Integrative Medicine
Integrative medicine is a health based system of medicine that incorporates all aspects of the individual (mind, body, and spirit), with special focus on lifestyle modification and prevention of disease. Integrative medicine recognizes that health is more than just the absence of disease, it is a state of individualized optimal well being. Medical and healing practices from many medical systems are incorporated, including Eastern cultures (TCM, acupuncture, Ayurveda) and Western cultures (homeopathic, massage, psychological), natural medicines, nutrition and exercise, and of course, allopathic (conventional) medicine. Integrative medicine should utilize an evidence based approach, focusing on treatments that have sound scientific evidence that they are safe and effective. Integrative medicine recognizes that all people, regardless of their underlying medical issues have a state of maximal well being and potential, and attempts to move the individual closer to that state of optimal health.
Some tenets of integrative medicine include:
- Recognition that good medicine involves a partnership where both parties are involved in the decision making process. Both the patient and health care practitioner are vested in health care outcomes.
- All factors that influence health, wellness, and disease are taken into consideration. This includes not only the physical body, but psycho-social, spiritual, and environmental causes of disease.
- The harnessing of the body’s innate healing response aids in achieving optimal health.
- Safe and effective interventions that are natural and less invasive should be used whenever possible.
- Practitioners should have an objective perspective on both conventional medicine and alternative therapies with no bias towards either.
- A good physician holds true to good science and keeps both an open and a critical mind.
- Health promotion and the prevention of illness are principal components in an individual’s well being.
- Practitioners of integrative medicine should “practice what they preach” by adhering to healthy lifestyle choices and maintaining good physical health.
- Nutrition and regular physical activity are the cornerstones of any health plan.
- All individuals have a desire for, and a right to, good health.
