Address Your Health Concerns with Integrative Medicine
by Reenita Malhotra in Health and Fitness
With healthcare having become such a question mark in the last few years, Americans are looking for ways to take a more active role in addressing the needs of their health. The advance of global medicines opens up a number of new health care options for Americans. With it’s wide variety of safe and effective treatments, many people are turning to the curative power of Integrative Medicine.
What is Integrative Medicine?
Integrative Medicine refers to healthcare services and education not often found in traditional Western medical centers. Integrative Medicine incorporates the art and science of caring for the whole person – body, mind and spirit – to treat and prevent disease, encouraging patients to create optimal health conditions.
Unlike contemporary Western medicine, many global medicines offer holistic health care treatment whose results have not necessarily undergone traditional ‘lab research’ verification. Mind-body techniques, energy healing and manipulative body-based practices are not necessarily easy to quantify. Integrative Medicine centers are attempting to bridge this gap by providing an evidence-based, patient-centered approach to holistic health care.
What is the difference between CAM and Integrative Medicine? Integrative medicine is often confused with Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) so it’s worth taking a few minutes to understand the difference. Complementary and alternative medicine is a group of diverse medical and health care systems, practices, and products that are not generally considered part of conventional medicine. They differ in that one is used in conjunction with conventional practices while the other is used in lieu.
* Complementary medicine is used together with conventional medicine. For example, aromatherapy (a therapy in which the scent of essential oils from flowers, herbs, and trees is inhaled to promote health) helps lessen a patient’s discomfort following surgery.
* Alternative medicine is used in place of conventional medicine. For example, diet and nutrition might be used to treat cancer instead of the usual surgery, radiation, or chemotherapy recommended by a conventional doctor.
A Growing Interest in Integrative Medicine
A recent study by the National Institute of Health (NIH)’s National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) (http://nccam.nih.gov/) and the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) found that 36 percent of adults in the U.S. reported use of some form of complementary or alternative medicines, and when megavitamin therapy and prayer, specifically for health reasons, are included in the definition of CAM, that number rises to 62 percent.
What medicines are covered in Integrative Medical Care?
Truth be told there are a number of different medical practices that are covered and each Integrative Medicine Center is unique in their offering. While NCCAM groups the practices into four domains, there is indeed some overlap. Additionally, NCCAM studies CAM whole medical systems, which cut across all domains.
Whole Medical Systems Whole medical systems pertain to complete systems of theory and practice that have evolved apart from and earlier than conventional Western Medicine:
• Homeopathic medicine – Originally from Europe, homeopathy stimulates the body’s ability to heal itself by giving very small doses of highly diluted substances that in larger doses would produce illness.
• Naturopathic medicine – Also originally from Europe, naturopathy supports the body’s ability to heal itself through the diet and lifestyle.
• Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) – Originally from China, this medicine aims to balance the disruption in the flow of qi (a mind-body energy) and imbalance in the forces of yin and yang (the male and female energies in the mind-body). Therapies used include herbs, meditation, massage, and acupuncture.
• Ayurveda – Originally from India, this medicine integrates the body, mind, and spirit to prevent and treat disease. Therapies used include herbs, massage, and yoga.
Mind-Body Medicine
Mind-body medicine uses a variety of techniques designed to enhance the mind’s capacity to affect the body’s function. Examples of mind-body medicine include behavioral therapy (which has subsequently become mainstream), meditation, prayer, mental healing, and creative therapies such as art, music, or dance.
Biologically Based
Practices Biologically based practices use substances found in nature, such as herbs, foods, and vitamins. Examples include dietary supplements and herbal products.
Manipulative and Body-Based
Practices Manipulative and body-based practices are based on the application of controlled force to the muscular tissue or to a joint, moving it beyond the normal range of motion in an effort to aid in restoring health. Examples include chiropractic medicine, osteopathic manipulation and massage.
Energy Medicine
Energy medicine is based upon the use of energy fields to aid the healing process.
* Biofield therapies affect energy fields that surround and penetrate the human body. Some forms of energy therapy, such as qi gong (which is considered to be an aspect of TCM), manipulate biofields by applying pressure and/or manipulating the body by placing the hands in, or through, these fields. Reiki is a therapy in which practitioners seek to transmit a universal energy to a person’s spirit, from a distance or by placing their hands on or near that person.
* Bioelectromagnetic-based therapies heal via machine-generated electromagnetic fields such as pulsed fields, magnetic fields, or alternating current or direct-current fields.
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Posted on Apr 14, 2009
acupuncture, alternative medicine, aromatherapy, behavioral therapy, Chinese medicine, chiropractic, Complementary medicine, energy healing, energy therapy, healthcare, holistic health, homeopathy, Integrative Medicine, massage, medical systems, medicine, meditation, Mind-Body Medicine, National Center for Complementary, Naturopathic Medicine, naturopathy, qi gong, Reiki, Whole Medical Systems
About the Author
Reenita Malhotra
Reenita Malhotra Hora is an Ayurveda clinician and freelance writer. Native to Mumbai, she resides in San Francisco with her husband and two kids where she helps people to achieve their wellness goals. Reenita writes for a variety of sustainability media including Green Options, Green Living Ideas, National Geographic Kids, SustainLane and more. Check out her wisdom at www.reenita.com.5 Responses to “Address Your Health Concerns with Integrative Medicine”
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Dr. David Robinson
Twitter: @http://Twitter.com/drdave4health
Apr 14, 2009
Your article offers some great insight into CAM and IM for the lay person and for other health care practitioners not familiar with some healing arts. As a published author in body/mind/spirit health (StrategicBookPublishing.com/TransformingBodyMindAndSpirit.html), I feel that such health disciplines add viable a alternative to and a great value to traditional care models. But, if I may digress, you incorrectly referred to Chiropractic as “Chiropractic Medicine”, when, in fact the two are separate and distinct health care professions. Chiropractic being founded on the principles of vitalism while medicine takes the mechanistic approach. Although I do realize many in the Chiropractic profession are attempting to parallel themselves with medicine in both their practice approach and opinions on how Chiropractic should be seen by the public, the fact does remain that Chiropractors are not medical doctors nor do they receive any type of medical degree from a medical college. They receive a “D.C.” – “Doctor of Chiropractic” degree from a Chiropractic college. Many thanks for an enlightening article, Dr. David Robinson
blacktiger
Twitter: @Twitter Name (optional)
Apr 14, 2009
@Dr. David Robinson – Though cloaked in a reasonable-sounding tone, the essence of what you are stating is unfortunately very typical of people from the medical profession and most certainly from anyone associated with the AMA (as http://www.chiro.org/Wilk/ clearly documents the long history of the AMA in illegal disinformation campaigns against the chiropractic profession, which has ended in successful antitrust suits and injunctions against the AMA).
