Category Archives: Integrative Medicine

Integrative medicine pairs traditional medicine with other treatments to care for your mind, body, and spirit. For example, your doctor may suggest chemotherapy to fight cancer as well as acupuncture to help manage its side effects.

It isnt just medicine. Your care team may also design a plan to help you build healthy behaviors and skills -- like smart eating habits and stress-busting activities. These things can keep you healthy for the long term.

Integrative medicine uses complementary treatments, but they have to be backed by good science. Always tell your doctor before you try a nontraditional treatment. That way, youll know if its safe and likely to work.

There are a lot of new terms to learn when you go outside regular medical care:

Conventional medicine. This is what you get from medical doctors, nurses, physical therapists, psychologists, and similar health care professionals. You might hear it called:

Alternative medicine. True to its definition, this type of care is used instead of (an alternative to) standard medical care. For example, you might go on a special diet that claims to cure cancer instead of taking drugs your doctor prescribes. This isnt common, but it does happen. Talk to your doctor before you decide to skip traditional treatment.

Complementary medicine. Its often used along with traditional medicine. It can help you manage the side effects of cancer treatment.

Integrative medicine. This approach takes the most effective treatments from different disciplines, including standard medicine and complementary approaches. The result is a personalized health plan for your unique physical and emotional needs.

Its a medical specialty. That means you can find a doctor who is board-certified in integrative medicine and trust that your treatments will be safe and proven to work. What you can expect from this kind of medical care?

You might hear it called integrative oncology. No matter what the name, the idea is the same: Treat the whole patient, not just the disease. For cancer patients especially, that includes ways to ease stress and worry and boost your sense of well-being. You might try:

Evidence is what makes the big difference between the complementary treatments that are considered part of integrative medicine and all the other complementary and alternative treatments out there (you may hear your doctor lump them together into one term: CAM). With integrative medicine, you get science-backed therapies that your doctor has chosen to treat your condition. If you try CAM on your own, you may not know whether a product or treatment is safe.

For example, the label all natural doesnt mean a product is safe. Some natural ingredients can be toxic. Others might keep your cancer treatments from working like they should.

What might CAM treatments do for you?

Acupuncture:

Hypnotherapy (hypnosis):

Massage therapy:

Meditation:

Physical activity:

Nutrition counseling:

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Can Integrative Medicine Help Fight Cancer? - webmd.com

A Contemporary Blending of Traditional Medicine & Complementary Therapies

Career Opportunites at Advanced Integrative Medicine:

Lisa Durham won for having the most positive reviews posted on AIM. Congratulations, Lisa!

28-day Guided Summer Detoxification & Nutrition Course - Led by Dr. Diana Milling, ND

Career Opportunites at Advanced Integrative Medicine:

Advanced Integrative Medicine is excited to announce:

Advanced Integrative Medicine is looking to grow!

We are very excited at how well we have been received in our community and we are now looking to expand! We are now interviewing for Internists, Physicians Assistants and Osteopaths wanting to be involved in a leading medical office that offers alternative options to our patients. This is an excellent opportunity for someone who wants an unlimited possibility for income. Please call the office at (303) 708-0246 or email us your resume at info@aim4yourhealth.com if you are interested. We are also OPEN to New patients!

Advanced Integrative Medicines primary goal is to provide our patients with team based health services that combine Western (Allopathic) medicine with complementary treatments in a modern setting emphasizing integrated treatment modalities.

We believe that your active involvement with our providers who are Board Certified in Internal Medicine and Family Practice along with two highly trained Physician Assistants are essential to your personal health and wellness.

In addition, our professionally licensed health care providers in Clinical Psychology, Diet and Nutrition, Chiropractic, and Acupuncture services work closely together with our traditional medical providers

Mon - Fri : 8am - 5pm

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Advanced Integrative Medicine | A Contemporary Blending of ...

What is complementary medicine?

The word "complementary" means "in addition to." Complementary medicine is a term used for a wide variety of health care practices that may be used along with standard medical treatment.

