Integrative medicine is the science and art of healing that addresses the whole patient, not just the physical symptoms of disease. The goal is to improve vitality, remove susceptibility to the illnesses someone tends to get, and to enhance well-being in all aspects of health. There are many modalities of treatment that come under the umbrella of integrative medicine, such as, homeopathy, traditional Chinese Medicine, Western Herbal Medicine, and acupuncture, to name a few.
Proper nutrition plays an enormous role in achieving optimal health. It should be at the forefront of all treatment protocols. Oftentimes, nutritional management can be used alone to resolve disorder in the body, without the need for medication or other treatments. This approach, and the use of holistic treatments, are individualized, as each patient responds to their disease in a unique individual way, requiring a singular treatment plan worked out for them.
With homeopathic treatment, the theory is that the symptoms of the ill or injured patient are the body’s attempt to restore balance, in the face of disorder or disease. The proper homeopathic medicine matches the patient’s unique symptoms, their individual expression of their disease state, and stimulates the vital life force to allow homeostasis, balance, and healing to occur. It is a gentle treatment approach that works with the body, not against it.
An integrative and complementary treatment approach to treatment may be needed, using more than one treatment modality, including conventional medicine, to achieve the best balance. Having an open mind, being a good listener and observer, and the ability to be flexible in the treatment plan, as needed, will allow for optimal success in case management.