The American Association of Integrative Medicine heralds integrated medicine as the technique of the 21
st century. As such, attention is increasingly turning toward this innovative and moderately new approach. Many people, however, are unfamiliar with integrated medicine. The Consortium of Academic Health Centers for Integrative Medicine provides this definition:
The practice of medicine thatreaffirms the importance of the relationship between practitioner and patient, focuses on the whole person, is informed by evidence, and makes use of all appropriate therapeutic approaches, healthcare professionals and disciplines to achieve optimal health healing. Understanding the Whole Person
According to researchers, the observance of integrated medicine (IM) appears to be increasing, especially among persons with chronic illnesses. Reports also indicate that people are taking charge of their health and the care they receive. Contained within this notion is the decision to engage in active, wellness-oriented lifestyles with
physical exercise, smart nutrition choices, stress management and preventative care. These fundamentals are at the core of integrated medicine. Patients and doctors also agree that the whole-person approach of health care is one of valuable regard.
Patients want to be considered whole human beings in the context of their world, explains Esther Sternberg, MD, a National Institutes of Health senior scientist.
IM practices look at the whole human being instead of focusing on one body area. 
The goals of integrated medicine are to preserve health, increase longevity and speed recovery from illness. Not only does IM work to treat illness, but also to prevent it. This revolutionary approach uses person-centered diagnoses, and recognizes that health care depends upon four essential influences in each persons life:
- Relationship: this is the social support network of a patient and includes friends, family, community involvement and a united caregiver alliance.
- Diet and lifestyle: this concerns the daily habits of a person, including food choices, patterns of rest and exercise, and participation in favorable activities.
- Healthy environment: in medicine, a persons environment is his or her home as well as external surroundings. Protection from chemical and biological toxins is essential in the IM approach.
- Detoxification: this is the bodys ability to self-purify and protect itself from internal toxicity, a strong factor with IM.
Looking at each of these four influences allows a person to find optimal health by recognizing his or her individual needs.
IM understands that
no two people are alike, and a healing method proven successful for one patient may not yield the same results with another.
IM Centers in America
Since 2000, integrative medicine centers have opened throughout the United States. According to the American Hospital Association, U.S. hospitals that offer complementary therapies have increased from 8.6 percent in 1998 to almost 20 percent in 2004. Another 24 percent of hospitals surveyed indicated they planned to add complementary therapies in the future. Some health officials predict that as the appeal of IM increases, services like nutritional counseling may be covered by insurance policies in the future.
Medical schools have also recognized the significance of IM within a health care context. Some have added courses that cover non-traditional therapies. To illustrate, students at the University of California, San Francisco, can supplement their coursework in infectious disease with such electives as Herbs and Dietary Supplements or Massage and Meditation. They can also opt to study as exchange students at the American College of Traditional Chinese Medicine. This is all part of the growing IM network in America.
The guiding principle of IM is to use those treatments that have high-quality evidence to support them. As IM continues to gain ground in the world of medicine, searching for evidence remains an ongoing process. Doctors and scientists alike look for answers to the question of what therapies help and what ones do not.
Current Research Findings on Integrated Medicine
Advocates of integrative medicine believe that
alternative therapies need to be held to scientific scrutiny instead of being dismissing outright. This is because doctors and patients need answers to promote successful health care. In 2010, the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) published a number of different study results concerning IM therapies. Three of the most recent findings are as follows:
- A laboratory study revealed that turmeric, an herb used commonly in cheeses, mustards and powders, may protect against osteoporosis. Both curcuminoids-enriched turmeric and non-enriched turmeric extract were tested on female rats whose ovaries had been surgically removed. After two months, tests showed the enriched turmeric extract prevented up to 50 percent of bone loss while preserving bone structure.
- Researchers with Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and the David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles, tested the efficacy of Swedish massage on healthy adults. For the test, 53 participants received one session of either Swedish massage or light touch. Blood samples revealed the Swedish massage recipients had a significant decrease in hormones that regulate blood pressure and water retention. As such, researchers believe this massage technique may influence the immune system.
- A study featured in the New England Journal of Medicine revealed fibromyalgia patients may find relief in tai chi. Researchers evaluated the psychological and physical benefits afforded by tai chi in 66 people with fibromyalgia. After 12 weeks, those participants demonstrated significant improvement in quality of life, mood, and sleep quality. No adverse effects were reported.
Additional studies funded in part by NCAAM reveal that milk thistle extract may diminish the life cycle of the hepatitis C virus, while long-term yoga practice may decrease stress in women.
In addition to determining what does work, the NCAAM also conducts studies that reveal when a particular technique does not work. This, too, is beneficial so patients and doctors are aware of both spectrum ends with IM.
Communicating with the public is a critical component of integrative medicine reaching its full potential and impact, states Susan Bauer-Wu, PhD, RN.
Ongoing Studies of Alternative Therapies
While focus on current test results is required in IM, researchers must also continue the investigative process. As a result,
medical centers throughout the United States now study complementary and alternative therapies for safety and efficacy. For example, Duke is currently studying whether stress-reduction techniques can help to prevent preterm labor. At other research facilities, scientists are looking at the ways in which acupuncture influences brain activity, how biofeedback can help treat incontinence, and whether valerian improves sleep patterns in patients with Parkinsons disease. These are but some examples of the ongoing research to provide patients with viable IM techniques.