What is considered standard treatment in one culture may not be standard in another. For example:

Examples of complementary medicine include:

Some complementary practices have been studied and tested. But most haven't been studied with well-designed trials. That means there are still many questions about these practices. We often don't have good evidence from science about whether they are safe, when they should be used, and how well they work.

In the U.S., the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health was formed within the National Institutes of Health to test the safety and effectiveness of these treatments. The center has guidelines to help you choose safe treatments that are right for you.

People often use complementary practices along with care from their medical doctor to deal with chronic health problems, treat symptoms, or stay healthy.

Find out about the safety of any complementary product or practice you want to try. Most mind and body practices-such as acupuncture, meditation, and yoga-are very safe when used by healthy people with a well-trained professional. Choose an instructor or practitioner as carefully as you would choose a doctor.

Talk with your doctor about any complementary health practice that you would like to try or are already using. Your doctor can help you manage your health better if he or she has the whole picture about your health.

Some of these treatments may be covered by your health insurance. But check to see what your plan covers.

The greatest risk is that you may use these treatments instead of going to your regular doctor. Complementary medicine should be in addition to treatment from your doctor. Otherwise you may miss important treatment that could save your life.

Some natural products may be safe when you take them on their own. But they may not be safe if you have other medical problems. And they could be dangerous when they are combined with another medicine you take. To be safe, always check with your doctor before you use any new natural products or supplements.

Natural products can vary widely in how strong they are. And they may also contain harmful things not listed on the label. Your doctor or practitioner may be able to recommend a brand you can trust.

Also, complementary medicine isn't controlled as much as standard medicine. This means you could become a victim of fraud. Sellers or people who practice complementary medicine are more likely to be frauds if they:

One benefit is that many people who practice complementary medicine take a "whole person," or holistic, approach to treatment. They may take an hour or more to ask you questions about your lifestyle, habits, and background. This makes many people feel better about the treatment, the person giving the treatment itself, and the condition.

In some cases, this type of medicine works as well as standard medicine. Also, these treatments may cost less and have fewer side effects than standard treatment.

Some people feel more in control when they are more involved in their own health. And since most complementary medicine looks at the connection between mind and body, many people who use it feel better. They like working toward overall wellness instead of just relief from one problem.

WebMD Medical Reference from Healthwise

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Complementary Medicine - Topic Overview - WebMD

What is integrative medicine and what careers are available in integrative medicine? This is a growing approach to healthcare which is gaining popularity among both patients and providers of all types.

Lisa P. McDonald is the owner of Integrated Connections, a firm which specializes in search and placement of medical professionals in the field of integrative medicine. Over time, she has grown a passion for integrative medicine based on its effect on her own personal health and well-being.

She then decided she wanted to help others have access to this type of care, which she feels is empowering for patients and enables them to be more involved and proactive in their own health treatment.

Integrative Medicine (IM) is a standard of healthcare that focuses on the individual and addresses the whole person - mind, body, spirit and environmental influences that impact a persons health, according to Lisa McDonald.

Integrative Medicine combines Western modern medicine with appropriate natural medicine therapies to achieve optimal health and healing.

IM care uses an integrative approach that is tailored to the individual and is focused on health maintenance, prevention, education and healing, while recognizing the bodys innate ability to heal itself.

Integrative medicine combines therapies and treatment approaches to ensure the best results for patients. These great results will keep the field growing.

First, an Integrative Primary Care Provider (MD, DO, Naturopath, PA, NP) will meet with a patient with an increased level of attention and time to understand the whole person and review their medical history, lifestyle choices, symptoms and create a personalized plan based on the patients specifics needs.

This personalized plan would include education for healing and to develop healthy patterns of behavior with possible referrals to integrative practitioners for recommendations on diet, exercise, supplements,painand stress management techniques.

