Archive for category Integrative
Integrative Medicine As a Holistic Alternative Towards Healing
Posted by admin in Integrative on December 9, 2011
Most, if not all, people go to hospitals and medical centers during health emergencies. Health education in schools teaches kids that doctors and medical professionals are the best providers of health care in the world. They are skilled in administering treatment for whatever disorder or ailment the body suffers. They can provide effective medications to cure illnesses and diseases. These professionals can useful good healthcare services to the people.
However, traditional doctors are starting to consider the views of the proponents and practitioners of integrative medicine. In the United States, universities and health institutions are beginning to recognize integrative medicine as a legitimate field of study. They acknowledge the positive relationship between physical health, emotion, and psychology. The functions of the brain significantly affect the health of a person.
Integrative medicine combines medical treatments of conventional Western medicine and complementary healing treatments. Integrative medications aim to heal the body and mind of an individual. The most common complementary healing treatments for integrative care are herbal medicine, yoga, acupuncture, and massage. During treatment, doctors prescribe traditional and pharmaceutical medications and complementary therapy to their patients. Read the rest of this entry »
Improving Health Through Integrative Medicine
Posted by admin in Integrative on December 4, 2011
Most people tend to see things in terms of black and white, and view health care in a similar manner. Either they believe in alleopathic (using pharmaceuticals/ prescription drugs/ what most consider convention or traditional medicine) or naturopathic (using what many refer to as alternative medicine, including herbal, homeopathic and other non invasive procedures) medicine. Another possibility, which in my opinion is far too often overlooked or ignored, is what is known by some as wellness treatment and by others as integrative medicine.
Integrative Medicine utilizes what it considers the “best” of both traditional Western medicine (what is taught at conventional Medical Schools) with alternative procedures, including non- Western medicine (including acupuncture and acupressure, homeopathy, herbal, Reiki, Flower Essences, nutraceutical (vitamins and other nutritional supplements), etc. Much of the “common sense theory” behind this approach is that while for certain life threatening conditions, one should immediately use the alleopathic approach, for many other symptoms and conditions, it would be beneficial to stay away from the “quick fix” chemical/ pharmaceutical approach. This is especially true for conditions like many colds and cold and flu-like symptoms, where, while pharmaceuticals might eliminate the symptoms quickly, there is often a “bounce-back” effect, because while symptoms are reduced and “masked,” the underlying condition still exists. An alternative approach might be to endeavor to improve and enhance one’s immune system by taking certain supplements and vitamins, and changing certain lifestyle behaviors.
In many parts of the world, physicians will often recommend homeopathy and homeopathic remedies for these type of non-threatening ailments, because they work on building the body’s ability to be stronger and more immune to the underlying causes. Many advocates of alternative/ integrative/ wellness philosophy, state that they have observed that patients treated more holistically and without masking symptoms, often evidence far fewer repeat episodes of conditions such as colds. Personally, I am a big believer in the integrative approach, because it has worked so successfully with me. I have been fortunate enough to have fewer colds, etc., than nearly all the individuals around me for many, many years, since I began this approach. Read the rest of this entry »
Importance of Integrative Cancer Care
Posted by admin in Integrative on November 27, 2011
What causes a survivor to become a thriver? Some might say hope, and specifically the hope for a cure. Yes, hope is important. But from our perspective, it is not the hope for a cure that encourages us as much as hope for a change – a change in the way cancer, cancer treatment and healing are viewed. Our hope is that collaboration becomes the cornerstone of cancer care in the future. Not just collaboration that mirrors our very own internal systems – a web of interconnectedness, a rhythmic flow that comes naturally. This is not simply teamwork involving treatment. It is an alliance that encompasses body, mind, and spirit. It is a consistent, overarching effort that combines the best of conventional and complementary medicine with the proactive efforts of the patient, which must include a healthy diet, positive lifestyle choices, and appropriate dietary supplements. This is integrated medicine, and it is the future of cancer care.
Conventional medicine has delivered many advances over the past decade. Areas that hold promise for the future of cancer treatment include utilizing nanotechnology for more pinpointed treatments and the study of the biological actions of proteins, known as proteomics. Just as genomics has helped medical science in many ways, proteomics is quickly becoming an important focus in cancer diagnosis and treatment.
In the future, diet, lifestyle, and dietary supplements will go beyond merely supporting and sustaining. These controllable factors will be viewed as significant complementary treatment techniques to reverse cancer. More funding is needed for researching integrative approaches. Our present system primarily rewards those who can substantiate the performance of isolated synthetic drugs that can be patented. Research into combined approaches or utilizing a healthy diet, positive lifestyle choices, and supplements, all of which cannot be patented, is presently not being supported as much as it could be, or should be.
Over the years, we have talked to many leaders in the field of integrative medicine and we hear a consistent, positive message that things are shifting. Conventional medicine, medical schools, and research facilities are beginning to pay attention to the broader aspects that make up an integrated approach to cancer treatment and healing. But we cannot wait until everyone is truly on the same page. Until that time, people must be proactive about using an integrative approach for both prevention and healing.
Throughout history, long-lasting change has come from the masses – groups of people who take the initiative. Our health-care system is in dire need of such an initiative. True and lasting change will come from patients and their loved ones. Our doctors are so pressured by managed care, insurance directives, and other constraints that they are limited as to the degree of change they can invoke. Patients and loved ones need to work in partnership with the system that is in place while also searching for information on complementary approaches to healing and staying healthy. Each of us must take the lead in our own health care. The system will then be forced to change to keep up with the demands of its customers, the patients.
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