What is Integrative Medicine?
Integrative medicine combines the best of all modalities of healing, whether from conventional, alternative, traditional, or complementary medicine.
By integrating multiple perspectives, integrative medicine provides an optimal way to address health, wellness, and disease.
It’s not a one-size-fits-all approach but rather considers what is best for the whole person, including physical, mental, emotional, social, and spiritual health.
Here are the basic principles of integrative medicine:
- The patient and practitioner are partners in thehealing in the healing process.
- Integrative medicine considers all aspects ofhealth and wellness, including the body, mind, emotions, community,environment, and spirit.
- Appropriate therapies are chosen to support theinnate healing response.
- Effective therapies that are natural and lessinvasive are used when possible.
- Good medicine is based on good science. It isinquiry-driven, based on posing questions and scenarios with an open-mindedcuriosity for new paradigms.
- In addition to treating illness, integrativemedicine is “health-focused,” emphasizing the importance of both promotinghealth and preventing disease.
- Care is individualized for a person, addressinghis or her unique situation and needs.
- Any practitioner of integrative medicine shouldmodel these principles, committing to self-exploration and self-development.
Integrative medicine is growing in popularity
According to the National Institute of Health, about 30-40% of adults and 12% of children use some kind of integrative medicine.
In fact, Americans spend about $30.2 billion in out-of-pocket expenses on integrative medicine.
Due to these statistics, it is vital for healthcare practitioners to understand both the risks and benefits of complementary, alternative, and integrative medicine.
What are the benefits of integrative medicine?
Common sense
Integrative medicine uses common sense.
For example, most conventional physicians have very littleif any training in nutrition. But, I think most people would agree thatnutrition is important for health. So, why isn’t it talked about more? Hopefully,times are changing but not quite fast enough.
Ancient wisdom
What about time-proven remedies from ancient wisdom? Yes! Integrative medicine incorporates those, too. No need to throw out old remedies that have been incredibly useful.
Often, research starts to catch up to them. Take the old remedy of chicken soup for a cold. Well, now we know that the hot broth and aromatic herbs and veggies can ease congestion, reduce inflammation, and boost the immune system.
Modern science
Modern science also plays a huge role. It’s not aneither/or approach. If you’ve broken your leg, then you want to get the x-rays,anesthesia, and surgery available at a hospital with all the supplies,technology, techs, assistants, nurses, and physicians needed to save your legand your life.
Thinks outside the box
Even more, integrative medicine embraces thinking outsidethe box. How could we be innovative in medicine if we didn’t consider newpossibilities? After all, I’m talking about the art of medicine. Integrativemedicine combines science smarts and creativity to come up with a solution justfor you.
Weighs potential for benefit vs harm
It’s also important to consider if a treatment is likelyto help and unlikely to harm. Weighing both of these is important inany decision-making process. For instance, a simple ginger tea could help with indigestionand is unlikely to cause harm. On the other hand, prescription antacid could relieveindigestion but it is also likely to disrupt the good bacteria in the gut and decreasethe breakdown of food. Integrative medicine chooses the most beneficial andleast harmful option first.
Supports the body in its natural functions
Integrative medicine also supports the body in itsnatural functions. In the example above, the herb ginger aids digestion byhelping the body release more digestive enzymes. Compare that to prescriptionantacids which suppresses the production of natural stomach acids. Here, theantacids are more of a “Band-Aid” approach. However, deeper healing can beachieved by working with the body instead of against it.
Power of collaboration
Plus, integrative medicine believes in the power of collaboration. In particular, that means partnering with you as the patient. Your needs, your situation, and your goals are important in the decision-making process. After all, it’s about your health, which means the whole you. Your voice is vital.
Why choose integrative medicine?
Wouldn't you like your healthcare to...
... be personalized
Integrative medicine recognizes that each person is unique. What works for one person may not work for another. You can’t necessarily rely on protocols. Each plan and recommendation is created for the individual, keeping in mind their particular circumstances and needs.
... address multiple perspectives
It’s not just about the body. There are many factors that influence your health. Has your doctor asked you about them? Your thoughts, emotions, environment, and more can impact your health. Integrative medicine provides ways to address these multiple layers to health.
... empower you to make decisions
You are empowered to help make decisions about your own health. A doctor of integrative medicine takes time to talk to you about your lifestyle. Even small changes can be powerful. Together, you’ll create a plan tailored just for you.
... save you money in the long run
You’ve got one body. Honor it andbe grateful for this home. Choosing to eat vegetables and use herbal remediescan be more cost-effective and more beneficial than taking prescriptionmedicines. In doing so, you can also avoid the unwanted effects of medications,such as addiction to pain medicines or the fatigue with statins.
