What is integrative medicine?

What is integrative medicine?  It is a healing-oriented medicine that takes account of the whole person (body, mind, and spirit) including all aspects of lifestyle, family community and environment.  Integrative medicine is evidence informed, emphasizes the therapeutic relationship, and makes use of all appropriate therapies including conventional Western medicine and complementary techniques.  Integrative medicine takes a broad view of health and regards it as more than the absence of disease.  Health includes wellness of physical, mental, emotional and spiritual factors.

Integrative medicine relies on the body’s innate ability to heal and uses the most appropriate methods available to harness that energy.  Whenever possible, integrative medicine uses effective interventions that are natural and the least invasive possible but it does not reject conventional medicine.

Integrative medicine avails itself of multiple modalities of care.  Some examples include massage, acupuncture, meditation, physical therapy.  Nutrition is one of the pillars of integrative medicine and is a key aspect in improving and maintaining health.  Integrative medicine requires coordination of care and excellent communication between all providers.  Your integrative medicine physician might refer you to other providers for relevant services.

Integrative medicine is not a quick fix.  Since integrative medicine relies on the individual’s own healing ability, it may require some changes in lifestyle and routine.  It is not a magic bullet to fix everything that ails you, but it is a way to maximize quality of life and feel as well as possible.