Integrative Medicine – taking medicine back to its roots

Integrative Medicine – taking medicine back to it’s roots.docx

Download DOCX • 2.90MB

Integrative Medicine – taking medicine back to its roots

William Osler, the Father of Modern Medicine, once said, "The good physician treats the disease; the great physician treats the person who has the disease." , as a doctor of integrative medicine does.

Integrative medicine is the path to holistic health. It is an amalgamation of conventional medicine with CAM ( complementary and alternative medicine). It is tailor-made for an individual’s needs.

Dalen called integrative medicine "high-tech and high-touch medicine," and he believes the doctors of integrative medicine should lead the way.

Indications for integrative medicine:

Current approach:

Patients resort to integrative medicine out of frustration. They search for alternatives when medications and treatments don't work.

Alas! That's a faulty approach.

Include integrative medicine from the very beginning of treatment.

Several common conditions are better managed by integrative care, including:

1. Chronic illness - fatigue and persistent pains

2. Cancer

3. Fibromyalgia

4. Diabetes

5. Asthma

6. Irritable bowel syndrome ( IBS)

7. Infertility

8. Multiple sclerosis

9. Anxiety , PTSD ( post traumatic stress disorder)

10. Insomnia

11. Depression

12. Addiction

13. ADHD ( attention deficit hyperactivity disorder)

The elements of the integrative medicine wheel are:

1. Pharmaceutical drugs

2. Surgery conventional medicine

3. Manipulative therapies

4. Energy medicine

5. Mind/body medicine

6. Lifestyle and behavior

7. Nutrition medicine

8. Herbal medicine

Integrative medicine generally includes the following, besides conventional medicine:

1. Naturopathy :

Natural remedies for diseases. Uses balanced diets, vitamins, herbal and probiotic supplements.

1. Complementary medicine:

• Biofeedback mechanisms - it involves "operant conditioning"; regular relaxation exercises give you control of your involuntary body functions.

• Hypnotherapy - utilixes the heightened awareness of a trance-like state to improve focus and relax the mind.

• Meditation, yoga—they all improve mental and physical health.

• Reiki - a Japanese meditative practice involving chanting that heals.

• Tai chi - or "Shadowboxing’, is a Chinese martial art that helps strengthen the core muscles of the body.

• Therapeutic massage - to ease pain and stress

• Acupuncture - an integral part of Chinese medicine; it stimulates the nervous system by inserting needles into certain body points.

• Reflexology - involves the application of pressure and massage to relieve stress.

• Chiropractic adjustments - it is the spinal manipulations to improve spinal motion and body functions.

The Benefits of Integrative Medicine:

1. Individualized treatment plans based on each patient's body's response.

2. concurrent improvement in both mental and physical health.

3. improves sleep quality by calming the mind.

4. reduces discomfort and fatigue.

5. enhances cognitive processes and increases focus and memory.

6. stimulates the appetite

How is integrative behavioral health different from integrated behavioral health?

Integrated and integrative are often used interchangeably, but in the field of medicine they are distinct.

Traditional medicine and behavioral healthcare are combined in integrated medicine. Both treatments are for the same patient, but are mutually independent.

Integrative medicine combines various therapeutic modalities to create a multifaceted, all-encompassing treatment strategy. Here, medicine, nutrition, and yoga go hand-in-hand.

Exactly who offers integrative medicine?

A doctor who has completed the required fellowship in integrative medicine, such as a doctor of medicine (MD), doctor of osteopathic medicine (DO), doctor of chiropractic (DC), or doctor of naturopathy (ND), is authorized to practice.

Conclusion:

Today's educated populace is looking for a healthy lifestyle. They recognize the value of a healthy mind and body. In the recent past, integrative medicine has successfully treated illnesses that were once fatal and crippling.

Refrences:

1. Rees L, Weil A. Integrated medicine: imbues orthodox medicine with the values of complementary medicine. Bmj. 2001 Jan 20;322(7279):119-20.

2. Snyderman R, Weil AT. Integrative medicine: bringing medicine back to its roots. Archives of Internal medicine. 2002 Feb 25;162(4):395-7.

3. Templeman K, Robinson A. Integrative medicine models in contemporary primary health care. Complementary therapies in medicine. 2011 Apr 1;19(2):84-92.