Welcome to Fullscripts integrative medicine education series. Discover how integrative medicine improves patient outcomes and why its being adopted by forward-thinking practitioners across North America.

One of the key tenets of integrative medicine is that good medicine is based on good science, which is inquiry-driven and open to new paradigms. (22) Integrative medicine is good medicine and so much more.

In this article, youll learn what integrative medicine is, the benefits of it, and more.

Integrative medicine can be described and defined in different ways. But for the most comprehensive description, it helps to refer to the Father of Integrative Medicine, Dr. Andrew Weil.

The Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine describes integrative medicine as healing-oriented medicine that considers the whole person within the context of a collaborative therapeutic relationship between practitioner and patient. It is informed by scientific evidence, uses all appropriate integrative therapies, and is guided by the defining principles outlined in the graphic below.

In addition to treating the physical body, integrative medicine treats patients via emotional, environmental, mental, and spiritual means by integrating mind and body with a holistic approach. (5)

Other keywords often used to define integrative medicine include empowering, evidence-based, individualized, interprofessional, and patient-centered. (17) According to a 2009 paper on the topic of integrative medicine and patient-centered care, the authors explain that patient-centered care is a core component of integrative medicine and has a movement all its own, which is rooted in customized treatments and decision-making based on the patients beliefs and preferences. (8)

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Many people wonder how integrative medicine relates to conventional or Western medicine. Integrative medicine is an approach to health and wellness that combines:

Many licensed healthcare practitioners provide integrative care to their patients. Examples of practitioners and doctors who may practice integrative care include:

Individuals of all ages and those with varying health conditions may benefit from integrative medicine. Integrative medicine can help promote overall health and well-being and aid in chronic disease management and prevention. (11)

Dietary supplements are the most commonly used integrative modality; however, other popular approaches include therapeutic breathing techniques, diet therapy, and yoga. (10) Integrative medicine further incorporates a variety of integrative therapies including acupuncture, Ayurveda, chiropractic, homeopathic, naturopathic, and traditional Chinese medicine alongside conventional medicine. (20)

Examples of complementary therapies include:

How does integrative medicine differ from alternative, complementary, and conventional medicine?

When a provider or medical facility utilizes both complementary and conventional medical care, it is considered integrative medicine. (12)

There are significant events that have taken place over the past 50 years that have helped form integrative medicine as we know it is today. Here is a timeline illustrating some of those key events. (1)(9)(13)(17)(19)

Today its estimated that more than one third of Americans use some form of complementary or integrative health approach. (10) Within cancer care that percentage skyrockets, with some estimates as high as 95% and most surveys at around 50%. (7) Among people with chronic illness, surveys indicate that 70 to 90% use an integrative approach. (3)

Based on a 2020 systematic review, the number one reason people use integrative medicine worldwide is because of the expected benefits, and the second reason is that they are dissatisfied with conventional medicine. (21)

Obviously, for something to be sustainably popular, the user needs to get some benefit. Based on a 2018 review, the scientifically validated benefits of integrative medicine are many and varied, including:

Integrative medicine also excels when it comes to addressing gastrointestinal disorders, (6) musculoskeletal conditions, (4) cardiovascular disease, (25) and stroke. (15)

Perhaps the most well-known randomized controlled clinical trials showing that an integrative approach using diet and lifestyle could reverse cardiovascular disease was conducted by Dean Ornish et al in 1998. (14) Acupuncture, another key integrative treatment modality, has been backed by a significant amount of scientific research. According to a 2019 review, clinical evidence suggests that acupuncture may help treat 96 different health problems including cancer-related symptoms, a variety of different types of pain, and mental health issues such as anxiety and depression. (2)

As with all types of medicine, there are some risks to consider when receiving integrative medicine therapies. Its important to note that some therapies may have side effects or cause adverse effects or injuries, and not all natural therapies are inherently safe. (24) When considering or seeking integrative health care, its important to:

My hope for the future is that integrative medicine will be taught to all health professionals and payment incentives will be revised to support its practice, said Victoria Maizes, MD, the Executive Director of the Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine.

integrative medicine is here to stay and nations who ignore its precious resources would do so at their own economic and health costs, concluded the authors of a 2021 paper on the future of medicine. The authors conclude that integrative medicine must be integrated into medical research, education, and policy. (18) While its true that integrative medicine is here to stay, some would argue that its always been here and we just needed to rediscover it.

In the coming years, there will likely continue to be an increase in usage and an increase in the number of integrative medicine programs offered throughout North America. This is good news for both integrative medicine practitioners and their patients.

If you are interested in exploring integrative medicine, consider consulting with an integrative healthcare practitioner.

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References

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Integrative Medicine: What Is It, Types & Benefits | Fullscript

"Supporting people on their journey to realizing wholeness

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

Integrative medicine brings together practices once thought of as alternative medicine. Combining those with the latest research and medical technology, fosters the connection between the mind, body and spirit that is often missing in conventional medicine. Integrative medicine bridges the gap between conventional medicine and complementary therapies.

