Treating the whole person, not just symptoms. This is the goal of integrative medicine, a practice that combines mainstream and eastern medicinal approaches. Integrative medicine addresses the spiritual, emotional, mental, physical, and environmental influences that affect a person and creates a treatment plan to address all issues. 

The Principles of Integrative Medicine

While traditional medical practices focus on treating the symptoms, then the cause of an illness, integrative medicine focuses on treating the whole problem together. The main principle of integrative medicine is patient-centered care. This means that healthcare providers look at not just the symptoms of a person but also the mental, emotional, and environmental wellbeing of that person. They are specialized in listening to what a patient has to say and work with patients to come up with care plans. 

Key Components of Integrative Medicine

Integrative medicine combines conventional and holistic medicine to create catered care plans for patients. Here is a look at some of the more untraditional holistic practices that integrative medicine uses:

Physical Therapies: 

Acupuncture

Rooted in Traditional Chinese Medicine, acupuncture is a holistic medicine used to bring balance to a person's Qi (pronounced chi), the energy that flows through a person's body. 

Acupuncture works by placing thin micro needles at certain pressure points on a person's body. A stimulant (heat, electricity, frictio, etc.) is then applied to the needles, releasing the body’s natural chemicals and promoting natural internal healing. 

While its roots are spiritual, acupuncture has been proven to have a number of positive effects. Pain management, nausea, headaches, menstrual cramps, and even in some cases relieving symptoms of withdrawal in addiction can be attributed to acupuncture. 

Chiropractic Therapy

Chiropractic Therapy is the practice of manual manipulation of the body's joints, most commonly the spine, to relieve pain and pressure from the patient. The goal of the procedure is to improve spinal mobility and the overall function of the body. 

Lower back pain, neck pain, and headaches are the most common reasons for chiropractic therapy. 

Massage Therapy

Massage therapy involves manipulating muscles and other soft tissues of the body to improve health and well-being. Techniques commonly include kneading, rubbing, and pressing different areas to relieve tension, enhance relaxation, promote circulation, and aid in the healing process of injuries.

Massage therapy can be used to help treat a variety of illnesses and conditions, not just physical muscle stiffness or pain. Some cases have seen improvement in illnesses like depression, anxiety, as well as digestive disorders, and nerve pain. 

Mind-Body Techniques: 

Mediation 

Meditation is a practice where an individual uses techniques like mindfulness, or focusing the mind on a particular object, thought, or activity, to train attention and awareness, and achieve a mentally clear, emotionally calm, and stable state.

Meditation reduces stress and can improve memory, making it a great practice for older patients to participate in. Studies have also shown that meditation improves sleep cycles, blood pressure, and anxiety and depression cases. 

Yoga 

Yoga is a physical, mental, and spiritual practice that originated in ancient India. It involves a series of postures (asanas), breathing techniques (pranayamas), and meditation to promote improved control of the mind and body, enhance well-being, and increase awareness and relaxation.

Yoga has been proven to help patients with arthritis problems. It can also reduce stress and anxiety, as well as improve your sleep cycle. Because yoga is deeply rooted in spiritual philosophies, it promotes healthy lifestyle practices as well. 

Environmental Practices:

Nutritional Awareness

Eating right does amazing things for overall health. But this doesn’t just mean cutting out pizza and making sure to eat your broccoli. Nutritional awareness is different for every person. By consulting a dietitian, you can figure out what exactly your body needs to be its best version. 

Eating according to what your body needs has had many proven positive effects for patients, not just in weight loss but also in blood pressure, stress, sleeping, and even headaches. Create a food journal and take a deep dive into what you are fueling your body with. Maybe there is something in your diet you are missing! 

Lifestyle Changes

In holistic medicine, taking a look at a patient's lifestyle can help find problems and create care plans. Perhaps the key to easing symptoms is more or less exercise. Maybe it's as simple as sitting out in the sun for an hour a day. Nurses who take a holistic approach will examine a patient's lifestyle and make recommendations for what to add or take away from that person's day-to-day life. Holistic medicine recognizes that it's not just prescriptions that ease symptoms and illnesses, but also what people do every day.

Join Today for a Healthier Tomorrow 

Feeling inspired by the idea of comprehensive and personalized healthcare techniques, join ISAPN! By becoming a member, you'll connect with like-minded professionals dedicated to advancing patient-centered care and integrating diverse therapeutic practices. Together, we can lead the future in healthcare, ensuring that every aspect of a patient's well-being is addressed. 

Join ISAPN today and help shape the future of holistic health care. Take action now for a healthier tomorrow.