You’re basically inferring by your statements that “hey we’re REAL doctors and CP’s aren’t.. don’t be fooled”. Well, you know what? Most alternative health practitioners don’t hold medical degrees, at least from institutions recognized by western medicine. Does that make them any less effective? Hardly. If it works, and produces healing, then it has value and is good. I’m sure you would laugh at things like homeopathy, bach flower remedies, and acupuncture, but I like so many people have had so many wonderful experiences with alternative healing therapies that your attitudes about them are truly meaningless in the end analysis.
“If it works, and works reproducibly it is a valid healing methodology” should always be the mantra in real healing (I imagine that Hippocrates would be rolling in his grave about what medicine has become in the western world much as our forefathers are rolling in their graves about what the government has done to the US constitution), and billions of people worldwide get by with non-western medicine approaches for the majority of their healing needs just fine, thank you. Western medicine certainly has great value and a place, but this idea put forth by those in the medical community that everything and everyone that doesn’t have an MD after their name is a quack is total crap, and I think I speak for many when I say we’re all pretty sick and tired of hearing it.
Time to move on, wake up, and cut out the white noise and start integrating alternative medicine into your own practices, rather than throwing out negativity and disinformation in an attempt to hide your head in the sand like an ostrich about the transformation happening in the world of medicine. Hybrid practices and integrative medicine are the future of medicine whether you like it or not, and the massive numbers of traditional doctors integrating non-traditional healing into their practices (my own doc is a naturopath/homeopath/MD who speaks at many western medicine conferences and writes books about the subject) is testament to where all of this is going.
Best of luck with the old school attitude, I don’t think it’s going to serve you or your patients very well in the end.
Dr. D. P. Gatten
Twitter: @drdpgatten
Apr 14, 2009
Hi Reenita,
I enjoyed your Article on “Integrative Medicine”! You have done your ‘Due Diligence’ in Research and many Like myself will thank you for all this information that pertains to “The Medical Professions.
To some my D. M. is as valueless, as some who look on the D.C.’s the same way. Please bare with me,as I will not Cloak My Reply in ‘reasonable-sounding tones’.
Let me state up front; it was a D.C. that kept me going by aligning my body, not as the M.D.s who only masked my pain with addicting narcotics from the ‘Pill Pharms’.
I was introduced to ‘Energy Medicine’ per se, as another alternative medicine many months ago and I have been searching, Googling, inquiring and investigating every thing I can find on it, ever since.
What is interesting is that there are many kinds of it, some practices and documentation from the page of antiquity to some recent discoveries and developments. Some of it is lore from the past, though many are from procedures still practiced today and getting results! (Some you have reported on.)
Because of things in my wife and my own life, we have, earlier on strayed from the ‘American Medical Association’, their practitioners’ and proponents, the dangerous Pharmaceutical Manufactures, and the corrupt oversight of the ‘Federal Drug Administration’! We now investigate most ‘Alternative Medicine’ products and practices.
We are well acquainted with the ‘NaySayers’ and ‘Skeptics’ that are out there and aware that every Metabolism is as different, as DNA. When the Evidence and the Testimonies, line up and ring a bell, we sometimes take it to the next step and give it a several month trial and make a decision to either make it a part of our life or pass it on by, waiting for the next discovery, innovation and/or development.
My Wife has had Fibromyalgia for over 25 years, back when it was ‘JUST’ “A Figment Of Her Imagination”!
In 1960 I Broke my Back (L-2) and was on Darvoset & Baclofen for many years. I went Cold Turkey for over 2 weeks of excruciating pain and barely hanging on to my sanity. Up to last September I would only take the Pharms, when not able to cope and bit the bullet must of the time.
Last September I was introduced to an ‘Energy Medicine’ that you did not mention and can now touch my toes without any pain or discomfort of any kind.
I have been documenting Information about the Products, since that time. http://advitaenergynow.wordpress.com/
This is Quantum Physics Alternative Medicine for the Twenty-First Century.
My wife is getting some relief at last and we are looking forward to seeing some great results.
Allow me to complete this reply with an Observation of the Pharm Commercials on TV, witch in essence tell us, “If you die from using our drugs, … You have adequately been warned!”
Be Blessed, D. P. Gatten, D.Min.
shawmutt
Twitter: @Twitter Name (optional)
Apr 16, 2009
So…CAM and “Integrative Medicine” is different how? Intergrative Medicine seems to be yet another form of CAM.
garyk
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Apr 19, 2009
While much about health care is about the insurance industry little if any thing is said about health care providers. This industry does not fall under the Consumer Protection act there fore they can charge the consumer what ever they wish. If t he providers accepted only the insurance payments MORE consumers would visit the health care providers. This would result in a healthier patient and MORE revenue for the providers