Integrative medicine is an approach to care that puts the patient at the center. It addresses the full range of physical, emotional, mental, social, spiritual and environmental influences that affect a persons health.

The defining principles of integrative medicine are:

At the UF Health Integrative Medicine Program, we are redefining personalized care by addressing all aspects of a patients well-being. Establishing a partnership between patient and practitioner is essential. It helps provide a treatment plan that achieves optimal health.

Integrative medicine is not a replacement for a primary care doctor. Instead, think of an integrative medicine doctor as someone who works with all your health care providers. This helps offer a more comprehensive care plan that utilizes treatments that combine conventional medicine with other therapies. These therapies may include, but are not limited to:

Read more:
Integrative Medicine - UF Health

First, we strongly believe in the value of preventative care, a concept grounded in traditional Chinese medicine. Brian Carter's Pulse of Oriental Medicine states the traditional Chinese doctor's job was to keep the village from getting sick and they in return would make sure his needs were met. Once they became sick, they were unable to take care of the doctor, therefore, it only made sense for him to keep them well. Our role is to keep you well before any signs of disease surface. By keeping mind, body and spirit in balance, maintaining appropriate nutrient levels and exercising a positive lifestyle, one is proactively taking care of themselves.

Second, we believe in natural healing. The body has an innate ability to heal itself, we simply assist you on your journey towards wellness. While western medication is effective at treating many illnesses, it can also act as a double-edged sword; the chemicals in pills and other drugs can have many potentially harmful side effects. Our doctors take a comprehensive look at your medical concerns and prescribe the healthiest solution that is individualized for your needs.

Third, the Center for Primary Care and Integrative Medicine seeks to reduce the increasingly prevalent abuse of narcotics. The United States consumes 60% of the world's narcotics and 99% of global Norco, and these are increasingly prescribed unnecessarily. This has adverse effects on the patient's body. More than 96,000 Americans and 4500 Texans died of drug overdoses in 2020 per CDC data. We should reduce their use as much as possible without compromising pain control. Today, more and more people are turning to natural methods of healing. The Center for Primary Care and Integrative Medicine incorporates the best of conventional and alternative medicine to provide the highest quality of care possible.

While preventing chronic disease has been our main focus of practice, we emphasize the importance of helping patients who already suffer from a variety of chronic diseases actively recover. In addition to regular cardiopulmonary rehab, we offer Taichi, massage, and acupuncture to help patients from a variety of chronic conditions, e.g., chronic Congestive Heart Failure, COPD, Parkinsons disease, etc., improve functional status. Studies have shown that acupuncture and Taichi can favorably affect heart rate variability and thus decrease post-myocardial infarct mortality. Acupuncture as adjunctive therapy can be used to alleviate chronic stable angina (JAMA intern Med. 2019;179 (10):1388-1397). Taichi-based cardiac rehabilitation was associated with an increase in peak oxygen consumption, a marker of functional capacity, in patients with recent MI. Acupuncture has been shown to reduce interleukin-17 (IL-17, inflammation marker) in asthmatic patients and increase 6 minute walking distance and quality of life in COPD patients. Recent studies, published in CHEST 2018; 153 (5): 116-1124, has shown that Tai Chi is equivalent to pulmonary rehab in improving functional status in COPD patients. Tai chi training has been shown to reduce balance impairments in patients with mild -to-moderate Parkinsons disease, with additional benefits of improved functional capacity and reduced falls (N Engl J Med 2012;366:511-9). Preliminary study has shown that Scalp acupuncture effectively slows down disease progress in Parkinsons disease patients and improve quality of life.

Last, but not least, we strive to reduce the cost of medicine for both individuals and the nation. Health care costs have been rising for several years and remains a focus of worldwide discussion. National health expenditures have doubled over the past decade from $1.3 trillion in 2000 to $2.6 trillion in 2010. It exceeded $ 4 trillion in 2020 according to Center for Medicare & Medicaid services (CMS). Total health care expenditures grew at an annual rate of 4.4 percent in 2008, outpacing inflation and the growth in national income. Indeed, we are a nation providing the best "sick" care. If we looked at replacing "sick" care with preventative medicine, we would be a healthier and wealthier nation. Spending on new medical technology and prescription drugs has been cited as a leading contributor to the increase in overall health. The Center for Primary Care and Integrative Medicine focuses on prevention and treatment of chronic diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, obesity, and chronic pain. Integrative medicine has been known to be highly effective in the treatment of such illnesses. In addition,the Center also gives consults to patients who want to learn taichi and yoga to improve well being.

Center for primary care and Integrative Medicine has also been actively collaborating with world renowned institutes to explore mechanisms underlying the effects of acupuncture, Ethnopharmacology, and the application of traditional Chinese Medicine in health regimen.

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Houston Integrative Medicine

Integrative medicine (IM) is an approach that combines conventional medicine with complementary treatments. The aim of IM is to treat the whole person, not just a health problem.

Because IM is holistic, it can target the behavioral, social, and environmental aspects of a persons life as well as help treat the underlying health issue.

