Integrative medicine is rapidly becoming a very popular specialty among physicians thanks to how it combines conventional medicine with multiple proven complementary and alternative therapies for patients. This medical approach is focused on the patient and actively addresses a wide range of conditions that can affect a person’s health, including mental, social, and environmental effects. There has also been an intense debate on integrative vs. functional medicine. But both of them have their unique features and benefits.
Here are key benefits of integrative medicine you probably didn’t know:
1. It addresses the root cause of disease
Integrative medicine focuses on wellness, strength, and healing, not the disease alone. It supports optimal health as it addresses the root cause of a disease. Rather than focusing on treating symptoms with medications, sometimes it is crucial to look deeper into what is happening in a patient’s body.
There could be a physiologic balance that is disrupted, leading to the manifestation of a disease or illness. The goal here is to empower the patient with the right tools they need to optimize their health. It may include mental health, gut health, nutritional health, and physical strength.
2. Offers natural, less invasive treatments
Even though prescription medications are often necessary and appropriate, they are sometimes not completely effective and could have severe side effects. Thankfully, integrative medicine offers natural approaches for addressing both medical and health concerns. Moreover, it emphasizes less invasive treatments as much as possible.
According to Cleveland Clinic, integrative medicine simply blends traditional medicine with safe and evidence-based alternative medicine while supporting the body’s ability to health itself.
3. It focuses on the mind, body, and spirit
In most cases, patients usually go to the doctor with several symptoms affecting multiple organ systems, and they go to different practitioners for each of their problems. This can be very overwhelming for the patient.
However, with integrative medicine, the focus is on how various symptoms may be linked and searching for the root causes rather than just treating each symptom on its own. Thus, it focuses on restoring balance and putting into consideration the factors that may affect the patient’s ability to comply with recommendations, like the inability to stick to a workout program due to work obligations.
4. Personalized medicine
When it comes to integrative medicine, recommendations may vary depending on each individual’s specific situation. When developing treatment plans for individual needs, practitioners use scientific methods to evaluate alternative therapies just like in the case of traditional treatment. It is worth mentioning that integrative evaluations are highly personalized. Patients are asked so much, from personal relationships to environmental exposures. Practitioners consider all factors when determining whether an individual stays healthy or not.
5. It can prevent future health issues before they arise
Another incredible thing about integrative medicine is that it also focuses on preventive medicine. One of the most effective ways to secure your future health is by gaining an in-depth understanding of your current health status and developing measures to proactively address medical issues before they arise. This can go a long way in saving you money as well as avoiding physical or psychological pain and trauma.
Wellness Care Health Blog 