Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsDefinitionTypes of ProvidersConditions TreatedBenefitsRisks
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Definition
Types of Providers
Conditions Treated
Benefits
Risks
Integrative medicine is a patient-focused, “whole-person” approach to healthcare that combines therapies that are both evidence-based and experiential (based on practical, real-world experience). Integrative medicine employs a variety of disciplines, including alternative medicine and conventional Western medicine.
Integrative medicine practitioners consider the physical, emotional, social, spiritual, and environmental influences that affect a person’s health. Rather than a traditional doctor-patient relationship, the practitioner and patient participate as partners. A variety of providers may be involved, from physicians and nutritionists to Chinese herbalists and acupuncturists.
This article explains what integrative medicine is as well as the types of providers who may participate in your care. It also takes a look at the benefits and risks of integrative medicine.
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What Is Integrative Medicine?
Integrative medicine involves combining alternative medicine with mainstream medicine to improve the effect of treatments. Also referred to as complementary medicine, it asserts a whole-person approach to healthcare rather than focusing on illness as the primary concern.
There are nine guiding principles to integrative medicine:
Increasingly, many of these principles have become facets of conventional medicine, including the engagement of patients and healthcare providers as “partners.”
The same applies to prevention and holistic care, with the National Institutes of Health establishing both the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion and Disease (ODPHP) and the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH).
Integrative medicine doesn’t replace the care you receive from your primary care provider (such as a physician or nurse practitioner). Instead, it complements existing treatments with alternative therapies.
Types of Integrative Medicine Professionals
Integrative medicine involves a multidisciplinary team of providers who work collaboratively to treat illness and enhance your health and wellness over the long term.
Providers may include:
The education and accreditation requirements for these providers vary widely, as does the regulation of certain specialties. As such, it is in your interest to find and research accredited specialists, working with your primary care provider rather than independently of them.
Coordination of care and sharing of information are central to good integrative medicine.
Training and CertificationDoctors of medicine (MDs) anddoctors of osteopathic medicine (DOs)can be certified in integrative medicine. The American Board of Physician Specialties (ABPS) offers an integrative medicine certification through the American Board of Integrative Medicine (ABOIM).There are different pathways to certification which can take two to four years. Certification is voluntary.
Training and Certification
Doctors of medicine (MDs) anddoctors of osteopathic medicine (DOs)can be certified in integrative medicine. The American Board of Physician Specialties (ABPS) offers an integrative medicine certification through the American Board of Integrative Medicine (ABOIM).There are different pathways to certification which can take two to four years. Certification is voluntary.
Doctors of medicine (MDs) anddoctors of osteopathic medicine (DOs)can be certified in integrative medicine. The American Board of Physician Specialties (ABPS) offers an integrative medicine certification through the American Board of Integrative Medicine (ABOIM).
There are different pathways to certification which can take two to four years. Certification is voluntary.
In recent years, an increasing body of research has been devoted to exploring the benefits of integrative medicine for treating many health conditions, including:
During your first visit with an integrative medicine practitioner, your health history will be reviewed and you’ll explore some of the root causes of your illness to understand how emotional, physical, social, spiritual, and environmental factors contribute.
You’ll then work closely with the practitioner to develop a personalized wellness plan based on your immediate health needs. You will also be encouraged to develop healthy behaviors and self-care skills to use throughout your life to sustain your long-term health goals.
Benefits of Integrative Medicine
One of the distinct features of integrative health is the sharing of information among providers. This not only avoids side effects and interactions that can occur when mixing pharmaceutical and non-pharmaceutical drugs, but also avoids overlapping or contradictory care (such as between a chiropractor andorthopedic surgeon).
Research published inPLoS Onein 2019 has shown that interprofessional collaboration can greatly improve health outcomes. Moreover, none of the 20 studies included in the review reported any problems with collaboration.
Similarly, a 2018 review inCureusreported positive outcomes for patients who participate in integrative medicine programs. Among the findings:
Risks of Integrative Medicine
There are those who argue that integrative medicine inherently places experienced-based care on the same footing as evidence-based care, potentially allowing anecdotal evidence and “pseudoscience” to interfere with clinical judgment.
This includes the use of Chinese herbs, whose benefits are largely unproven and whose use carries significant risks. according to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. These include the risk of fungal contamination, liver toxicity, and heavy metal poisoning.
Similarly, while practices like acupuncture are considered unharmful, few studies have shown robust evidence that it helps treat any serious medical condition.
Summary
Integrative medicine is an interdisciplinary approach in which conventional and alternative medical practitioners collaborate to treat and improve the health and wellness of patients. Physicians certified in integrative medicine work as partners with patients and take a “whole-body” approach to care, assessing emotional, spiritual, and environmental factors along with physical ones.
Integrative medicine has been shown to increase patient’s involvement in their care while improving their overall sense of well-being. Critics warn that integrative medicine can allow “bad science” to interfere with clinical judgment.