Many people are requesting more complementary therapies as part of their treatment plans, especially in certain health areas, such as cancer. That said, it is important to note that people should not replace their prescribed clinical treatments with complementary approaches alone, as this could lead to worse health outcomes.

Instead, people should discuss their current therapies with a doctor who can advise on the best course of treatment.

Read on to learn more about IM, including the risks, the benefits, and some of the conditions it may be useful for.

IM is a whole-person treatment plan that aims to treat the body, mind, and spirit. It specifically includes and coordinates the use of complementary therapies alongside conventional medicine.

Usually, a complementary therapy practitioner will suggest a combination of treatments to improve a persons well-being. For example, they may suggest that a person practices yoga to reduce stress but also recommend that they get in touch with an acupuncturist.

Practitioners tend to group complementary therapies into three key areas: nutritional, psychological, and physical.

Nutritional complementary therapies include products such as herbs, vitamin and mineral supplements, and probiotics. Supplements come in many forms, such as capsules, liquids, and powders. A person may also receive a specific diet plan.

A person should always speak with a doctor before taking any supplements in addition to their prescribed treatment. Doing so can cause certain interactions. For example, vitamin K can reduce the effectiveness of warfarin, which is a blood-thinning medication.

Psychological forms of complementary therapy aim to settle the mind and reduce stress. These therapies include:

There is a lot of overlap between mind and body practices. For example, although yoga and tai chi are physical practices, they also promote psychological well-being.

Learn more about types of meditation here.

Physical approaches to complementary health may include some form of muscle manipulation, such as massage. People may also receive treatment from a chiropractor, who can manipulate the spine to reduce pain or alleviate other health problems.

Alternatively, acupuncture is a physical treatment during which a practitioner inserts fine needles through the skin to stimulate specific pressure points.

Physical therapies that a person can try on their own or as part of a class include yoga and tai chi.

The use of integrative care is growing, especially in specialist cancer centers, where more people are requesting complementary approaches in addition to clinical treatments, such as chemotherapy.

In fact, one 2017 systemic review found that 45 National Cancer Institute treatment centers had increased the number of complementary treatments they offered on their websites over the course of 7 years, from 2009 to 2016. The most popular therapies included acupuncture, meditation, and yoga.

When a healthcare professional introduces complementary therapies as part of a persons treatment plan, the goal is usually to alleviate some side effects of conventional medicine.

For example, the authors of a 2018 meta-analysis note that acupuncture seems particularly effective at reducing fatigue in people with breast cancer who receive anticancer treatment.

However, an additional 2019 systematic review of studies that investigated the relationship between complementary therapies and cancer states that more robust study designs are necessary to fully understand the effectiveness of complementary therapies in an oncology environment.

Another area that may benefit from complementary therapy is fertility. One 2018 review suggests that females who practice Hatha yoga alongside other mind and body therapies may feel less stressed and anxious during in vitro fertilization treatment. Their psychosocial health may also improve.

Introducing IM may have some benefits. For example, a 2018 review notes that, overall, IM helps people deal with difficult illnesses and reduces their distress.

Furthermore, in some instances, IM may actually improve health outcomes. For example, a 2018 study based in South Korea found that when people received IM after experiencing a stroke, they had stronger survival rates at 3 and 12 months than those who received conventional medicine alone.

Although integrative care was more expensive, it prevented future hospital admissions, which can help hospitals save money in the long run.

People should be aware of the risks associated with some complementary approaches when including them in their treatment regimen.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves all conventional medications before manufacturers can sell them, but manufacturers of supplements do not need FDA approval to put their products on the market.

Additionally, some supplements can interact with some medications. This can increase the risk of complications if a person is also taking another medication.

It is also important that people do not view supplements and other herbal remedies as a cure or a replacement for conventional medication. If a manufacturer promotes its supplement as a cure, the product is likely unsafe.

Study design is also an important point that people should think about when researching the health benefits of some complementary therapies. Complementary health studies do not usually have robust study designs that other researchers can replicate, which means that the findings and conclusions could be inaccurate.

That said, the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health is funding more studies to further investigate the health benefits of complementary therapies and how healthcare professionals can use them in addition to conventional medicine.

IM and alternative medicine are two terms that describe treatment that sits outside of conventional medical care.

If a person uses a nonconventional treatment option in a coordinated manner alongside conventional medicine, the practice is IM.

If a person uses a nonconventional treatment option instead of conventional medicine, the practice is alternative medicine.

Integrative medicine (IM) includes both complementary and conventional treatment approaches and specifically coordinates the use of the two as part of a holistic treatment plan.

Some benefits of IM include reducing distress and helping people process living with a difficult illness. Some healthcare professionals are expanding the use of IM, especially in the treatment of cancer.

Although researchers are taking a proactive attitude toward investigating the possible benefits of IM, studies that support complementary approaches often have design flaws, which means that their conclusions could be inaccurate.

More here:
What is integrative medicine (IM)? - Medical News Today