Are you wondering where to find an integrative health Clinic? Many people are trying integrative medicine as part of a growing medical movement. While it involves the combination of mainstream and alternative therapies, integrative medicine emphasizes the relationship between the mind, body, and spirit. The goal is not only to treat disease but also to alleviate the underlying causes of illness and ultimately help people experience optimal health. There are many forms of integrative medicine today, each offering specific benefits for patients and doctors.
Integrative medicine is healing-oriented medicine that focuses on the whole person (body, mind, and spirit), including all aspects of lifestyle. As defined by the American Board of Integrative Holistic Medicine, an integrative physician—is trained as a medical doctor with an emphasis on holistic health. Integrative medicine combines conventional and complementary therapies to treat and prevent diseases while promoting optimal health.”
The following principles are fundamental to integrative medicine:
- Patients should be actively involved in their care as informed partners.
- All factors that influence a person’s health, disease, or wealth are considered, such as mind, spirit, community, and body.
- Providers should coordinate care across a spectrum of practitioners for each patient.
- Effective interventions that are natural and less invasive should be used whenever possible.
- Integrative providers care for patients with acute and chronic conditions using the least invasive means possible and do not use harmful interventions.
- The relationship between patient and practitioner is a partnership based on caring.
- The whole person, including body, mind, and spirit, is cared for in an individualized treatment plan.
- The practice of medicine integrates the best of conventional and complementary therapies.
- The healing process encompasses mind, body, spirit, and community.
- Good medicine-:based on sound science. It is inquiry-driven and open to new paradigms.
- The art of medicine includes attention to the subtle aspects of a patient’s experience and the use of specific techniques.
Integrative medicine combines conventional and complementary approaches to care in a coordinated way. This field recognizes that optimal care frequently relies on a combination of conventional, alternative, complementary, and self-care approaches to address physical, emotional, mental, social, spiritual, and other aspects of health and illness. Integrative Medicine (IM) is a term that has emerged in recent years to describe this approach to care.
Integrative medicine is not one specific therapy or treatment but a broad spectrum of safe and effective practices from mainstream medicine and complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). Complementary or alternative therapies are used in addition to conventional medical treatments to relieve symptoms such as pain or nausea or help patients heal more quickly from illness or injury. Some common examples of integrative approaches include:
- The practice of yoga helps relieve back pain.
- The use of acupuncture to help alleviate side effects associated with cancer treatments is growing.
For people already being treated for a health condition, integrative medicine may involve working with their primary care physician or another health professional on lifestyle changes, such as:
- Stress management techniques
- A healthier diet, A diet rich in fruits and vegetables
- Developing stress management skills
- Moderate alcohol consumption.
- Exercise regularly.
- Improving sleep quality and losing weight
- Quitting smoking.
- You are practicing stress management and relaxation techniques, such as meditation, yoga, and tai chi.
There are many reasons why you may want to use integrative medicine. For example, you may want to:
- Feel better physically and emotionally
- Manage the stress of illness
- Feel more in control of their health and well-being
- Overcome a health problem
- Prevent health problems
- avoid side effects caused by some medicines.
- Improve the quality of life
- Play an active role in their health care
- Get relief from symptoms without using medications or having surgery
- Work with a healthcare provider who considers the whole person (mind, body, and spirit)
You may think that integrative medicine is only for well-off people, But this is not true. Integrative medicine can get used by anyone who wants to be healthy and well.
Conventional medicine has its place in many aspects of life, but it ultimately does more harm than good. Alternative medicine is more holistic and attuned to preventative health than the standard eight-minute checkup. Integrative medicine utilizes both conventional and alternative treatments to improve overall health. It’s a refreshing change from the present system and one that many patients have already begun experimenting with. Don’t let your health suffer when there are steps you can take now to alleviate suffering and promote well-being; integrate integrative medicine into your life today.
