What is Integrative Medicine?
What is Integrative Medicine?
Integrative Medicine brings together conventional, lifestyle, functional and holistic approaches in a mutually respectful way to support health and wellbeing.
It’s an evidence based model of healthcare that treats the whole person and not just the condition. Integrative Medicine prioritises wellness and resilience, supports balance and vitality, optimises health and reduces disease risk. It encourages the patient to take a more active role in their health through self-care.
Integrative Medicine empowers patients and healthcare professionals by offering diversity and choice. Patients feel more informed about their care and in charge of their health, and healthcare professionals feel more connected to their purpose and values and better able to support their patients.
Integrative Medicine is a model for whole-person health and wellbeing (mind, body and spirit / mental, physical and emotional) that can be adopted by mainstream medicine in the future and by you right now.
The different approaches to healthcare explained
Conventional Medicine
Treating symptoms and diseases using a medical intervention, for example medication (drugs), surgery, radiation or physical therapy. The first port of call is usually your GP who may refer you to other medically trained clinicians or specialists. It’s also known as allopathic medicine.
Lifestyle Medicine
Teaching proven techniques and supporting behaviour change for improved health and wellbeing, for example through Nutrition, Sleep, Movement (exercise), Breath Work and Mindfulness. The emphasis is on self-care.
Holistic Medicine
Linking physical health with psychological, social and spiritual influences for health and wellbeing. Using whole-person approaches to manage and prevent disease, for example: Traditional Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture, Ayurveda, Medical Homeopathy, Craniosacral Therapy, and Body Work.
Lifestyle and holistic medicine is complementary and not ‘alternative’ – it is used in conjunction with conventional medicine.