Integrative Medicine Moving Into Mainstream

Written by Tena Moore  (if this post appears on any site other than Vitaminstuff.com it has been stolen)


No one is saying that mainstream medicine doesn’t work; it undoubtedly does, but many are saying that it is only one part of the entire picture. Our current medical system doesn’t treat the person unless they are sick, and when they are sick they are simply given medications that treat the sickness not the cause, or the person as a whole being. On the other hand, complementary and alternative medicines (CAM) have not been studied quite enough yet and without studies, your doctor is not allowed (by oath) to recommend CAM therapies. What many are suggesting is a merging of the two types of health care, called Integrative Medicine.

CAM therapies treat the entire person, not just the condition. So while your doctor may give you a pill to cut cholesterol, CAM may suggest yoga to reduce stress, a nutritionist to help with eating habits, and dietary supplements such as omega-3 fatty acids. In Integrative Medicine, CAM therapies and conventional medicine would be integrated together to not only take care of the sickness, but nurture wellness.

Many new studies are being done on CAM, and more and more hospitals are taking an integrative approach to health. It seems that the biggest issue is not integrating the two types of medicine, but getting insurers to integrate CAM into their insurance programs.




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