Integrative Health

Integrative Medicine combines conventional medicine with evidence-based complementary medicine, therapies and lifestyle interventions for the treatment and prevention of disease. The patient-practitioner relationship is collaborative and supportive, empowering patients to take control of their health and wellbeing.

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Integrative medical practice makes use of all appropriate therapeutic approaches, healthcare providers and disciplines to achieve the best health outcome for each individual patient. Doctors and complementary healthcare practitioners implement conventional diagnostic and prescribing approaches alongside innovative screening technologies and nutritional and lifestyle therapy.

Integrative Medicine empowers patients and health practitioners with a wider range of treatment, screening and prevention options, a collaborative relationship, and an emphasis on preventive medicine. (National Institute of Integrative Medicine website)

Energy Therapies

Energy therapies involve the use of energy fields. They are of two types.

Bio field therapies involve the existence of energy fields that have not been scientifically proven. Some forms of energy therapy manipulate bio fields by applying pressure and/or manipulating the body by placing the hands in, or through, these fields.

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Examples include qi gong, Reiki and therapeutic touch. Bio electromagnetic based therapies involve the unconventional use of electromagnetic fields such as pulsed fields, magnetic fields, or alternating current or direct current fields. Due to the changing nature of evidence and clinical practice there is a grey area about whether some particular therapies are classified as complementary or conventional.

Mind-body interventions

Mind-body medicine uses a range of techniques designed to enhance the mind’s capacity to affect bodily function and symptoms. Some techniques, which were considered complementary and alternative therapies in the past, have become mainstream (eg. patient support groups and cognitive behavioral therapy). 

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Other mind-body techniques are still considered complementary and alternative therapies. These include meditation, prayer, mental healing, and therapies that use creative outlets such as art, music or dance.

Biologically based therapies

Biologically based therapies in complementary and alternative therapies use substances found in nature such as herbs, foods, and vitamins. Some examples include dietary supplements and herbal products. 

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Some uses of dietary supplements have been incorporated into conventional medicine, for example, folic acid for prevention of neural tube defects and chole calciferous when serum vitamin D levels are below normal for the prevention of osteoporosis.

Manipulative and body based methods

Manipulative and body based methods in complementary and alternative therapies are based on manipulation and/or movement of one or more parts of the body. Some examples include chiropractic or osteopathic manipulation and massage.

Alternative medical systems

Alternative medical systems are built on complete systems of theory and practice. Examples of alternative medical systems that have developed in Western cultures include homeopathic medicine and naturopathic medicine. 

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Examples of systems that have developed in non-Western cultures include traditional Chinese medicine, acupuncture and Ayurveda
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