Two main reasons:

It truly is gratifying to work in a field that educates and supports people in achieving optimal health, vitality and happiness. The practitioners are not only directly impacting the quality of life for individuals, they are major influencers of the transformation of our healthcare system from disease management care to health promotion. They are healers and teachers, and they experience rewarding results daily.

The demand is increasing for integrative medicine, because chronic illnesses are very costly to US healthcare, costing more than $1 trillion annually. The majority of chronic illness is preventable, according to the CDC, and currently they are a leading killer in America.

Furthermore, the government is on board with integrative med, posting jobs for licensed acupuncturists (LAc) on usajobs.gov, and the NIH (National Institute of Health) has funded an entire agency of 65 employees to study complementary and integrative medicine.

Even the Affordable Care Act includes IM language, in that it speaks to covering licensed and credentialed integrative practitioners.

Four of the healthcare professionals appointed to the Federal government's Advisory Group to the National Prevention Council are specialists in integrative medicine as well.

The U.S. military has incorporated integrative medicine into its healthcare system, including acupuncture and stress management therapies to manage chronic pain and PTSD for warriors, veterans, and their families.

Additionally, the number of privately owned integrative clinics/centers opening is on a steady increase and conventional practices are revamping their business models to include integrative therapies to remain competitive. Some of the most respected medical centers in the nation have established integrative medical centers, including Mayo Clinic, Duke University Medical Center, Scripps, and Beth Israel Deaconess. Fifty-one academic medical centers now include CAM (complementary and alternative medicine) programs.

Insurance coverage is one current challenge, but I'm optimistic about the progress with the Affordable Care Act giving more people access to integrative healthcare services from licensed IM practitioners.

Perception is another challenge. Skeptics and those referring to integrative med as "woo-woo" medicine prevent others from being more receptive to learning more about the value of integrative med and experiencing the benefits of integrative therapies.

Integrative MDs, DOs, NPs, PAs and CNMs, naturopathic physicians, acupuncturists, chiropractors, Reiki practitioners, healing touch, nutritionists and massage therapists. This is not an all-inclusive list, but those are some of the most common professions associated with integrative medicine.

I see a steady increase in positions for practitioners specializing in integrative medicine. Also, NDs (naturopathic doctors) are being recognized as a solution to assist in the current shortage of primary care providers. NDs are also increasingly being employed in research and administration positions for academia and health supplement companies. Additionally, many hospitals and cancer care clinics are more commonly hiring Reiki practitioners and health touch practitioners as part of their provided services.

First, decide which profession interests you the most in practicing. I think it is critical to love what you do every day for your own well being and because you will perform best doing what you enjoy. Experiencing the benefits of one or more integrative therapies is a great way to start exploring, and interview integrative practitioners to understand what their practice involves.

Next, I also think its also critical to obtain licensure/certification from accredited institutions. Refer to websites of national professional societies that provide you with comprehensive information and direct you to accredited institutions for licensure.

Medical professionals who are already licensed in a field and wish to expand their skill set to include integrative medicine can pursue a fellowship in Integrative Medicine at Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine (AzCIM). AzCIM offers a residency in integrative medicine as well. There are many other educational opportunities to study integrative medicine with online courses or onsite learning for anyone. Several are offered through the American Board of Holistic Medicine.

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What is Integrative Medicine? - Verywell

Supporting people on their journey to realizing wholeness

Welcome! At the UF Health Integrative Medicine Program we treat the whole person mind, body and spirit and are dedicated to helping you achieve optimal health and well-being in all aspects of life.

The Integrative Medicine Program is an outgrowth of UF Health Shands Arts in Medicine, one of the largest arts in health care programs in the nation. Arts in Medicine uses music, visual arts and performing arts to enhance the hospital experience of patients and families and for years, its provided services such as massage and yoga to staff. Often, staff would ask if the Arts in Medicine team could offer these services to patients, Mullen says. Unfortunately, without the resources or medical expertise, the answer had to be no.