13 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Gannotta R, Malik S, Chan AY, Urgun K, Hsu F, Vadera S.Integrative medicine as a vital component of patient care.Cureus. 2018;10(8):e3098. doi:10.7759/cureus.3098Maizes V, Horwitz R, Lebensohn P, McClafferty H, Dalen J, Weil A.The evolution of integrative medical education: the influence of the University of Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine.J Integr Med. 2015;13(6):356-362. doi:10.1016/S2095-4964(15)60209-6Andrew Weill Center of Integrative Medicine.What is IM/IH?Health.gov.About ODPHP.National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.What does NCCIH do?National Center of Complementary and Integrative Health.Complementary, alternative, or integrative health: what’s in a name?American Board of Physician Specialties.Integrative medicine.Stanford University.Center for Integrative Medicine.Lutfiyya MN, Chang LF, McGrath C, Dana C, Lipsky MS.The state of the science of interprofessional collaborative practice: a scoping review of the patient health-related outcomes based literature published between 2010 and 2018.PLoS One. 2019;14(6):e0218578. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0218578Li B, Forbes T, Byrne J.Integrative medicine or infiltrative pseudoscience?Surgeon.2018;16(5):271–277. doi:10.1016/j.surge.2017.12.002National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.Traditional Chinese medicine: what you need to know.National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.Acupuncture.National Cancer Institute.Complementary and alternative therapy.
13 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Gannotta R, Malik S, Chan AY, Urgun K, Hsu F, Vadera S.Integrative medicine as a vital component of patient care.Cureus. 2018;10(8):e3098. doi:10.7759/cureus.3098Maizes V, Horwitz R, Lebensohn P, McClafferty H, Dalen J, Weil A.The evolution of integrative medical education: the influence of the University of Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine.J Integr Med. 2015;13(6):356-362. doi:10.1016/S2095-4964(15)60209-6Andrew Weill Center of Integrative Medicine.What is IM/IH?Health.gov.About ODPHP.National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.What does NCCIH do?National Center of Complementary and Integrative Health.Complementary, alternative, or integrative health: what’s in a name?American Board of Physician Specialties.Integrative medicine.Stanford University.Center for Integrative Medicine.Lutfiyya MN, Chang LF, McGrath C, Dana C, Lipsky MS.The state of the science of interprofessional collaborative practice: a scoping review of the patient health-related outcomes based literature published between 2010 and 2018.PLoS One. 2019;14(6):e0218578. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0218578Li B, Forbes T, Byrne J.Integrative medicine or infiltrative pseudoscience?Surgeon.2018;16(5):271–277. doi:10.1016/j.surge.2017.12.002National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.Traditional Chinese medicine: what you need to know.National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.Acupuncture.National Cancer Institute.Complementary and alternative therapy.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Gannotta R, Malik S, Chan AY, Urgun K, Hsu F, Vadera S.Integrative medicine as a vital component of patient care.Cureus. 2018;10(8):e3098. doi:10.7759/cureus.3098Maizes V, Horwitz R, Lebensohn P, McClafferty H, Dalen J, Weil A.The evolution of integrative medical education: the influence of the University of Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine.J Integr Med. 2015;13(6):356-362. doi:10.1016/S2095-4964(15)60209-6Andrew Weill Center of Integrative Medicine.What is IM/IH?Health.gov.About ODPHP.National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.What does NCCIH do?National Center of Complementary and Integrative Health.Complementary, alternative, or integrative health: what’s in a name?American Board of Physician Specialties.Integrative medicine.Stanford University.Center for Integrative Medicine.Lutfiyya MN, Chang LF, McGrath C, Dana C, Lipsky MS.The state of the science of interprofessional collaborative practice: a scoping review of the patient health-related outcomes based literature published between 2010 and 2018.PLoS One. 2019;14(6):e0218578. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0218578Li B, Forbes T, Byrne J.Integrative medicine or infiltrative pseudoscience?Surgeon.2018;16(5):271–277. doi:10.1016/j.surge.2017.12.002National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.Traditional Chinese medicine: what you need to know.National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.Acupuncture.National Cancer Institute.Complementary and alternative therapy.
Gannotta R, Malik S, Chan AY, Urgun K, Hsu F, Vadera S.Integrative medicine as a vital component of patient care.Cureus. 2018;10(8):e3098. doi:10.7759/cureus.3098
Maizes V, Horwitz R, Lebensohn P, McClafferty H, Dalen J, Weil A.The evolution of integrative medical education: the influence of the University of Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine.J Integr Med. 2015;13(6):356-362. doi:10.1016/S2095-4964(15)60209-6
Andrew Weill Center of Integrative Medicine.What is IM/IH?
Health.gov.About ODPHP.
National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.What does NCCIH do?
National Center of Complementary and Integrative Health.Complementary, alternative, or integrative health: what’s in a name?
American Board of Physician Specialties.Integrative medicine.
Stanford University.Center for Integrative Medicine.
Lutfiyya MN, Chang LF, McGrath C, Dana C, Lipsky MS.The state of the science of interprofessional collaborative practice: a scoping review of the patient health-related outcomes based literature published between 2010 and 2018.PLoS One. 2019;14(6):e0218578. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0218578
Li B, Forbes T, Byrne J.Integrative medicine or infiltrative pseudoscience?Surgeon.2018;16(5):271–277. doi:10.1016/j.surge.2017.12.002
National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.Traditional Chinese medicine: what you need to know.
National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.Acupuncture.
National Cancer Institute.Complementary and alternative therapy.
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