We all want the same thing: the best care for patients, explains Tracy Gaudet, MD, director of the Duke Center for Integrative Medicine. She indicates that resistance from fellow doctors regarding integrated medicine is normally minimal. Once they understand this approach considers both alternative and conventional treatment options, the doctors usually agree upon a particular treatment plan. Reports show that individuals who utilize integrative medicine practices are generally self-directed, and gather information from a variety of sources before making their health care choices. Part of the appeal with IM is that
patients simply need more than what conventional medicine offers.
Briefly put, patients want better communication with providers about their conditions and their care options, explains Susan Bauer-Wu, PhD, RN. IM essentially attracts persons who recognize the importance of lifestyle and nutrition within the context of health. Some of these individuals have embarked upon a course of personal research and found evidence that supports holistic techniques. Other individuals who utilize IM simply desire control over their health and treatment decisions.
Samples of Patient Testimonials
Health care professionals often share personal life experiences, as well as those of others, with IM patients. This helps to create a bond of trust and respect. Thus, many IM advocates now devote considerable time to acquiring patient testimonials. One example from a patient at Nashville Integrated Medicine (NIM) is as follows:
With the guidance of Dr. Forbes at NIM, I have been able to handle my health issues with herbal, natural and safe alternatives instead of the many prescriptions each month. I now feel better than I have in years, have more energy, and am more in tune with my body and mind. I love the fact that I can work with a doctor who genuinely has my best interests as a whole person at heart.
In illustration of a more specific health problem, a patient with Montana Integrative Medicine provided this statement:
After being told by two different doctors that I would need hip surgery because I had bone rubbing on bone, my daughter told me about prolotherapy. I looked it up on the Internet to see what was involved and my husband contacted Dr. Neustadt in Bozeman, MT. I was in such pain that I could not walk without a cane and then the walking was very slow and painful. Dr. Neustadt looked at the x-rays I brought in and said the bone was not rubbing on bone and I would be a candidate for prolotherapy. I saw him five consecutive months for treatment and Im walking 85 percent pain free. Im so grateful to Dr. Neustadt for his help and caring manner. Also, I can wear heels again when I dress up to go out. Still other patient testimonials can be found that herald the benefits of massage therapy, acupuncture and instructor-led breathing techniques. Moreover, these testimonials nearly cover the span of the United States, stretching from Connecticut to Colorado to Alaska. Southern states like Georgia also have IM centers where patients report positive feedback after undergoing treatment.
Factors in Integrated Medicine Decisions
Bauer-Wu states
, Personal values and severity of illness and symptoms also weigh into patient treatment decisions, ultimately choosing what is right and best for oneself. In an ideal medical environment, patients make these decisions with the help of others. When they have the opportunity to partner with knowledgeable and receptive care givers, patients often make informed choices that reflect their individual values. One example of this is visible in a patient with the Duke Center for Integrative Medicine. This 68-year old woman makes an annual journey from her Alabama home to North Carolina, where a team of doctors review her scoliosis, osteoporosis, clogged arteries, high cholesterol and breast cancer. After the initial check-up, she then goes to Duke for additional lessons in meditation, yoga, fitness and nutrition. These practices, according to the patient, have improved her overall quality of life. There is no one health care method or philosophy that will work for each and every person.
The important things for all of us to do are to stay in touch with our own bodies, take preventive measures everyday that can inhibit the development of illness, and become educated about the conditions we already have or may likely develop. Integrated medicine recognizes these ideas, and promotes the utilization of
all available and safe treatment options. Take the time to learn about integrated medicine, the health care philosophy of the future.
Sources: http://www.nashvilleintegratedmedicine.com/testimonials.html http://www.montanaim.com/testimonials.html http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/features/alternative-medicine-integrative-medicine http://www.iom.edu/~/media/Files/Activity%20Files/Quality/IntegrativeMed/Communicating%20with%20the%20%20Public%20about%20Integrative%20Medicine.pdf http://mdheal.org/ http://nccam.nih.gov/health/whatiscam/ http://nccam.nih.gov/research/results/spotlight/ http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/features/alternative-medicine-integrative-medicine?page=3 http://www.iom.edu/~/media/Files/Activity%20Files/Quality/IntegrativeMed/Communicating%20with%20the%20%20Public%20about%20Integrative%20Medicine.pdf http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/features/alternative-medicine-integrative-medicine http://www.iom.edu/~/media/Files/Activity%20Files/Quality/IntegrativeMed/Communicating%20with%20the%20%20Public%20about%20Integrative%20Medicine.pdf
The goals of integrated medicine are to preserve health, increase longevity and speed recovery from illness. Not only does IM work to treat illness, but also to prevent it. This revolutionary approach uses person-centered diagnoses, and recognizes that health care depends upon four essential influences in each persons life: 
In illustration of a more specific health problem, a patient with Montana Integrative Medicine provided this statement: After being told by two different doctors that I would need hip surgery because I had bone rubbing on bone, my daughter told me about prolotherapy. I looked it up on the Internet to see what was involved and my husband contacted Dr. Neustadt in Bozeman, MT. I was in such pain that I could not walk without a cane and then the walking was very slow and painful. Dr. Neustadt looked at the x-rays I brought in and said the bone was not rubbing on bone and I would be a candidate for prolotherapy. I saw him five consecutive months for treatment and Im walking 85 percent pain free. Im so grateful to Dr. Neustadt for his help and caring manner. Also, I can wear heels again when I dress up to go out. Still other patient testimonials can be found that herald the benefits of massage therapy, acupuncture and instructor-led breathing techniques. Moreover, these testimonials nearly cover the span of the United States, stretching from Connecticut to Colorado to Alaska. Southern states like Georgia also have IM centers where patients report positive feedback after undergoing treatment. 
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