... health-focused
The health-focused approach looksfor ways to support health rather than simply suppress symptoms with a Band-Aidprescription. By nourishing the inner health, symptoms can resolve completely(true healing) rather than simply covering them up.
... prevent disease
As the saying goes, an ounce ofprevention is worth a pound of cure. Conventional medicine spends little timeand effort teaching people how to live healthy lives. Within integrativemedicine, prevention of disease is a huge priority. Many illnesses have warningsigns, which, if addressed early on, can be reversed and thus disease avoidedcompletely.
What is integrative medicine vs functional, or complementary, or alternative medicine?
Conventional medicine is considered what is currentlymainstream.
Non-mainstream practices can be further defined ascomplementary, alternative, traditional, functional, or integrative medicine:
Complementary medicine is used in addition to conventional practices.
Alternative medicine is used instead of conventional practices.
Traditional medicine is used by indigenous societies. However, traditional is also sometimes used to refer to mainstream or conventional medicine. Yes, it can be confusing!
Functional medicine is more specific than integrative medicine. It uses a biologic-based approach and looks at the body as a whole rather than as separate systems. Functional medicine does rely heavily on laboratory analysis and supplements. However, like integrative medicine, functional medicine views lifestyle modifications, health maintenance, and disease prevention as paramount.
Integrative medicine is a broader term that can encompass all of the above. It integrates the best of any modality of medicine including those above, choosing therapies specifically for the patient, taking into account the circumstances and needs of the individual within the physical, mental, emotional, social, environmental, and spiritual context.
Because of the growing popularity of integrative medicine, it is possible that in the future, integrative medicine becomes the mainstream approach to medicine.
What can integrative medicine treat?
An integrative approach can be used to treat any illness. Infact, integrative medicine can often identify imbalances when conventionalmedicine alone cannot.
For Optimal Health and Wellness:
It’s not just about the absence ofdisease. Actually, the World Health Organization (WHO) defines health as “a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and notmerely the absence of disease or infirmity.”
Have you ever been to the doctorbecause you don’t feel well but they couldn’t find anything wrong? Well,perhaps looking from various perspectives would help.
In other words, optimal healthrequires balance in all the layers of your life, including the physical,mental, emotional, social, and spiritual.
For Acute Issues:
Now, for acute issues, the modalityof medicine that takes precedent will depend on your circumstances. Forexample, if you are in a major car accident, then you want to go straight tothe emergency room for the best conventional care you can receive. Invasiveprocedures like surgery could be life-saving.
As you are healing from yourinjuries, you may incorporate nutritious foods, herbs, supplements, andhomeopathic remedies to support bone-healing. You may consider getting anosteopathic treatment to optimize blood and lymph flow and more. You maymeditate and visualize your body getting better.
For less emergent issues, such assinus congestion, you may choose more natural and less invasive therapiesfirst. Perhaps, you’ll use echinacea and elderberry to boost your immune systemand saline nasal rinses to encourage drainage. Also, an osteopathic treatmentcould help support the natural flow in the body. There are often many optionsto choose from prior to reaching for antibiotics which are more invasive anddisrupt the body’s natural gut flora.
For Chronic Illness
In chronic illness, the imbalanceshave become more apparent. If you have a chronic illness, it is imperative totake an integrative approach. Diet and lifestyle modification can no longer beignored.
Chronic disease has been rising over the decades and accounts for the most deaths in the United States. In fact, 7 out of the top 10 leading causes of deaths are chronic diseases, including as heart disease, cancer, and Alzheimer’s.
Conventional medicine was notdesigned to take care of chronic disease. It is great for emergencies thatrequire life-saving heroic care. For example, if you have cardiovasculardisease and have a heart attack, then you want to go straight to the hospital.This is because conventional care is disease-focused. It’s good at putting outthose fires.
Afterwards, the ongoing healing isbest dealt with by integrative medicine which is health-focused. The fire mightbe out but the coals are still hot. It’s no longer an emergency but the healthof the body still needs nourishment to continue to improve. Dealing withsmoldering issues is not the forte of conventional medicine but of integrativemedicine.
I hear this over and over again. Forinstance, a friend told me that the hospital care her mom received to treat astroke was amazing. But once her mom was discharged from the hospital, theywere left on their own to figure out the day-to-day lifestyle management tobest support health.
There were lingering questions,such as “What can she eat to help reduce the risk of strokes?” or “What aboutmeditation or mindfulness?” or “Would acupuncture help?” and “What else can Ido?”
Integrative medicine can helpanswer these questions.
In doing so, patients feelempowered.