But three years ago, things started to fall into place to change that. A certified yoga practitioner with special training to work with cancer patients joined the team. Two sizeable donations were made to the program by community members interested in supporting integrative medicine with others soon to follow. UF Health leadership singled out Estores, a fellow of the University of Arizonas nationally recognized integrative medicine center, as a medical professional who could potentially lead integrative medicine practices at UF, says Robert Leverence, M.D.

It was an alignment of the stars; we had these gifts at hand and a potential champion whod be able to lead the effort in integrative medicine, says Leverence, vice chair of clinical affairs in the UF College of Medicines department of medicine. We needed someone who understands at a deep level the interface between physical health, emotional health and spiritual health.

With support from UF Health leadership, Estores assumed the role of medical director in August 2013 and she and Mullen began building a small team of integrative medicine practitioners and instructors.

Dr. Estores has brought immediate legitimacy to the notion that we will be providing medical practices as opposed to simply creative arts practices, Mullen says. She was immediately able to take a team and transform it from a non-medical-based practice to a medical-based practice.

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About Us | Integrative Medicine | UF Health, University of ...

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Conditions We Treat at the Center for Integrative Medicine

Part 1: Integrative Medicine

1. The Philosophy of Integrative Medicine

2. Creating Optimal Healing Environments

3. The Healing Encounter

Part 2: Integrative Approach to Disease

Section 1: Affective Disorders

4. Depression

5. Anxiety

6. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

7. Autism Spectrum Disorder

8. Insomnia

Section 2: Neurology

9. Alzheimer's Disease

10. Headache

11. Peripheral Neuropathy

12. Multiple Sclerosis

13. Parkinson's Disease

Section 3: Infectious Disease

14. Otitis Media

15. Chronic Sinusitis

16. Viral Upper Respiratory Infection

17. HIV Disease and AIDS

18. Herpes Simplex Virus

19. Chronic Hepatitis

20. Urinary Tract Infection

21. Recurrent Yeast Infections

22. Lyme Disease

Section 4: Cardiovascular Disease

23. Hypertension

24. Heart Failure

25. Coronary Artery Disease

26. Peripheral Vascular Disease

27. Arrhythmias

Section 5: Allergy/Intolerance

28. Asthma

29. The Allergic Patient

30. Multiple Chemical Sensitivity Syndrome

Section 6: Metabolic/Endocrine Disorders

31. Insulin Resistance and the Metabolic Syndrome

32. Type 2 Diabetes

33. Hypothyroidism

34. Hormone Replacement in Men

35. Hormone Replacement in Women

36. Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome

37. Osteoporosis

38. An Integrative Approach to Obesity

39. Dyslipidemias

Section 7: Gastrointestinal Disorders

40. Irritable Bowel Syndrome

41. Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease

42. Peptic Ulcer Disease

43. Cholelithiasis

44. Recurring Abdominal Pain in Pediatrics

45. Constipation

Section 8: Autoimmune Disorders

46. Fibromyalgia

47. Chronic Fatigue Spectrum

48. Rheumatoid Arthritis

49. Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Section 9: Obstetrics/Gynecology

50. Post Dates Pregnancy

51. Labor Pain Management

52. Nausea and Vomiting in Pregnancy

53. Premenstrual Syndrome

54. Dysmenorrhea

55. Uterine Fibroids (Leiomyomata)

56. Vaginal Dryness

Section 10: Urology

57. Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia

58. Urolithiasis

59. Chronic Prostatitis

60. Erectile Dysfunction

Section 11: Musculoskeletal Disorders

61. Osteoarthritis

62. Myofascial Pain Syndrome

63. Chronic Low Back Pain

64. Neck Pain

65. Gout

66. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

67. Epicondylosis

Section 12: Dermatology

68. Atopic Dermatitis

69. Psoriasis

70. Urticaria

71. Recurrent Aphthous Ulceration

72. Seborrheic Dermatitis

73. Acne Vulgaris and Acne Rosacea

74. Human Papillomavirus and Warts

Section 13: Cancer

75. Breast Cancer

76. Lung Cancer

77. Prostate Cancer

78. Colorectal Cancer

79. Skin Cancer

80. End-of-Life Care

Section 14: Substance Abuse

81. Alcoholism and Substance Abuse

Section 15: Ophthalmology

82. Cataracts

83. Age-Related Macular Degeneration

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Integrative Medicine - 3rd Edition

Consciousness-Based health training

Many alternative medicine techniquesfrom herbal supplementation to aromatherapyhave withstood the test of time, having been used for millennia to heal and create optimal wellness.

