By Arthur A. Burley 
Integrative medicine helps maximize wellness for people with chronic and complex diseases. It combines conventional and complementary medicine practices. Care may include chiropractic care, yoga and meditation.
Integrative medicine is an approach to wellness that combines:
- Conventional (traditional Western) medicine includes drugs, surgery, and lifestyle changes.
- Complementary medicine, therapies that are not part of traditional Western medicine. Care may include chiropractic therapy, yoga, meditation and more.
Integrative medicine uses a variety of techniques to deliver whole-person care. Complementary therapies work with traditional treatments to heal your mind, body and spirit.
Complementary therapies do not replace conventional treatments. They help you cope with symptoms, complications or side effects.
Many patients can benefit from integrative medicine. People with long-lasting (chronic) or complex medical conditions are likely to benefit from these approaches.
You should be in contact with your healthcare provider throughout treatment. Letting them know about the complementary therapies you are receiving helps them tailor care to keep you safe.
Integrative medicine is a holistic approach to treating chronic conditions that can’t be managed with conventional medication and treatments. Integrative medicine combines your current treatment with complementary (alternative therapies) that aim to improve your overall health. It also focuses on nutrition, exercise and stress management.
Offers natural, less invasive treatments
Although prescription medications can be necessary and appropriate for many patients, some may not prove to be effective or cause serious side effects. Integrative medicine uses natural methods to address medical and health concerns. It emphasizes the use of less invasive treatment whenever possible. Integrative medicine combines traditional medicine with safer, more evidence-based alternative medicine. It also strengthens the body’s natural ability to heal itself.
It improves your health, well-being and overall well-being.
Integrative medicine focuses on health and well-being and disease prevention through healthy living. Integrative medicine aims to prevent diseases. This means fewer visits to the doctor, fewer medications and fewer hospitalizations.
The person is treated, not the symptoms of the disease.
Integrative medicine addresses the whole person and not the symptoms or diseases. Integrative medicine considers all aspects that impact your health, including biological, behavioural, psychological, and environmental. True health requires more than physical well-being. It also needs to include mental, emotional and spiritual well being.
The root cause of illness is addressed.
Integrative medicine is a way to achieve optimal health by addressing the root causes of disease. It can improve quality of life by addressing hormonal imbalances and immune system inflammation. It also helps to improve nutritional status and evaluate for food sensitivities and vitamin deficiencies. These same causes can also lead to improved mental health.
We are focused on you and your needs.
Integrative medicine refers to medicine that is made specifically for you. Integrative medicine is about you and your specific needs. Integrative physicians spend time with patients and work together to find the best possible solutions.
Incorporates Eastern medicine
Herbs and botanicals have been used medicinally in Eastern medicine for thousands of years. This is even before the advent of pharmaceuticals.