For Difficult Issues
Conventional physicians are happyto refer to me when they have a patient with difficult issues. Maybepsychosocial problems come into play. Or, no matter what they do, nothing seemsto be enough. The patient is not getting better or could improve even more.
When a practitioner or patientfeels stumped, it’s good to have an open mind. After all, you can’t solve aproblem with the same ol’ thinking.
Integrative medicine opens doors.It allows for creativity of healing. After all, medicine is an art. Whenchallenging medical issues arise, you want a collaborative team to help.
I don’t feel the need to work in my own box. If my patients benefit from the help of other practitioners, I am grateful. Being connected with other healing practitioners is a blessing.
What is an integrative medicine doctor?
An integrative medicine physician is not tied to any onemodality of healing. The loyalty is to the patient. That way, a doctor ofintegrative medicine can choose from a vast toolbox of therapies for what bestsuits the patient. With various options, it is easier to individualize thetreatment for the patient.
Visits are typically much longer than the 10-minute visitfor conventional care. It takes time to get to know a patient and understandwhat their needs are for optimal health.
Often, recommendations empower patients with the knowledgethey need to take better care of themselves. This takes much more time and isfar more rewarding than writing a prescription.
It’s not that an integrative medicine doctor doesn’t writeprescriptions. Again, there’s access to many other tools in the therapeutictoolbox. If there are less invasive and helpful options, such as dietary andlifestyle changes, then those are considered first.
An integrative medicine doctor often has a collaborative relationshipwith other practitioners of integrative medicine, including osteopaths,naturopaths, acupuncturists, etc. If needed, a team approach will beincorporated for your care.
Keep in mind that each doctor of integrative medicine is also unique. Some have further training in specialized areas of integrative medicine like acupuncture or osteopathy. Some may be pediatricians or internists or surgeons. Pick the practitioner based on what you feel best suits your needs.
Types and examples of integrative medicine
Hands-on treatment:
- Osteopathic
- Chiropractic
- Massage
- Acupuncture
- Healing Touch
- Reiki
Nourishment:
- Herbals
- Vitamin and mineral supplements (nutraceuticals)
- Diet and nutrition
Movement:
- Pilates
- Tai chi
- Yoga
- Qi gong
- Tension & Trauma Release Exercises
- Other body movement therapies
Mind integration:
- Meditation
- Mindfulness
- Visualization
- Guided imagery
- Hypnotherapy
- Art therapy
Traditional and other modalities:
- Ayurvedic
- Traditional Chinese Medicine
- Naturopathy
- Homeopathy
- Flower essences
- Functional medicine
Does Medicare / Medicaid or insurance cover integrative medicine?
The health modalities incorporated in integrative medicineare wide and varied, such as those listed above. Many of these modalities willnot be covered by Medicare, Medicaid, or insurance.
However, according to the 2012 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), more and more people are choosing to use integrative medicine. Interestingly, this increase is even more pronounced in those that do not have insurance than those who do.
Certain integrative modalities, such as chiropractic oracupuncture, may have partial insurance coverage, although this varies widelydepending on insurance. It would be even more rare for an insurance company tooffer full coverage.
Typically, Medicare (for those 65 and older) and Medicaid (for the underinsured) do not cover integrative medicine products and services. One exception is chiropractic care. If spinal manipulation is deemed medically necessary, Medicare Part B may offer coverage.
Is integrative medicine affordable?
Yes! Integrative medicine is affordable for both theindividual, the government, and insurance companies.
Why? Well, it’s a huge paradigm shift from disease-focusedmodel (conventional medicine) to a health-focused model (integrative medicine).
Take for example approaching high cholesterol andhypertension. In a disease-focused model, a physician writes a prescription tocounter the illness which is likely paid for by insurance. The physician hasvery little if any time to talk about a healthy diet, nor would s/he be paid todo so in this model.
In a health-focused model, a physician could write for a prescriptionfor healthy food which could be paid for by insurance. (They are doing this inMichigan!)
In doing so, you affect the lives of a person in many moreways because you are supporting the overall health, can sometimes reversedisease thus avoiding downstream complications, and improve the life in manymore ways (like mood, energy, sleep...) so that they can feel good and have abetter quality of life and possibly be more present and have betterrelationships, etc.
Plus, this can drive the cost of healthcare down, making it more feasible to provide universal healthcare coverage. Fortunately, there is hope!
New models like this are being studied. Here's one report from Tufts University:
"When the researchers ran their model with a prescription for fruits and vegetables, they estimated that 1.93 million cardiovascular events would be prevented and $39.7 billion would be saved. When they ran it with the broader prescription for healthy foods, they estimated that 3.28 million cardiovascular events and 120,000 diabetes cases would be avoided and $100.2 billion would be saved."
Reuters Health