We can now critically evaluate natural techniques and integrate them with modern medicine. If traditional medicine has something to teach us, why not combine the best of both worlds? Thats exactly what youll do as a student in our BS in Pre-Integrative Medicine program.

MUM teaches Maharishi AyurVeda, a comprehensive, prevention-oriented system of natural health that addresses the body, mind and environment of the individual to help them become holistically healthy.

Our programs integrate Maharishi AyurVeda techniques with modern medicine to take an integrated and balanced approach to wellness.

Youll create wellness from within through daily practice of the Transcendental Meditation technique. This evidence-based technique reduces stress, improves health, and helps the brain to function optimallyenabling you to learn without the strain typical of pre-med programs.

In addition, our dining hall provides organic, vegetarian meals, helping you to stay healthy and live what youre learning.

At MUM youll be fully immersed in one full-time course per month, giving you time to dive deeply into each topic, from traditional subjects like biology and anatomy to practical experience in ayurvedic wellness consultations. With this block system schedule, youll avoid the burnout that comes with studying 4-5 subjects at onceincluding exam period.

Our small class sizes mean that theres time for class discussions, hands-on projects, and one-on-one attention from our experienced faculty, who will guide your growth as a health professional with personalized feedback.

Youll graduate with a deep understanding of both modern healthcare and ayurvedic wellness, prepared for graduate studies and other career ventures in the field of integrative medicine, and ready to help patients become healthier than ever.

Self-pulse reading is an ancient, natural method of determining the level of balance in the mind and body. In this course, youll learn how to read your pulse and detect bodily imbalances early, before they manifest as symptoms of a disease.

Youll study the foundations of biology at the cellular and molecular levels, including how cells are built, how they interact with their environments, and how this knowledge creates a basis for everything youll learn in our program.

The integrated functioning of trillions of diverse cells, each with a million chemical reactions per second, gives rise to a healthy, vital human being. Students will study tissues, organs, and organ systems and their role in maintaining health and balance.

In this course, youll study the underlying principles and concepts of human development, learning, and behavior, as well as how each topic connects to consciousness and other areas of medicine.

Professor Liis Mattik, PhD, is a natural, holistic, preventive healthcare practitioner, educator and scientist. She has been teaching, training, educating, overseeing curricula, and consulting people in methods of Maharishi AyurVeda for over 20 years in University and public sectors. She has been giving individualized recommendations for maintaining or improving health and preventing or reversing aging by utilizing pulse diagnosis, diet, digestion, nutrition, herbs, minerals, essential oils, color therapy, yoga asanas body postures, pranayama breathing therapies, prevention of disease, seasonal purification program including Pancha Karma, and the Transcendental Meditation technique.

Financial aid is available for this program. Learn more

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BS in Pre-Integrative Medicine - mum.edu

Integrative medicine is beneficial for people who want to maintain good health, as well as those who are looking to improve their current health. Evidence-based studies have shown that integrative medicine therapies reduce pain and anxiety, enhance healing, speed recovery, and promote feelings of peace and relaxation.

The Chambers Center for Well Being offers more than 20 different healing treatments, including holistic health assessments, nutritional assessments and counseling, lifestyle coaching, acupuncture and massage. Our experts can help you address current health concerns or work with you to prevent health issues such as high blood pressure and cholesterol, weight issues, stress and more.

Our outpatient services are available at two New Jersey locations, including Summit and Morristown, and one physician practice in Morristown.

