage of cancers found at a metastatic stage at the integrated cancer prevention center were lower for breast, lung, colon, prostate, and cervical/uterine cancers. An integrative multicancer screening program may serve as an efficient and valuable approach in identifying early-stage cancers.
Bernstein E*, Lev-Ari S* el at Journal of Clinical Oncology 2023; 41 (14), 2503-2510.
CAN-PACT Study
Dr. Lev-Ari is collaborating with the Canadian Network for Psychedelic-Assisted Cancer Therapy (CAN-PACT), a groundbreaking national initiative led by Dr. Linda Carlson from the University of Calgary and funded by the Canadian Cancer Society. Dr. Lev-Ari’s contribution involves integrating smartwatch monitoring technology to assess physiological responses during psychedelic-assisted therapy sessions. This study aims to establish evidence-based psychedelic-assisted therapy as an accessible option for improving quality of life in advanced cancer patients.