See all videos about our outpatient services >

Atlantic Health System Integrative Medicine offers free bedside services throughout our hospitals, including therapeutic massage for new moms, acupressure, reflexology, aromatherapy, relaxation techniques and guided imagery. These services are for maternity, cardiac, orthopedic, pediatric, ICU, emergency room and all other patients throughout our hospitals.

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Integrative Medicine & Wellness Center - Morristown NJ

The Osher Center for Integrative Medicine, Harvards outreach into complementary medicine recently announced a partnership where three researchers associated with the Harvard Osher Center will each summarize a top recent publication from the burgeoning mind-body literature and provide commentary on why they chose to shine a light on it. Harvard is not alone in this effort. Just Tuesday Wolters Kluver announced Ovid Insights,a current awareness service, citing the exponentially expanding volume of research.

As the volume of research worldwide continues to increase, staying current on the latest medical findings and practice guidelines is an overwhelming, yet necessary, task for healthcare professionals.

Ironically, the academics first filled, in the sense of a firehouse filling a cup, the journals with studies predicated on the concept of publish or perish. And having overwhelmed our attention, they now introduce a solution, the era of curated journal reading.

Harvards collaborative partner is the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine (JACM) considered to be in the top quartile of journals covering this area. To give you a sense of the journals academic reach you might considertwo reported measures of citation rates. The SJR, a size independent measure of scientific influence is 0.581, for comparison, the New England Journal of Medicine's (NEJM) is 17.736. The SJR puts JACM 17th among their peers (96 journals) after the Journal of Natural Products and Journal of Ginseng Research. Citations per document reflect how often a journal is cited; it is a commonly used measure of the journals impact on research. Here JACM has a value of 1.537 (the NEJM is 33.902) placing it 22nd amongst its peers, just after Chiropractic and Manual Therapies but before Chinese Medicine [1]

The three Harvard faculty members [2], all JACM associate editors, select a theme and then choose one study from the literature to abstract and to comment upon. I read the articles they presented, while they are a bit too touchy feely for me, and have the usual problems that plague the literature (small sample size, p-hacking, and data mining), they were all thoughtful articles to read and consider. My concern was the descriptions of studies within their abstracts, for example:

Cherkin and colleagues' beautiful randomized prospective studyThis powerful study demonstrates

In an elegantly designed and rigorously conducted comparative effectiveness trial supported by the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH)/National Institutes of Health (NIH)

Stephen Ross and colleagues conducted a small but methodologically elegant double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover trial

Perhaps it is me, but I detect a tone of advocacy, and with advocacy comes conflicted interests. I have no issue with knowledgeable people suggesting reading, but there is a fine line between organizing and sorting of information dispassionately and content curation that is, an editorial process. It's a mix of art and science. It requires a clear and definable voice,and editorial mission,and an understanding of your audience and community.[3] Can we reliably expect these academics to cite articles that do not favor alternative and complementary medicine? So far, in the year of this collaboration, no article they have chosen has taken an unfavorable view. Are the Harvard faculty acting as fair witness or advocates, do they shed light or only increase the echo? The goals of JACMs editor, John Weeks, JACMs editor, provides additional clues when he states that his goal that JACM becomes an arbiter of the conversation and content that shapes the course of healthcare. Perhaps I am mistaken, but I want my journals to provide me with unbiased research so that I can form my own view and be the arbiter of my conversations.

[1] The SCImago Journal & Country Rank is a publicly available portal that includes the journals and country scientific indicators [that] can be used to assess and analyze scientific domains.

[2] Osher Center's Director of Research Peter Wayne, PhD, Gloria Yeh, MD, MPH, Research Fellowship Director, and Darshan Mehta, MD, MPH, the center's Director of Education

[3] Is Curation Overused? The Votes Are In

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Harvard's Continued Embrace of Integrative Medicine Finds a Partner and a New Conflict of Interest - American Council on Science and Health